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.
Austria Cup: LINZ AG FROSCHBERG Secures Its 12th Title
LINZ AG FROSCHBERG clinched their twelfth Austria Cup title with a hard-fought 3:2 victory over Gartenstadt Tulln in the final, though the journey was more difficult than expected. Tulln’s LIU Yuan shone with victories against Britt EERLAND and Ivana MALOBABIC. However, LINZ AG FROSCHBERG scored points through MALOBABIC, Andrea PAVLOVIC, and EERLAND. In the men’s final, hosts Baden will face Panaceo Stockerau. The opening match set the tone: LIU Yuan took a 1-0 lead against Linz’s top star EERLAND, missed five (!) set points in the second game, lost 14:16, but regained focus to win 3:1 and deliver an early surprise. “It was a surprise for me too. I had a lot of luck in the third set,” said the Austrian national champion modestly. EERLAND commented, “I was under pressure and Yuan capitalized on that.” MALOBABIC (3:1 against Nicole GALITSCHITSCH) and the newly crowned Croatian champion PAVLOVIC (walkover against Heike MILLER) gave Linz a 2:1 lead. LIU then delivered another brilliant performance, edging past MALOBABIC 3:2 to level the score at 2:2. But EERLAND secured the final match with a clear 3:0 win over GALITSCHITSCH, giving Linz the 3:2 overall victory and completing a dozen cup triumphs. Linz AG Froschberg now aims to seal the double with a Bundesliga final win against Kufstein on April 22. Linz AG President Günther RENNER, after lifting the new Austria Cup trophy, said: “We know Liu Yuan can play very well. It’s all the more unfortunate that Tulln didn’t compete with a full team. A walkover in a final, broadcast live on TV, isn’t good promotion. We must consider consequences for the future.” Austria Cup Final 4 in Baden – Results Women’s Final LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – GARTENSTADT TULLN 3:2 Men’s Final (Sunday in Baden) Badener AC – Panaceo Stockerau 2:3 Women’s Semifinals (Saturday in Baden) LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – Olympic Wien 3:0 GARTENSTADT TULLN – Indigo Graz 3:0 Men’s Semifinals (Saturday in Baden) Panaceo Stockerau – Sparkasse Salzburg 3:0 Khalid ASSAR – Tomas SANCHI 3:1 Austria Cup Champions – History Men 2012 – SVS Niederösterreich 2013 – SVS Niederösterreich 2014 – Weinviertel Niederösterreich 2015 – Weinviertel Niederösterreich 2016 – SG Stockerau 2017 – KSV HiWay Grill Kapfenberg 2018 – SPG Walter Wels 2019 – SG Stockerau 2020 – SPG Walter Wels 2021/22 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2023 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2024 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2025 – Panaceo Stockerau Women 2012 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2013 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2014 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2015 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2016 – TTC CarinthiaWinds Villach 2017 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2018 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2019 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2020 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2021/22 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2023 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2024 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2025 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
ASC Grünwettersbach Dominant in First Leg of Europe Cup Quarterfinals
In the final match of the Europe Cup Men’s Quarterfinals first leg, ASC Grünwettersbach delivered a commanding performance, defeating SKST Havířov 3:0 on home soil in Germany. The team needed just three matches to secure a strong advantage ahead of the return leg, scheduled for April 18. “The team is happy to win 3:0! We managed to put ourselves in a good situation, but there’s still the away match and we’re ready to give 100 percent effort to clinch our ticket for the semifinal,” said Leo DE NODREST. Other First Leg Results: UKS Dojlidy Białystok lost at home to HB Ostrov z.s. 0:3 in Poland, Cajasur Priego TM narrowly defeated Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 3:2 in Spain, TK Vyhne suffered a 0:3 loss to SF SKK El Nino Praha in Slovakia. ASC Grünwettersbach vs SKST Havířov (3:0)
Dang QIU Opens the Door to the Final
Just like last year, TSV Bad Königshofen and Borussia Düsseldorf met in the TTBL Play-off Semifinals. At that time, the underdogs shocked the record champions with a first-leg win. This year, however, Düsseldorf was determined to avoid a repeat—and they succeeded. Led by a strong performance from Dang QIU, the team secured a 3:1 away victory, earning a solid advantage for the return leg in two weeks. As the saying goes, third time’s the charm. This was already the third meeting between Borussia Düsseldorf and TSV Bad Königshofen this season in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL)—and once again, Düsseldorf came out on top with a 3:1 scoreline. The standout of the evening was Dang QIU, who lived up to his top billing. The penhold player delivered commanding performances against both Bastian STEGER and Jin UEDA, winning both matches 3:0 without giving his opponents much of a chance. His victories laid the foundation for Düsseldorf’s success. In contrast to QIU’S dominant outings, Timo BOLL suffered a clear defeat at the hands of Filip ZELJKO. The Croatian played with trademark fighting spirit and neutralized the 44-year-old veteran, who will retire at the end of the season. ZELJKO’S 3:0 win briefly gave Bad Königshofen hope for a comeback, but QIU quickly put those hopes to rest in the final match. The evening began with Anton KÄLLBERG taking on Jin UEDA. At first, it looked like history might repeat itself—Ueda took the first game as Källberg struggled to find rhythm. But once the Swede settled into his aggressive playing style, he took control and won the match. “Of course, we remember what happened here last year,” KÄLLBERG said after the match. “We didn’t want to find ourselves in that position again. Starting the series with a 1:0 lead is a great feeling.” In the other semifinal, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen also made a strong statement, defeating 1. FC Saarbrücken TT with a commanding 3:0 win. All three matches ended in victories for the home side, giving them a strong hand heading into the second leg. The second matches in both semifinals will be played on Sunday, April 27. TSV Bad Königshofen – Borussia Düsseldorf 1:3 TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 3:0
Dr. Časl Wins 10th Consecutive, 12th Overall National Title
In the Croatia’s Women’s Superleague, nothing new Dr. Časl’s table tennis team has claimed their 10th consecutive Croatian national championship title, and 12th overall. Heading into the final round, the Zagreb-based team held a significant lead over their only title contender, Aquaestil from Duga Resa. Although they were practically guaranteed the trophy, the team left nothing to chance. They fielded their strongest lineup and secured convincing 3:1 victories against Sveta Nedelja and in the derby against Aquaestil. This season, they recorded 15 wins and only 1 loss. After a morning win over Sveta Nedelja, Dr. Časl only needed to win a set against Aquaestil to officially secure the title. However, they could already begin celebrating even before that match started. Namely, Aquaestil lost 3:1 to Mladost Tia Mobiteli for the second time this season, eliminating their theoretical chances of taking the title. What’s more, that defeat cost them second place as they later lost the derby against Dr. Časl. Aquaestil, who had finished second in the league for two years in a row and missed the runner-up spot only once in the last seven seasons, now ends the season in third place with the same win-loss record (12–4) as second-placed Mladost Tia Mobiteli. The Zagreb side from the Sava River recorded their best result since the 2014/15 season when they shocked the league by winning the title—back then, they surprised Dr. Časl in the playoffs. Since then, the title has been reserved exclusively for Dr. Časl, and all signs suggest that the dominance will continue. “Of course, we’re continuing in the same rhythm, and now we’ve finally won something ten times. The only motivation left is to win the Europe Cup, it’s the only trophy missing from our collection. We’ve won the Champions League, Central European League, Mediterranean Cup, Europe Trophy, Superleague, Croatian Cup… It’s only fair we try to add that one too, but we’ll see. My philosophy is that when we enter a competition, we want to have a realistic chance of winning. Of course, it would be great to win, but it’s not a matter of life or death. We’ve played both men’s and women’s ETTU Cup multiple times but never went beyond the quarterfinals,” said Martin Tino ČASL, club President. The championship team featured NI Xia Lian, Mirela ĐURAK BLAŽIČEVIĆ, LIU Jiaqi, Tamolwan KHETKHUAN, LEE Ho Ching, Bruna BOROVEC, Dorina SREBRNJAK, and coach Luka VRANČIĆ.
Strong Start for Rzeszów and Hodonín in Europe Cup Quarterfinal First Legs
In the opening leg of the Europe Cup quarterfinals, Poland’s FIBRAIN KU AZS POLITECHNIKA RZESZÓW secured a confident win over Novi Sad, while SON CLADERA TTC – Mallorca suffered a home defeat against SKST Plus Hodonín of Czechia. In Mallorca, SON CLADERA TTC fell in four matches to the visiting Czech side. Despite a promising start in front of the home crowd, with Pauline CHASSELIN defeating Solomiya BRATEYKO, Karin GROFOVÁ turned the momentum in favor of Hodonín. She emerged as the backbone of the Czech team’s success, securing two crucial victories—including the fourth match, where she overcame CHASSELIN. Additionally, Markéta ŠEVČÍKOVÁ contributed with a win over Eugenia SASTRE. In Poland, European champion from Schwechat 2013, FIBRAIN KU AZS POLITECHNIKA RZESZÓW, enjoyed a dream start against Novi Sad. Fen LI opened the match with a dominant straight-games victory over Tijana JOKIĆ, while the final match between Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA-FRANZ and Sara RADAK ended with the same scoreline in favor of the home side. The closest contest came in the second match, where Zuzanna WIELGOS faced Aneta MAKSUTI. Although the duel extended to four games, it did not produce major suspense, as Rzeszów maintained control throughout. The return leg of all four quarterfinals is scheduled for 27th April. Previously, Saint-Denis 93 TT beat CTM Mirandela 3-2 and UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS – RM TERAN overcame Budaörsi Sport Club 3-1. FIBRAIN KU AZS POLITECHNIKA RZESZOW – Novi Sad 3-0 SON CLADERA TTC – MALLORCA – SKST Plus Hodonín
