On the opening day of play in Osijek at Stage Two of the European Teams Championships four teams in the Men’s Event had already secured their position in the Final Stage to be played in Malmo in September. Poland Hungary Norway and Greece are already safe for the final. In the Men’s team event Poland’s Milosz REDZIMSKI Jakub DYJAS and Maciej KUBIK prevailed against Finland and Lithuania without losing an individual match. Tomorrow Finland will play against Lithuania for the second position and a place in Malmo. In Group 2 Hungary had the same path. Nandor ECSEKI Bence MAJAROS and Tamas LAKATOS beat Switzerland and Turkey 3-0 in both matches. In Group 4 Ukraine’s Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO and Viktor YEFIMOV secured two wins against Israel and the Netherlands but the Netherlands overcame Latvia as well as Israel prevailed against Latvia so we have to wait for the outcome of this group tomorrow. In Group 3 Luxembourg suffered against Serbia but in the second round Serbia lost to Italy. Now Serbia’s fate is in the hands of others. Tomorrow’s duel between Luxembourg and Italy will give the final standings. In Group 5 Greece’s Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS Konstantinos ANGELAKIS and Georgios STAMATOUROS beat Ireland and Spain but they only share first position with the team which created the biggest upset. Norway’s Borgar HAUG Khai Noah LAM and Alexander FRANSSON prevailed against the same adversaries as Greece. Their tomorrow’s duel will determine the leader of the group. The winner and runner-up of each group qualifies for the final stage making a total of 10 spots. Five third-positioned teams will play PLAY-OFF for the remaining spot. In Women’s Teams Event Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA Amelie SOLJA and LIU Jia completed the day one with two victors over Wales and Belgium. For Austria tickets for Sweden are already secured. Same as Austria Italy is also one of the teams that concluded their task on the opening day in Osijek. Nikoleta STEFANOVA Giorgia PICCOLIN and Gaia MONFARDINI overcame Finland and Greece. In Group 3 Bulgaria’s Tsvetelina GEORGIEVA Maria YOVKOVA and Kalina HRISTOVA overcome Israel and Netherlands. In the same group England with Tin Tin Ho Emily BOLTON and Mari BALDWIN is also unbeaten after clashes with Israel and Netherlands. The winner and runner-up of each group qualifying for the final stage making eight spots. Four third-positioned teams will play for two remaining spots (play-off matches) and the winners of the play-off matches will qualify for the Final Stage. In Group 4 Croatia’s Mateja JEGER MAJSTOROVIC Hana ARAPOVIC Lea RAKOVAC and Andrea PAVLOVIC booked the top spot with two wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Türkiye. The winner and runner-up of each group qualifying for the final stage making eight spots. Four third-positioned teams will play for two remaining spots (play-off matches) and the winners of the play-off matches will qualify for the Final Stage.
Two more chances for Malmo 2023
The 2023 European Teams Championships is fast approaching and the excitement is building as the Stage 2 Tournament draws near. From Friday May 5th to Sunday May 7th 2023 the Croatian Table Tennis Association under the authority of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) will organize the Stage two tournament at the NŠD Gradski vrt in Osijek Croatia. The men’s teams will include Poland Hungary Serbia Ukraine Spain Finland Greece Italy Turkey Netherlands Luxembourg Switzerland Norway Lithuania Israel Latvia and Ireland. The women’s teams will consist of Austria Italy Netherlands Turkey Croatia England Wales Greece Belgium Bulgaria Lithuania Finland Israel and Bosnia Herzegovina. In the men’s tournament 11 teams from the Stage 2 tournament will qualify for the Final Stage in Malmo while 10 teams will qualify for the women’s tournament. The playing system will consist of 5 groups with the winner and runner-up of each group qualifying for the final stage making a total of 10 spots. Five third-positioned teams will play PLAY-OFF for the remaining spot. The women’s tournament will consist of 14 teams in four groups with the winner and runner-up of each group qualifying for the final stage making eight spots. Four third-positioned teams will play for two remaining spots (play-off matches) and the winners of the play-off matches will qualify for the Final Stage.
Entry for EVC2023 in Sandefjord will close at midnight May 15th
The last day for entries for the European Veterans Championships in Norway is really closing in. The entry system https://www.ttm.co.at/evc2023/shop/shops/wizard/people will be open for late entries until midnight May 15th. The price will be kept at 200 euro for participants and 65 euro for accompanying persons. Please note that only direct payment with credit- or debit card is possible for late entries. This means that you still have some time but you should hurry up to secure your place in the event. Until 15th May you can even request a double partner directly in the entry system. If you don’t select a double partner the organiser will select one for you later. The EVC2023 will be a special experience with everyone staying at Oslofjord Convention Center. The playing halls accommodation restaurants bars beach and activities will all be in short walking distance. This will save you time and money on transport and at the same time you will get all the magic! There will be something happening all days and nights. The restaurants and bars will be open and you have access to the beautiful beach area. The Oslofjord Convention Center is really relaxed and versitile. You always have a choice if you want to join the party spend some time alone or even invite your friends to your balcony. The prices includes breakfast lunch and dinner. You may pay now or at arrival. You can book accommodation and meals on Oslofjord Convention Center until 28th May here. What should I do next? Go to www.evc2023.com Click ENTRY and secure your place in the event Click BOOKING and make sure that you stay at Oslofjord Convention Center Click AIRPORT BUS if you need easy transfer from the airports More links Event web page Event Facebook page Event Facebook group Oslofjord event page Important deadlines: 15th May: Last possible entry 15th May: Last possible changes of double partners 28th May: Last day for booking accommodation and catering
Nikolas ENDAL newly elected President of the Czech Table Tennis Association
The regular assembly of the Czech Table Tennis Association took place in Prague where after four years an elective conference was held and new leadership was elected. Nikolas ENDAL was elected as the new president of the Association along with 1st vice-president Petr BOHUMSKÝ and members Jan BROTHÁNEK Iveta VACENOVSKÁ and Miroslav HENŽEL. During the conference Nikolas ENDAL presented his team’s vision which was largely built upon the work of the former leadership. He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and promised to do his best to uphold the good name of Czech table tennis. The team has set priorities in several areas including providing the best possible conditions for top-level sports securing the arrival of a foreign coach ensuring excellent conditions for youth and streamlining spending on their education maintaining economic stability and a balanced budget organizing top competitions and international tournaments training coaches and referees cooperating with regional and provincial associations continuing to develop information technology and improving the care of PARA athletes and their integration into the association’s competitions. “I would like to thank you for your trust and promise that my team and I will do our best for the good name of Czech table tennis. We have priorities in a number of areas and most of them are based on our work so far ” ENDAL said at the conference. At the end of the conference the newly elected president of the association Nikolas ENDAL presented a plaque to former president Zbyněk ŠPAČEK in recognition of his many years of service to the Czech Table Tennis Association. Zbyněk ŠPAČEK was then elected as the Honorary President of ČAST by the conference delegates.
Gianni KOUTRA and Laura MILOS won gold medals in Osijek
Greece’s Gianni KOUTRA and Germany’s Laura MILOS won gold medals in their respective Under 15 Singles Events at the first tournament in the Europe Youth Series in Osijek. In Under 15 Girls Singles Event Laura MILOS was also stretched to full distance in the ultimate match against Maja VANJO of Serbia 3-2 (11-7 8-11 4-11 11-8 11-7). Bronze medalists are Lilly LAFFINEUR of Belgium and Lana BENKO of Croatia. Laura MILOS of Germany overcame Lilly LAFFINEUR 3-1 (11-9 11-5 9-11 11-8) and Maja VANJO beat Lana BENKO of Croatia 3-2 (12-10 12-10 9-11 7-11 15-13). In Under 15 Girls Doubles Event Belgium’s Lilly LAFFINEUR and Alicia WARRAND overcame Germany’s Elisa MEYER and Lisanne TSCHIMPKE in the final 3-2 (10-12 11-8 11-9 11-13 11-7). Greece’s Styliani MAVROMATAKI and Georgia SPANOU and Croatia’s Mia BUIC and Andrea ORBANIC won bronze medals. At the penultimate hurdle Elisa MEYER and Lisanne TSCHIMPKE beat Croatia’s Mia BUIC and Andrea ORBANIC 3-0 (11-7 11-8 11-6) and Lilly LAFFINEUR and Alicia WARRAND secured victory over Greece’s Styliani MAVROMATAKI and Georgia SPANOU 3-2 (8-11 11-8 6-11 11-6 18-16). In Under 15 Boys Singles Event Gianni KOUTRA overcame Luka JOKIC in the last match of the tournament 3-2 (11-5 7-11 7-11 11-9 14-12). Bronze medalists are: Mark GERGELY and Lenard SZABO of Hungary. In semis Luka JOKIC overcame Mark GERGELY 3-1 (11-8 6-11 11-3 11-7) and Gianni KOUTRA prevailed against Lenard SZABO 3-1 (6-11 11-6 11-9 11-9). In Under 15 Boys Doubles event Hungary’s Mark GERGELY and Balasz POOR won the gold after success against Montenegro’s Jaksa KRIVOKAPIC and Stefan RADONJIC in the final 3-2 (11-8 8-11 11-4 6-11 11-7). Croatia’s Andrej MRKIC and Deni VALE and Slovenia’s Bor BRODNJAK and Luka JOKIC concluded the event with bronze. Mark GERGELY and Balasz POOR prevailed against host nation’s Croatia’s Andrej MRKIC and Deni VALE 3-0 (11-5 11-6 11-5) and Jaksa KRIVOKAPIC and Stefan RADONJIC proved too strong for Slovenia’s Bor BRODNJAK and Luka JOKIC 3-0 (11-6 11-8 11-9).
Daniel NAGY and Lana BENKO crowned champions in Under 13 Singles
On the last day of play at the first tournament in the Europe Youth Series in Osijek Daniel NAGY of Germany and host nation’s representative Lana BENKO clinched gold medals in their respective Under 13 Boys and Girls Singles Events. In the final of the Boys event Daniel overcame Czechia’s Oliver OLEJNIK 3-1 (11-9 11-4 11-13 11-6). Bronze medalists are Azerbaijan’s Onur GULUZADE and Ioannis-Panagiotis KIOSELOGLOU of Greece. In the semi final Czechia’s Oliver OLEJNIK beat Ioannis-Panagiotis KIOSELOGLOU 3-2 (11-5 11-7 8-11 9-11 11-9); Daniel NAGY prevailed against Azerbaijan’s Onur GULUZADE 3-2 (6-11 12-10 14-12 8-11 11-7). In the Under 13 Boys Doubles Event Greece’s Konstantinos ALEXOUDIS and Ioannis-Panagiotis KIOSELOGLOU beat Germany’s Terry CHOI and Daniel NAGY in the final to clinch the medal 3-1 (3-11 11-4 11-7 11-4). Bronze medalists are Azerbaijan’s Tunar BAGHIROV and Onur GULUZADE and Czechia’s Oliver OLEJNIK and Filip RACAK. Konstantinos ALEXOUDIS and Ioannis-Panagiotis KIOSELOGLOU overcame Czechia’s Oliver OLEJNIK and Filip RACAK 3-1 (11-9 11-7 13-15 12-10). In other penultimate stage match Terry CHOI and Daniel NAGY beat Azerbaijan’s Tunar BAGHIROV and Onur GULUZADE 3-0 (11-5 11-9 11-8). In the Under 13 Girls Singles Event Croatia’s Lana BENKO beat Czechia’s Lucie SYKOROVA in the final 3-0 (11-4 11-6 13-11). On the third step at the medal rostrum are Czechia’s Simona HOLUBOVA and Julia SCHWEIGERT of Croatia In semis Lana BENKO beat Simona HOLUBOVA 3-1 (11-7 11-4 6-11 11-5) and Lucie SYKOROVA overcame Julia SCHWEIGERT 3-1 (16-14 11-5 10-12 11-7). In the Under 13 Girls Doubles Event Croatia’s pairings Lana BENKO and Viktorija SLAKOVIC beat their compatriots Petra GASPAR and Klara KONCAR at the final hurdle 3-0 (11-5 11-5 11-8). Bronze medalists are Azerbaijan’s Khadija EYLAZOVA and Yaghmur MAMMADLI and Belgium’s Yasmine CORYN and Zhanapraia SANZAROWSKI. In the penultimate stage Croatia’s Petra GASPAR and Klara KONCAR overcame Yasmine CORYN and Zhanapraia SANZAROWSKI 3-0 (11-7 11-7 11-4) whilst Lana BENKO and Viktorija SLAKOVIC prevailed against Khadija EYLAZOVA and Yaghmur MAMMADLI.
Croatia and Czechia crowned champions in Osijek
Croatia and Czechia are the first crowned champions at the premiere tournament in Europe Youth Series in Osijek. In today’s finals in Under 15 Mixed Teams event Croatia beat Belgium and in Under 13 Mixed Teams Czechia beat Azerbaijan. Croatia’s Gabriel MARJANOVIC Victoria PUSTAJ Mara MARKOVANOVIC Mark MARCEC beat Belgium’s Maxime DEGIVE Charles JANSSENS Lilly LAFFINEUR and Alicia WARRAND to clinch gold. The match ended with 5:2 win for the host nation. Germany and Slovenia secured bronze medals. In Under 13 Event Czechia’s Boor Lucie SYKOROVA Simona HOLUBOVA Oliver OLEJNIK and Filip RACAK prevailed against Azerbaijan’s Onur GULUZADE Khadija EYLAZOVA Tunar BAGHIROV and Yaghmur MAMMADLI – 5:1. Croatia 1 and Belgium won bronze medals. Tomorrow the tournament continues with singles and doubles.
The rush for the WTT Champions in Frankfurt tickets starts today
In Germany on April 26 and 27 more than 2 300 “SupporTTers” had exclusive access to the first tickets for the WTT Champions Frankfurt in the fall. For non-registered fans in Germany the rush for tickets begins on today Friday April 28. The WTT Champions is the largest international tournament of the year in Germany and takes place from October 29 to November 5 in the Frankfurter Süwag Energie Arena. Only the crème de la crème of the World table tennis has possibility to play – the top 30 men and women in the world as well as two wild card holders will be at the list. If it were already October these would be the top players of the World Table Tennis elite tournament: MA Long of China the G.O.A.T five-time Olympic champion and three-time singles World champion FAN Zhendong reigning World champion and world number one WANG Chuqin four-time World champion in team’s mixed and doubles and World number two LIANG Jingkun team World champion and four-time singles and doubles World championship bronze medalist Tomokazu HARIMOTO of Japan Olympic and World championship bronze medalist in teams World number four Swede Truls MÖREGARDH World championship finalist in singles 2021 and Europe’s top-ranked player…as well as Germany’s Timo BOLL two-time singles World championship bronze medalist and record European champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV six-time Olympic medalist and World Cup winner DANG Qiu European champion and team World championship finalist 2022 Patrick FRANZISKA winner of the Europe Top 16 and Olympic silver medalist in team. Record European champion BOLL who is currently injured (the shoulder) is determined to participate. “After all it’s an absolute home game for me ” says the Hessian who lives just 50 kilometers from Frankfurt in Höchst im Odenwald. As of today the following players would be qualified for the women’s tournament: China’s CHEN Meng Olympic champion in singles and team 2020 SUN Yingsha Olympic silver medalist 2020 and World championship silver medalist 2021 WANG Manyu World champion in singles and doubles 2021…Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA European champion in Singles and Doubles 2022 Germany’s Ying HAN the World’s best defensive player World number ten team World championship bronze medalist 2022 Nina MITTELHAM team World championship bronze medalist and singles European championship silver medalist 2022 Xiaona SHAN team World championship bronze medalist and singles European championship bronze medalist 2022. Up to four female and four male athletes per nation are eligible to compete at the WTT Champions but as was recently the case at the WTT Champions in Macao wildcards can also be awarded to the host nation increasing the number of domestic participants beyond four. In Macao for example there were five men and six women from the host country competing. Tickets are available online at https://wttchampionsfrankfurt2023.reservix.de.
Croatia vs. Belgium and Czechia vs. Azerbaijan will play for titles
On the third day if play in Osijek at the Croatia Open Europe Youth Series on Friday Croatia will meet Belgium and Czechia will play against Azerbaijan in the finals of the Under 15 and Under 13 Mixed Teams events. In Under 15 Croatia overcame Germany 5:3. Gabriel MARJANOVIC Victoria PUSTAJ Mara MARKOVANOVIC Mark MARCEC beat Germany’s team with Elisa MEYER Laura MILOS Lisanne TSCHIMPKE Terry CHOI Matthis KASSENS and Daniel NAGY. Belgium’s Maxime DEGIVE Charles JANSSENS Lilly LAFFINEUR and Alicia WARRAND prevailed against Slovenia’s Luka JOKIC Lana SLATINSEK Ana LESKOSEK and Bor BRODNJAK. In B finals Montenegro/Croatia will meet Greece. In Under 13 event Czechia’s Boor Lucie SYKOROVA Simona HOLUBOVA Oliver OLEJNIK and Filip RACAK prevailed against Belgium’s Yasmine CORYN Antoine LELEUX Zhanapraia SANZAROWSKI and Noan PIETTE. They will meet Azerbaijan’s Onur GULUZADE Khadija EYLAZOVA Tunar BAGHIROV and Yaghmur MAMMADLI in the final. Croatia’s first team with Petar ZIDARIC Lana BENKO Matija VOLF and Viktorija OSLAKOVIC had consolation in bronze. The winner of the B final is Montenegro/Croatia. They overcame Croatia 3 in “little” final.
Belgium moved to semis after fantastic recovery against Greece
On the second day of play in Osijek at the Croatia Open Europe Youth Series most dramatic match had been seen in the opening round of the Under 13 Mixed team event finals. Belgium moved to semis by beating Greece/Croatia 5:4 after being down1:4. In the penultimate round they will meet Czechia whilst Croatia 1 will meet Azerbaijan. Loreta MANDIC Ioannis-Panagiotis KIOSELOGLOU and Nera VUJASINOVIC gave Greece Croatia team very good start but then Yasmine CORYN Antoine LELEUX Zhanapraia SANZAROWSKI and Noan PIETTE created remarkable recovery to push Belgium to the next stage. Azerbaijan’s Onur GULUZADE Khadija EYLAZOVA Tunar BAGHIROV and Yaghmur MAMMADLI secured 5:1 win over Slovenia. In Under 15 Mixed team event Belgium is also through to the semis after the victory over Croatia 2. Belgium’s Maxime DEGIVE Charles JANSSENS Lilly LAFFINEUR and Alicia WARRAND prevailed against Andrej MRKIC Andrea ORBANIC and Zvonimir KRAMARIC. They will meet Slovenia in the semis. In other semi final Croatia 1 will play against Germany. Croatia 1 with Gabriel MARJANOVIC Victoria PUSTAJ Mara MARKOVANOVIC Mark MARCEC overcame Croatia 3 with Deni VALE Nikolina MILICEVIC Franka MISKIC and Luka TEPES.
