Ovidiu IONESCU: Never give up your dreams

Two years ago in Alicante Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU reached the final of the individual European Championships. He has lost to Timo BOLL but the success achieved by IONESCU meant that he became only the second ever Romanian to reach the final of a Men’s Singles event at a European Championships; the one other was Radu NEGULESCU in 1960 in Zagreb. Radu was beaten in the final by the Hungary’s Zoltan BERCZIK.

 

We hope that he will have the chance to try to go one step further this year in Poland’s Warsaw where the ITTF European individual Championships will take place. However the break in tournaments we used to talk about the past.

 

IONESCU revealed that his starts were “accidental”.

 

“I remember that my brother was not allowed by his classmates to play table tennis in the school yard so he asked Santa to bring us two rackets. As soon as we received it we started to play on my father desk all day long. Initially it was funny for my parents but after a while it got a little bit annoying. I had a lot of energy so they brought me to the table tennis club in my hometown ” said IONESCU.

 

When you realize will become your professional call?

 

“When I first moved to Germany in my youth I knew I was going to do everything in power to become a professional table tennis player.”

 

Have you ever felt you had enough and wanted to stop?

 

“No never. I love this sport too much with all its ups and downs.”

 

What is the first ever award you remember?

 

“My first gold medal. I was 10 years old and I had won the top 10 for the first time. I remember I was so happy. My parents were with me and they even bought me a water machine gun as a present.”

 

Most memorized moments in your career?

 

“I think both when I won silver at European and World Championships are the happiest moments for me. You want to believe you can make it and when you actually do it you cannot compare it with anything else in the sport.

 

Place that made greatest impression on you?

 

“Olympic Games in Rio for the first time. Being surrounded by all the great athletes proved to me that it is always good to chase your dreams.”

 

Person that impressed you the most?

 

“For me Roger FEDERER is the best role model inside and outside the court.”

 

Greatest sadness?

 

“A more recent one would be in European games in mixed doubles final. The winner would get directly the Olympic ticket. Our opponents Petrissa SOLJA and Patrick FRANZISKA played perfectly and we did not stand a chance.”

 

Legacy of the sport?

 

“I hope people in Romania will start to follow more and more table tennis and that table tennis will become a more recognized sport countrywide.”

 

What is the next goal to achieve?

 

“As the Olympics postponed for a year the next goal is to get a gold medal at European Championships doesn’t matter the event.”

 

Related News

Novi Sad Awaits First Guests Ahead of European Veterans Championships

PHOTO: Studio VUJIČIN Novi Sad is preparing to welcome the first guests for the European Veterans Table Tennis Championships, which will be held from June 15 to 21, 2025, at...

Read more

ttc berlin eastside Crowned Champions League Women’s Winners for Sixth Time

Photo by: Let’s go Metz/N. MARTINO Germany’s ttc berlin eastside clinched the Champions League Women title for the sixth time in club history. After their 2021 triumph, they returned to...

Read more

Timo BOLL Becomes Ambassador for German Table Tennis

Even after the end of his active career, Timo BOLL remains closely connected to table tennis in Germany. The former world number one, 174-time national team player, and record European...

Read more

Iceland Seeks New National Team Head Coach to Lead Development and Growth

The Icelandic Table Tennis Association (Borðtennissamband Íslands) is inviting applications for the position of Senior National Team Head Coach, with an optional broader role as National Head of Development overseeing...

Read more

Contact

About Us

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organization of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships.

Powered By

All Competitions

Senior Competitions

Club Competitions

Youth Competitions

More Competitions