When the German national champions are being sought this year everything will be much bigger than in previous years. From 13 to 16 June in Erfurt the German Nationals for men and women under 15 and 19 tournaments as well as the amateur classes with the best players at local district and county level will be held at the same venue. The new so-called German Table Tennis Finals are a four-day event at the Erfurt Exhibition Centre with a total of around 500 players. Amateurs then play door to door or table to table with the national members in the youth and adult categories.
At the last two editions of the national championships the men’s and women’s singles were won by European champion Dang QIU and bronze medallist Sabine WINTER. This time however other players will climb to the top step of the podium as the defending champions had to cancel their participation in this year’s finals premiere with a heavy heart.
Like his Paris team-mates Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Timo BOLL and Patrick FRANZISKA QIU is playing the WTT Star Contender in Slovenia in preparation for the Olympics. WINTER is suffering from a back injury. Annett KAUFMANN is the favourite for the women’s title despite her break from training due to her A-levels at school.
“Of course my goal is still to win in Erfurt. But I’m not stressing about it ” explains KAUFMANN. “I’m just looking forward to the finals want to enjoy the atmosphere and hope for a good result. If it doesn’t work out this year then it’s not meant to be. I still have a lot of German championships ahead of me.”
Benedikt DUDA who won the men’s singles title in 2021 is seeded number one in the men’s competition.
“I have fond memories of 2021 when I won the championship for the first time in Bremen. That was an indescribably great feeling. I would love to experience it again in Erfurt. The competition is of course very strong but I’m in very good form ” said “Benne” DUDA. I really enjoy playing in the German Championships and am looking forward to the new format of the German Table Tennis Finals.”
In the under 19 competition Mia GRIESEL and Andre BERTELSMEIER are the hottest candidates for the title. The under 15 category is led by the European doubles champions Koharu ITAGAKI and Josephina NEUMANN as well as Jonas RINDERER this year’s winner of the national ranking tournament.
The German Table Tennis Finals are the big gathering of the table tennis family. The event is to be held annually after its premiere in 2024. In addition to competitions there is a varied programme of sports activities for all spectators as well as workshops and on Fridays the Summer Party with DJ at the outdoor area plus the broadcast of the opening match of the European Football Championships between Germany and Scotland. The state capital of Thuringia is also organising another event during the week of the tournament itself. The Krämerbrücken Festival which has been held annually since 1975 is the largest old town festival in the region and offers a colourful programme of art culture entertainment and culinary delights. Visitors to the TT Finals can combine both highlights.
Tickets are in high demand but still available
The TT Finals will take place in two exhibition halls. The tournament starts on Thursday (13 June) with the under 19 category and ends on Sunday (16 June) with the final matches of the under 15 tournament the amateur classes and the aces in the men’s and women’s categories. Ticket sales are going very well but tickets are still available for all four days of the tournament. All information about the tournament the supporting programme and tickets: www.tt-finals.de.
