Reigning champions KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg were forced to surrender their title even before reaching the final of the Champions League Women, as ttc berlin eastside staged a stunning comeback in the semi-finals. After losing the first leg 1-3 at home, the German club turned the tie around with a straight matches victory in Tarnobrzeg. With a 0-3 defeat, KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg was pushed into a golden match. The same line-ups were fielded: Xiaona SHAN, Sabina SURJAN, and Mia GRIESEL for Berlin, against Ying HAN, Elizabeta SAMARA, and Fu YU for Tarnobrzeg. However, unlike the main match, the golden encounter did not even reach a third duel — SHAN and SURJAN secured victories to seal Berlin’s place in the final. Reflecting on the strategic challenges they faced, Sabina SURJAN explained: “I think that KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg played very smart in the opening leg. They put Ying HAN ‘down’ to play against me in the third position. In addition, SAMARA always plays superbly against SHAN, so our line-up could not perform at its best. We learned from that, but even before the start, we were in a bad position, having to play without Nina MITTELHAM due to injury. We lost 1-3 at home, and we knew we needed to win 3-0 or 3-1 just to reach the chance for a golden match.” Despite these challenges, the German trio delivered a fantastic performance in Tarnobrzeg. SURJAN added: “In the opening match SHAN performed superbly — it was a fantastic match. I did not start well, losing the first game against SAMARA 5-11, but then I adapted to her game and managed to take control. GRIESEL was absolutely fantastic. She was stretched to five games but managed to win, preventing a very dangerous scenario where the match could have gone the full distance.” ttc berlin eastside has previously won the Champions League Women title five times — in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2021. Interestingly, in 2022, they lost the final to KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg, who went on to win the next two editions as well. Overall, the Polish club has secured Champions League titles in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024. In the upcoming final, TTC Berlin Eastside will meet the winner of the semi-final between Metz TT and Saint-Quentin TT. The first leg ended with a narrow 3-2 victory for Saint-Quentin TT at home, while the decisive return match in Metz is scheduled for 28th April. Photo By: Piotr Morawski KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg – ttc berlin eastside 0-3 Golden match KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg – ttc berlin eastside ttc berlin eastside – KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg 1-3
Linz AG Claims Championship Title Nine Days After Cup Victory
Linz AG Froschberg claimed the national double. Just nine days after lifting the national cup, the Linz team also triumphed in the Bundesliga final, defeating hosts Kufstein with a commanding 4–0 victory. “Today I’m really satisfied. I played well, and we handled the pressure. I’m happy to have played a few matches in the Bundesliga and the Cup. Next year, I hope to get more appearances, especially looking toward the Champions League,” beamed Linz AG Froschberg star Britt EERLAND after her clear 3–0 win against Danielle Florence KELLY. Earlier, Ivana MALOBABIC had put Linz in the lead with a 3–1 win over SU Pei-Ling. Suthasini SAWETTABUT then extended the visitors’ advantage with an impressive 3–1 win over Arantxa COSSIO. “Sawettabut delivered a top-class match against Cossio. The wonderful crowd enjoyed a great show in Kufstein,” said Linz AG head Günther RENNER, impressed by the final and the atmosphere. The two-time Champions League winners then sealed the title with a 3–1 doubles win by Suthasini SAWETTABUT/Ivana MALOBABIC, wrapping up the match at 4–0 and securing their tenth consecutive national title. It marked the 24th league championship overall for the Linz club. Despite the defeat, Kufstein club president Hermann MOSER was pleased: “We were very nervous, but we had our chances in three of the four matches. We knew we were the clear underdogs. Still, we’re celebrating the first runner-up title in our club’s history.” Women’s Bundesliga Final Final in Kufstein: Sparkasse Kufstein – Linz AG Froschberg 0:4
Istanbul Hosts Under 23 Para Table Tennis Development Camp in June
The European Table Tennis Union, empowered by the ITTF, is set to organize the Under 23 Para Table Tennis Development Camp from June 23rd to 28th, 2025, in Istanbul, Türkiye. The camp, open to young para athletes across Europe, will take place at the Cebeci Sports Complex, with accommodation provided at the WandaVista Hotel, a five-star facility located in Mahmutbey, Istanbul. The venue and hotel are approximately 10 kilometers apart, with an average travel time of 15 minutes. To encourage broad participation, ETTU will cover full accommodation costs for one U-23 player per association, including transportation from and to Istanbul Airport. Associations may register an unlimited number of players, with additional participants (players, coaches, or accompanying persons) paying a daily fee. Players under 18 must be accompanied by a coach, while those aged 18 and above are strongly encouraged to attend with one. A coaches’ meeting will be held on arrival day, June 23, with the exact time to be confirmed. The coaching team will include ETTU’s appointed Head Coach (to be announced) and Uğur AKSOY. The deadline for entries is May 23, 2025, and should be sent to Ana IVOŠEVIĆ (ana.ivosevic@ettu.org) and Tahsin ERGÜL (tahsinergul@evoq.com.tr). For visa support, Taylan ADIMAN (turkishtabletennis@gmail.com) is the designated contact person. Cancellations without penalty are accepted until June 13, 2025; after that date, a full cancellation fee will apply.
Pierre KASS Shares Insights at European Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships
ETTU Secretary General Pierre KASS was invited to attend the European Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships in Luxembourg, where he met with key figures from the European gymnastics community, including European Gymnastics’ General Director Lisa WORTHMANN. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and foster dialogue between two European sports federations. On behalf of the European Table Tennis Union, KASS presented a token of appreciation, symbolically marking the occasion and underlining the importance of inter-federation cooperation within the European sporting community. “It has been a tremendous pleasure to attend the 2025 European Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships. The level of athleticism, precision, and artistry on display was truly inspiring. I deeply value opportunities like this to celebrate the spirit of European sport and strengthen the bonds between our sporting communities. Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, and organizers for delivering such an exceptional event.”
Champions Crowned at JOOLA Europe Youth Series in Ilijaš
The JOOLA Europe Youth Series, held in Ilijaš, Bosnia and Herzegovina, concluded after five days of competition, bringing together some of Europe’s most talented young players in an intense and exciting tournament across teams, singles and doubles events. In the Under 15 Girls’ Singles, it was an all-Türkiye final as Ela Su YÖNTER triumphed over Nil BASRAN with a 3-1 victory. The bronze medals were claimed by Mariia LYTVYN of Austria and Duru KIRBAÇ of Türkiye, who fell in the semi-finals. In the Under 15 Boys’ Singles, Germany celebrated a one-two finish as Lukas WANG defeated compatriot Samuel KUHL in straight games. Jonas RINDERER of Germany and Kai Lun CHOW of England completed the podium as bronze medalists. A standout performance in the Under 13 Girls’ Singles came from Zsófia FEGYVER of Hungary, who overcame Ela Su YÖNTER, the champion in the older age category. Nadalia IONAȘCU and Kariss Yasmin ȘERBAN, both representing Romania, earned bronze. In the Under 13 Boys’ Singles, Stefan BONCHEV of Bulgaria secured the gold medal after defeating Alexandru POP of Romania. The bronze medals went to Filip NAGY of Slovakia and Dimitar DIMITROV of England. Doubles competition brought further success for emerging talents. In the Under 15 Girls’ Doubles, Maya Roberta MADAR of Romania and Teodora SUDZUM of Serbia overcame Türkiye’s Nil BASRAN and Duru KIRBAÇ in the final. The bronze medals were awarded to the Croatian duo Lana BENKO and Klara KONČAR, and to Mariia LYTVYN (Austria) and Patricia STOICA (Romania). In the Under 15 Boys’ Doubles, Germany’s Tien Nghia PHONG and Samuel KUHL claimed the title after a hard-fought win against Denmark’s Malik SEVERINSEN and Emil HASSELBALCH. Bronze medals went to Filip RAČÁK and Ondrej MORÁVEK of Slovakia, and the German pair Lukas WANG and Jonas RINDERER. In the Under 13 Girls’ Doubles, the Swiss team of Enya HU and Michelle WU overcame home favorites Mia HADŽOVIĆ and Lejla BOTONJIĆ of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final. Claudia BERTOLINI and Alice BORSANI of Italy, along with Romania’s Kariss Yasmin ȘERBAN and Nadalia IONAȘCU, finished in third place. The Under 13 Boys’ Doubles final saw Stefan BONCHEV of Bulgaria and Simon ZSIGMOND of Hungary defeat Germany’s Benno DETTMER and Kirill MANALAKI. The semi-finalists and bronze medalists were Jeffrey WEI and Jonathan KRAFT of Germany, and Dimitar DIMITROV and Zihan LIN of England. Pictures here
ASC Grünwettersbach First to Reach Europe Cup Men’s Semi-Finals
Germany’s ASC Grünwettersbach became the first club to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Europe Cup Men, following a commanding performance in both legs of their quarterfinal clash against SKST Havířov. After a 3-0 victory at home, the German side repeated the scoreline today in Czechia, once again prevailing in straight matches. “We’re really happy to reach the semi-finals,” said Leo DE NODREST.” We won 3-0 in both matches, but they were all tough. We’re glad we could be the better team when it mattered most. We played the same opponents in both legs, so it was a bit easier to prepare, using what we learned from the first match. Still, the team had to fight hard — most of the games were won after very close fight.” What makes their achievement even more impressive is the path they had to take — starting from the very first qualifying stage. In November, ASC Grünwettersbach defeated Namiznoteniški klub SAVINJA (Slovenia), ALZIRA TENNIS TAULA (Spain), and SK Vydrany (Slovakia). One month later, in Stage 2, they overcame STK Starr (Croatia) and ENOLI BORGES VALL (Spain), with their only defeat coming at the hands of KTS Gliwice (Poland). In the knockout stage (Stage 3), Grünwettersbach eliminated Austria’s SPG Felbermayr Wels in both legs before repeating that success against SKST Havířov in the quarterfinals. SKST Havirov – ASC Grünwettersbach 0-3 Opening leg ASC Grünwettersbach vs SKST Havířov 3:0 Photos by: Jaroslav ODSTRCILIK
In Memory of Hans Wilhelm GÄB
Former ETTU President and Honorary President of DTTB passes away at 89 The European table tennis community mourns the passing of Hans Wilhelm GÄB, one of the most respected and influential figures in the sport, who passed away on 13 April 2025, just two weeks after celebrating his 89th birthday. A man of deep integrity and vision, GÄB was a former German national team player, a reformer, and a moral authority in both sport and society. His impact spanned athletic achievement, sports politics, corporate leadership, and advocacy for organ donation. Throughout his life, he championed fairness, responsibility, and modernisation. Born in Düsseldorf, GÄB discovered table tennis at the age of 13 and rose to become a multiple-time German champion and national team member. Early on, he and his friend Eberhard SCHÖLER decided not only to criticise sports governance but to help improve it. GÄB first took on responsibility in the regional association of North Rhine-Westphalia and later led a transformative period as President of the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) from 1981 to 1994. In that role, he laid the foundations for the professionalisation of German table tennis, enabling the rise of stars like Jörg ROßKOPF and Timo BOLL. Since 1994, he continued to support the DTTB as Honorary President, widely recognised for his diplomacy and commitment. As Eberhard SCHÖLER described him, he was an “absolute stroke of luck for German table tennis.” His well-known motto, “Learn to lose with dignity and win with humility,” deeply influenced generations of athletes. As president, he also helped modernise the image of the sport. During the 1989 World Championships in Dortmund, he introduced a red playing surface and professionalised the tournament design in cooperation with television experts. That event marked a turning point — not only because of its visual identity but also because of the sensational title won by FETZNER and ROßKOPF, who awakened the “sleeping giant,” as ROßKOPF later described it. GÄB was as accomplished in business as in sport. A trained journalist and co-founder of Auto Zeitung in 1968, he transitioned into public relations, becoming the first communications director on the board of Ford Germany and later an executive at Opel. He ultimately served as Vice President of General Motors Europe, where he established major sponsorships with sporting icons such as Steffi Graf, Franziska van Almsick, and clubs like FC Bayern and AC Milan. Despite his corporate success, he remained connected to table tennis and sport more broadly. He was President of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), was named Chef de Mission for the unified German team at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, and was considered the desired successor to Willi DAUME as head of the German Olympic Committee. However, a serious liver illness forced him to step down from all offices. A liver transplant in 1994 saved his life. GÄB transformed his personal experience into advocacy, founding Athletes for Organ Donation (1996) and later the Children’s Organ Transplant Support Foundation. Supported by public figures such as Timo BOLL, Michael SCHUMACHER, and Steffi GRAF, he tirelessly promoted awareness and the importance of organ donation. In 2005, during a critical phase, he was called upon to lead the German Sports Aid Foundation. Once again, he provided guidance as a reformer and moral pillar, stabilising finances, modernising structures, and later serving as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Hans Wilhelm GÄB received numerous honours throughout his life, including: In a strong act of principle, he returned his IOC Olympic Order, awarded in 2006, ten years later as a protest against the lack of disciplinary action against Russia following revelations of state-sponsored doping. Hans Wilhelm GÄB was a visionary in sports politics, a gentleman of intellect, humour, and integrity. His contributions to table tennis in Germany, in Europe, and worldwide are profound and enduring. The European Table Tennis Union, together with the DTTB, his club Borussia Düsseldorf, and the entire table tennis family, mourn with his wife Hella, their children Christiane and Wolfgang, and their grandchildren. The funeral will take place in a private family ceremony. With thanks to the German Table Tennis Association for photo and archival content
Titles for Poland and Romania in Ilijaš
The Mixed Teams Event at the 2025 JOOLA Europe Youth Series in Ilijaš, Bosnia and Herzegovina, concluded with victories for Poland and Romania. In the Under 15 Mixed Teams Event, Poland’s Wanessa KULCZYCKA, Nicol BARTOSZKO, Piotr LACKI, and Dawid STANIOWSKI claimed the title after overcoming England’s team, which included Alyssa NGUYEN, Soraya RAHMANI-WALENTYNSKA, Hannah SAUNDERS, Dimitar DIMITROV, Kacper PIWOWAR, and Pablo RAMIREZ RIOJA. The Polish team dominated the final, securing victory in five matches. In the bronze medal match, Slovakia’s Bianka BACSOVÁ, Barbora Melisa GUASSARDO, Marco CISARIK, and Filip NAGY defeated Croatia’s Lana BENKO, Klara KONČAR, Nikola JURIĆ, and Matija VOLF in a much tighter encounter, which went the full distance — 5-4 in Slovakia’s favor. In the Under 13 Mixed Teams Event, Romania 1, represented by Nadalia IONAȘCU, Kariss Yasmin ȘERBAN, Mihai IORDAN, and Alexandru POP, triumphed over their compatriots from Romania 2 — Ioana IONESCU, Teodora SARDENI, Albert Armand CZIGLER, and Matei NIȚĂ — in an all-Romanian final. In the match for third place, Italy, represented by Claudia BERTOLINI, Alice BORSANI, Pietro CAMPAGNA, and Tommaso SIMI, prevailed against Croatia, whose lineup featured Karla IVČIĆ, Sara RIVETTI, Ivan SMILJANIĆ, and Matija ZOHIL. Pictures by Izet TAHIRBEGOVIC here.
Brunetti Castel Goffredo Clinches 22nd Italian Championship
At the end of a demanding season, Brunetti Castel Goffredo secured their ninth consecutive women’s title and 22nd overall Italian championship. After finishing the regular season in second place, they overcame league leaders Tennistavolo Norbello in the playoff finals. The triumph was all the more impressive considering their top player, Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS, was unavailable due to her participation in the World Cup in Macao. The trophy was presented by FITeT councilor Raffaele CURCIO. In the first leg, played at home, the reigning champions claimed a 4–2 win. Andreea DRAGOMAN delivered a standout performance, handing Hana MATELOVA her first loss of the season and later defeating TAN Wenling. Nikoleta STEFANOVA and Nicole ARLIA also contributed with wins over Poland’s Magdalena SIKORSKA. Although TAN and MATELOVA responded with victories over ARLIA and STEFANOVA, it wasn’t enough for Norbello. The second leg, held in Sardinia, confirmed DRAGOMAN’s superb form as she once again defeated MATELOVA and added a second victory over SIKORSKA. Norbello, relying on all three of their players, took a 3–2 lead. That left ARLIA with the responsibility of the final singles match. Despite being only 19, she showed exceptional composure and maturity, staging a comeback against TAN—who had beaten her in the first leg—to seal the championship for Castel Goffredo. “This year,” said coach Alfonso LAGHEZZA proudly, “we had to fight tooth and nail through many challenges, and the girls were fantastic—even when they lost matches. They never gave up and kept pushing to the end. In the finals, we had already accomplished a masterpiece in the first leg and continued believing in the second. We’re thrilled, especially considering that our No. 1, Bernadette SZOCS, couldn’t play. “I give enormous credit to all the girls, including Anastasiia KOLISH, who didn’t play but supported the team during training and helped wherever she could. Andreea DRAGOMAN was our driving force in the finals, finally showing all her talent. We never doubted her—she stepped up and repaid our trust. Nikoleta STEFANOVA’s experience was also crucial, both on and off the table, keeping us focused in the toughest moments. Nicole ARLIA was extraordinary—playing under so much pressure at her age and defeating an athlete like TAN Wenling is truly special, especially after losing the first match and the opening game in the second leg. She understood the responsibility and rose to the occasion. That last match demanded everything from her—physical, mental, and above all, tactical effort. Facing TAN is never easy. When we learned that Bernie wouldn’t be available, we accepted it, and from day one, I told the team we could do it—and that Andreea would be our No. 1. “Congratulations to Tennistavolo Norbello, who were worthy opponents all season long.” First leg: BRUNETI CASTEL GOFFREDO – TENNISTAVOLO NORBELLO 4-2 Second leg: TENNISTAVOLO NORBELLO – BRUNETI CASTEL GOFFREDO 3-3
Young Talents Gather for the JOOLA European Youth Series – Bosnia and Herzegovina Open
The 2025 edition of the JOOLA European Youth Series – Bosnia and Herzegovina Open is set to take place in Sarajevo, from April 16 to 20, bringing together some of Europe’s most promising young table tennis players. The event will be held at the Sportski Centar Ilijaš and marks the third stop of the series, following successful tournaments in Türkiye and Croatia. U13 Mixed Teams: Continental Competition in Two Groups The U13 Mixed Teams event features ten teams divided into two groups of five, competing in a round-robin format during the group stage. Each tie consists of nine individual matches, with every win contributing one point to the team total. Following the group phase, group winners will face off in the final, while the second-placed teams will compete for 3rd place. The third-placed teams will play for 5th, and fourth-placed for 7th, all under the same best-of-nine format. The competition welcomes teams from across Europe, including several mixed-nationality squads. U15 Mixed Teams: 16 Squads, Two-Stage Format The U15 Mixed Teams event brings together 16 teams, divided into four groups of four. Stage 1 follows a round-robin format, with each tie consisting of nine matches. Teams earn one point per individual win. The top two teams from each group advance to the A Finals, where they will compete in progressive knockout matches for positions 1–8. The bottom two teams enter the B Finals, battling for positions 9–16 under the same knockout format. Among the participating nations: See the pictures here.
