This season last year’s runners up TTSC UMMC reached the semi final of the Table Tennis Champions League Men alongside with Germany’s 1. FC Saarbrücken TT and Borussia Düsseldorf and Russia’s Fakel Gazprom Orenburg. Unfortunately Pandemic destroyed their plans for this year.
“In the last two months our players stayed at home so most of them did not have the opportunity to practice. But the club’s coaches were constantly in touch and gave them tasks for physical training ” explained Anastasia BELOVA on club’s Management behalf.
The health situation in Russia is still very severe and the isolation regulations are very strict.
“Unfortunately we have not started training yet. We really expect that in the near future we will have the opportunity to return to training.”
Russia’s League is also interrupted.
“We do not yet know whether the season of the Russian championship will be completed everything will depend on how soon all teams will be able to start training.”
Andrej GACINA left the club and next season will play in Poland but UMMC has another Croat on their team line.
“In the new season the UMMC roster will include Jonathan GROTH a young UMMC trainee Alexander TYUTRYUMOV who won the second place in the Russian championship. We are also very pleased to announce that Tomislav PUCAR will play for the UMMC club. In the next season we hope that we will be able to perform well in the Champions League our team always sets the bar high and competes for the highest places. Athletes will try to show a fine play to make our fans happy.”
After PUCAR signed UMMC have further strengthened the team. Liam PITCHFORD joined Russia’s club after he spent the season in Japan.
Liam said: “I’ve known Jonathan since we were growing up. We lived together in Germany when we were younger and then when I was based in Copenhagen we were together a lot. He’s been trying to get me out to Russia for a few years and now is the right time. We’ve got a good young team. Obviously there are a lot of strong teams and it’s not going to be easy but if we play well there’s a chance of going far in the competition. It’s another challenge I’m looking forward to it.”
