04/03/2011 – Cajasur Priego TM won the Spanish Copa Del Rey in the Palacio de los Juegos del Mediterraneo de Almeria. In the final Carlos David MACHADO CHEN Junji and Constantin CIOTI overcame HU Bin Marc DURAN and Josep Luis Andrade from DKV Borg

04/03/2011 – The British Olympic Association (BOA) today confirmed that Team GB will utilise three male and three female Host Nation Qualification Places in order to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games table tennis competition. The decision was https://www.ettu.org 04/03/2011 – The British Olympic Association (BOA) today confirmed that Team GB will utilise three male and three female Host Nation Qualification Places in order to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games table tennis competition. The decision was made following detailed consultation with the British Table Tennis Federation (BTTF). BOA Chief Executive and Team GB Chef de Mission Andy HUNT said: “We are very pleased to confirm that Team GB will be represented in both the singles and team table tennis events at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The British Table Tennis Federation has demonstrated to us that they have laid solid foundations to maximise the opportunity of competing at a Home Games and developed programmes to ensure a strong long term legacy for the sport”. “British Table Tennis has proven to us that the young squad of players are capable of delivering a credible performance on the field of play in 2012. In winning the silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games England’s men finished above three nations who competed in the last Olympic Games in Beijing. Real progress is being made in elite performance; there are now four British players – two male two female – ranked in the top 200 in the world compared with none prior to the Beijing 2008 Olympics.“ “Table tennis is a very accessible and affordable sport for people of all ages from all backgrounds. This combined with the ‘London 2012 factor’ and the successful programme of innovative initiatives developed by the British Table Tennis Federation to get people involved with table tennis at grass roots level promises to have a big impact on participation and leave a tangible legacy for the sport.“ “I’m delighted that the British players competing for this weekend’s National Championships in Sheffield will now have the firm goal of competing on home soil in London 2012 to aim towards.“ Alex MURDOCH British Table Tennis Federation Chairman said: “On behalf of the British Table Tennis Federation I am delighted that our players will be represented at the London 2012 Olympic Games. This endorses the significant progress made across the UK by our sport from schools to grass roots to the elite level. This will be a great opportunity to showcase our home grown talent on a truly international stage and further influence the table tennis legacy.“ “Hosting the Olympics will be a great British achievement it is a chance for Britain and London to present itself to the world and I am delighted that our table tennis players will get to do the same.“ Paul DRINKHALL (Sheffield) GB men’s table tennis number one said: “My ultimate dream has always been to be an Olympic medallist and to have the chance to compete in my home country is better than any dream. As a team we have made good progress in recent years and we will aim to produce our best performances to excite the home fans at London 2012.“ NA Liu (Northern Ireland) Team GB women’s table tennis hopeful said: “It has always been my dream to play in the Olympic Games and this has given me the drive and ambition to put 110% into achieving this goal. Competing at the Olympics will be the pinnacle of my career.“ Darius KNIGHT (London) Team GB men’s table tennis hopeful said: “Playing in the Olympics means everything to me. Competing in front of the home crowd is an opportunity that will never come again. It’s a chance to put table tennis on the map in this country. Everyone at one stage has played table tennis or knows of it. It’s a great sport because it can be played anywhere you don’t need lots of money and your size age race religion or ability doesn’t matter. It’s a sport made for everyone to enjoy.“ (English Table Tennis Association Press Release) Photo: Paul DRINKHALL (courtesy ITTF)

03/03/2011 – Luxembourg’s National Closed Championships will take place in Junglinster (Centre Polyvalent “Gaston Stein” all finals semi-finals and quarter-finals will be played on Sunday. Last year winners were Traian CIOCIU (Me https://www.ettu.org 03/03/2011 – Luxembourg’s National Closed Championships will take place in Junglinster (Centre Polyvalent “Gaston Stein” all finals semi-finals and quarter-finals will be played on Sunday. Last year winners were Traian CIOCIU (Men’s singles) Simone HAAN (Women singles) Gilles MICHELY/Mike BAST (Men’s doubles) Sarah DE NUTTE / Tessy GONDERINGER (Women’s doubles) and Gilles MICHELY / Carole HARTMANN (Mixed doubles).Favorites for this year will be for men’s singles the top4 seeded players: Traian CIOCIU (1) Gilles MICHELY (2) J???RAISON (3) and Arlindo DE SOUSA (4). For women’s singles the top 4 seeded players are: Egle SADIKOVIC (1) Simone HAAN (2) Tessy GONDERINGER (3) Sarah DE NUTTE (4). (by Patrick MASSEN courtesy Luxembourg TTA) Photo: Sarah DE NUTTE (Photo Roscher)

03/03/2011 – Benedek OLAH 20 is the biggest favorite and number one seed at the Men’s Singles at Finnish Table Tennis Association National championships. The competition is scheduled for this weekend in Tampere. OLAH was the favorite already https://www.ettu.org 03/03/2011 – Benedek OLAH 20 is the biggest favorite and number one seed at the Men’s Singles at Finnish Table Tennis Association National championships. The competition is scheduled for this weekend in Tampere. OLAH was the favorite already last year but failed to win his first Men? singles gold. Experienced Mika RASANEN challenged OLAH and beat him in the final. This year RASANEN and last year? bronze medalists Timo TAMMINEN and veteran Pasi VALASTI (41 still going strong) are expected to be the most dangerous rivals on OLAH? way to gold. Young players like Roope KANTOLA and Toni SOINE can cause possible upset. In Women? Singles last years winner Hanna NYBERG has finished her career so the field is open for several players. Amongst them are Pinja ERIKSSON Henrika PUNNONEN Anna KIRICHENKO and Sannamari BOLENIUS. The games will take place in City of Tampere 175 kilometers north of Helsinki. Venue is Hervanta sports hall and games are scheduled to start at 9 am both on Saturday 5.3. and Sunday 6.3. Finals will be played on Sunday after 2 pm. (By Antti JOKINEN courtesy of FTTA) Photo: Benedek OLAH (photo Roscher)

Hungarian National Championships will be played for the UNIVER Cup this year. The organizer is Univer KTE Table Tennis Section on 5th and 6th March 2011 in Kecskemet. The main favorite in Men’s Singles is Janos JAKAB who already won the title in 200 https://www.ettu.org Hungarian National Championships will be played for the UNIVER Cup this year. The organizer is Univer KTE Table Tennis Section on 5th and 6th March 2011 in Kecskemet. The main favorite in Men’s Singles is Janos JAKAB who already won the title in 2007 2008 and 2009. Last year JAKAB was runner-up. In Women’s Singles will not play Krisztina TOTH. Petra LOVAS who already won the gold twice including last year’s title is the main favorite. LOVAS showed good form this year especially at Slovenian and English Open. Schedule: 5th of March 10.00 Men’s and Women’s Doubles from qualification stage to Semi Final12.30 Men’s and Women’s Singles – qualification stage 6th of March 10.00 Men’s and Women’s Singles – Main draw15.00 Men’s and Women’s Doubles – Semi Finals15.30 Men’s and Women’s Singles – Semi Finals16.15 Men’s and Women’s Doubles – Finals17.00 Men’s and Women’s Singles – Finals Winners in 2010 Men’s Singles: Peter MUSKOWomen’s Singles: Petra LOVASMen’s Doubles: P?er MUSKO Ivan VITSEKWomen’s Doubles: Georgina POTA LI Bin (By Kristof LAJTAI courtesy of Hungarian TTA) Photo: Janos JAKAB (photo Roscher)

03/03/2011 – Eriksdalshallen in Stockholm from 4th to 6th March will be the venue for 2011 Swedish Championships. The main favorite in Men’s Singles Event is Par GERELL who has yet to win the gold at the Championships but already reached the https://www.ettu.org 03/03/2011 – Eriksdalshallen in Stockholm from 4th to 6th March will be the venue for 2011 Swedish Championships. The main favorite in Men’s Singles Event is Par GERELL who has yet to win the gold at the Championships but already reached the final last year. Jorgen PERSSON is the player who knows how to reach the top of the podium since he has already been there in 1987 1988 1990 1999 and 2007. Another favorite for the top prize is Jens LUNDQUIST winner from 2005 2008 and 2009 but we can not forget legendary Jan-Ove WALDNER who managed win his 10th gold medal in singles as he already did in 1983 84 86 89 91 96 97 2006 and 2010. In Women’s Singles two times winner from 2007 and 2009 Matilda EKHOLM is at the list of the favorites. Malin PETTERSSON who won the first gold last year. The finals in Swedish Championships in 2010MEN? SINGLESJan-Ove WALDNER Sparvagens BTK-Par GERELL Falkenbergs BTK 11-5 11-8 11-6 11-7. WOMEN SINGLESMalin PETTERSSON Team Malarenergi BTK-Carina JONSSON Team Malarenergi BTK 3-11 11-9 11-5 5-11 11-9 11-8. MEN? DOUBLESPar GERELL/Jens LUNDQUIST Falkenbergs BTK/Soderhamns UIF-Mattias KARLSSON/Robert SVENSSON BTK Warta/Eslovs AI 12-10 11-9 14-12. WOMEN DOUBLESMatilda EKHOLM/Malin PETTERSSON Riddaren BTK/Team Malarenergi BTK-Kajsa ANDERSSON/Marie OLSSON Raa BTK 12-10 11-6 11-5. MIXED DOUBLESAnders SJOSTEDT/Carina JONSSON Carlstads BTK/Team Malarenergi BTK-John WALL/Madeleine MELCHER Sparvagens BTK 11-5 11-4 11-2. MEN? U20Mattias KARLSSON BTK Warta-Harald ANDERSSON Sparvagens BTK 11-9 9-11 11-9 11-5 8-11 11-9. WOMEN? U20Madeleine MELCHER Sparvagens BTK-Michelle QUACH Fridhem/Urnan BTK 11-7 11-2 11-7 12-10. (By ?an WESTBERG courtesy of Sweden TTA) Photo: Pat GERELL (photo Roscher)

03/03/2011 – The The 69th Danish championships will be played in Odense the coming weekend. In the absence of Michael MAZE the 42 year-old Allan BENTSEN is top seeded in Men’s single. He has won Men’s singles 8 times and all in all 42 D MAZE is still in recovering phase after he had knee injury in September. He has not play at the tournament since then and his return to the playing scene is expecting at the end of March at the VOLKSWAGEN 2011 CUP in Guangzhou. One of the most exciting Games could be the final in Men’s doubles which probably will be a match between the defending champions BENTSEN and TUGWELL against the silver medalists from European Championships in Ostrava GROTH and STERNBERG. 77 players participate in the Danish championships. (by Arne MADSEN courtesy Danish TTA) Photo: Danish pair GROTH and STERNBERG

03/03/2011 – Triple national table tennis champion Andrew BAGGALEY will be happy to be seeded 5th for the ETTA National Championships taking place at Ponds Forge Sports Centre in Sheffield next month. The 28 year-old won the title last season from t https://www.ettu.org 03/03/2011 – Triple national table tennis champion Andrew BAGGALEY will be happy to be seeded 5th for the ETTA National Championships taking place at Ponds Forge Sports Centre in Sheffield next month. The 28 year-old won the title last season from the same seeded position and feels it takes some of the pressure off. Last year he cruised through almost unnoticed until he popped up to beat Gavin EVANS for a place in the final. What followed is history with BAGGALEY beating Liam PITCHFORD in an exciting seven game final. This time the seeding system has put the well travelled Buckinghamshire player in the same half as Darius KNIGHT and No.1 seed Paul DRINKHALL so it’s going to be tough. Teenager PITCHFORD is at the other end of the draw after a successful season which has seen him jump to No.2 in the rankings. If the women’s singles seedings are to be believed then the women’s singles final will be a repeat of last year only with a different winner. Then Joanna PARKER bambozzled Kelly SIBLEY with her steady defence to take the title. Since then Kelly has improved and leapfrogged over Parker to take the No.1 spot and this time will start as favourite. The ETTA National Championships get under way on Friday 4th March at 1pm and are due to be completed on Sunday afternoon with the finals of the singles and doubles. Get all the information you need on the National Championships at etta.tv/nationals (by James CORNFORD courtesy ETTA) Photo: Andrew BAGGALEY

03/03/2011 – Dortmund (Germany) Beijing (China) Bamberg (Germany) – three towns two countries one week. The stress level for Timo BOLL is once again high these days. From the German Open in Dortmund where he finished as the runner-up losi https://www.ettu.org 03/03/2011 – Dortmund (Germany) Beijing (China) Bamberg (Germany) – three towns two countries one week. The stress level for Timo BOLL is once again high these days. From the German Open in Dortmund where he finished as the runner-up losing only to China’s Zhang JIKE in the final he immediately flew to Beijing for the Euro-Asia All Stars series. On Wednesday evening he will step on a plane to Germany for the National Closed Championships in Bamberg in the county of Bavaria. “Participating in the National Championships is always a question of honor for me ” Timo BOLL said. As the world’s number one he will of course be the favorite in Bamberg once again. Anyway last year’s winner was Christian SUSS beating his doubles partner BOLL in the final. “We have a strong national team and so the internal competition is very strong too ” explained BOLL. Next to him and SUSS Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Patrick BAUM and Bastian STEGER will be his main rivals but there are also youngsters like Patrick FRANZISKA who won the bronze medal at the U21 competition in Dortmund. “In every round there will be a tough opponent for me ” knows Timo BOLL. “I have to be in top shape to win the title”. It would be his tenth if he did. With this he would top the list and become the leading player in the statistics right ahead the former stars Eberhard SCHOLER und Conny FREUNDORFER who have both won 9 national singles titles in their careers. In the ladies’ competition Kristin SILBEREISEN is the holder. She won her first national singles title and beat Petrissa SOLJA in a tough final in Trier. Germany’s number one WU Jiaduo is still waiting for her first national gold medal. Within the Germany women’s team the competition is high as well. Established players like SILBEREISEN WU Elke SCHALL Zhenqi BARTHEL and young guns like SOLJA and Sabine WINTER are ready to compete. However many others can cause surprises like the defensive experts Irene IVANCAN and HAN Ying. The title holders are:Men’s singles: Christian SUSSWomen’s singles: Kristin SILBEREISENMen’s doubles: Patrick BAUM/Dimitrij OVTCHAROVWomen’s doubles: Kathrin MUHLBACH/Sabine WINTER (by Simone HINZ courtesy DTTB) Photo: Christian SUSS (Photo Roscher)

3/03/2011 – The Belgian National championship is held this year in Enghien (near Brussels) on Sunday. The title holder Yannick VOSTES has cancelled his participation. “For the last two months I have some physical problems and the doctor i https://www.ettu.org 3/03/2011 – The Belgian National championship is held this year in Enghien (near Brussels) on Sunday. The title holder Yannick VOSTES has cancelled his participation. “For the last two months I have some physical problems and the doctor impose me some rest. I have only two weeks of practice. It is impossible for me to play 4 matches in 6 hours.” Last year Jean-Michel SAIVE suffered surprising defeat in the quarter final against Lauric JEAN. However he will be the greatest favorite for incredible. 22nd crown which will be another continental record. SAIVE have lost only 5 matches from 1985 the year of his first title: 1990 and 1991 (Thierry CABRERA) 1993 (Fr??ic SONNET) 2003 (Philippe SAIVE) and 2010 (Lauric JEAN). The young Lauric JEAN and Benjamin ROGIERS will try to challenge SAIVE. (by Christian RASPILLER Courtesy of Sudpresse Sports) Photo: Jean Michel SAIVE