The draw for the 2016/17 TTCLM held in Schwechat set new showdown between PONTOISE CERGY TT and ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS this time in Group B
Schwechat 24th June – The draw for the 2016/17 Table Tennis Champions League Men was held at WERNER SCHLAGER ACADEMY in Schwechat putting in the same group last season`s finalists AS PONTOISE CERGY TT (France) and ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS (Sweden). They will share Group B with 2012 TTCLM runner-up UMMC and 2015 ETTU Cup finalist ASTS “OLIMPIA-UNIA” GRUDZIĄDZ. Yet in the opening round on early October we`ll see reprise of the 2015/16 final when AS PONTOISE CERGY TT is going to host ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS.
Representatives of majority of 16 participants were present at the draw led by ETTU Deputy Secretary General Pierre KASS with the assistance of former Austrian national team player and long time Table Tennis administrator Barbara GEHART. The draw was guided by ETTU Ranking Committee Chairman Igor HELLER.
Top seeded triple TTCLM champion FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG (Russia) was drawn alongside the 2009 finalist TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN (Germany) VS ANGERS TT (France) and ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK 61 (Denmark).
Second seed and ten times TTCLM champion BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF (Germany) will see in Group D one familiar face the 2012 runner-up CHARTES ASTT (France). They meet third consecutive time. SPG WALTER WELS (Austria) and KST ENERGA – MANEKIN TORUŃ (Poland) are other two clubs in that group.
Fourth seed and 1985/86 Champions League winner and 3 times ETTU Cup winner 1.FC SAARBRUCKEN (Germany) is the biggest name in well balanced Group C. Their challengers are K.S. DARTOM BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (Poland) GV HENNEBONT TT (France) and TABLE TENNIS CLUB OSTRAVA 2016 (Czech Republic).
Manager of AS PONTOISE CERGY TT Louise ADAM pointed out after the draw:
“I am disappointed because the title holder is not protected and better seeded. When you win such a tough competition you must be protected in some way. We have the last year`s finalist in our group. We have a difficult and interesting group but of course we are determined to defend our crown.”
Team manager and player of ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK 61 Allan BENTSEN commented the draw:
“Orenburg seeks a long trip but it`s always interesting to play against Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Vladimir SAMSONOV and Jun MIZUTANI. We look forward to meet them. The group is very hard. Roskilde will try to disturb strong teams in the upcoming season. We are happy to play again in the TTCLM. Regarding Michael MAZE `s comeback he needs some more practices and we will see how it will unfold during the season.
The draw was the opportunity to have it combined by a meeting for the discussion between TTCLM clubs about perspectives of that competition and possibilities to improve it. Members of the recently established TTCL Management Board Philipp MOEHRING and Bianka STAK (tsmg – ETTU´s TTCLM media& marketing partner) reminded clubs on many important changes which will be included in the next season. Students from the Cooperation Project University from Vienna showed their presentation speaking about all possibilities to promote table tennis in a better way.
Group A
FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG (RUS)
TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN (GER)
VS ANGERS TT (FRA)
ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK 61 (DEN)
Group B
UMMC (RUS)
AS PONTOISE CERGY TT (FRA)
ASTS “OLIMPIA-UNIA” GRUDZIĄDZ (POL)
ESLÖVS AI BORDTENNIS (SWE)
Group C
1.FC SAARBRUCKEN TT (GER)
K.S. DARTOM BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (POL)
GV HENNEBONT TT (FRA)
TABLE TENNIS CLUB OSTRAVA 2016 (CZE)
Group D
BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF (GER)
CHARTRES ASTT (FRA)
SPG WALTER WELS (AUT)
KST ENERGA – MANEKIN TORUŃ (POL)
