Champions League Men | 18 Aug 2015
New TTCLM season begins on Thursday
Borussia`s coach Danny HEISTER explains why the 2015/16 season will be tough like previous one: “Even no. 16 seed Ostrov has a top player like Masataka MORIZONO”
The 18th edition of TTCLM starts this Thursday by Round 1 game between KST Energa-Manekin Torun and Eslovs Al Bordtennis (August 20th, 18.00 CET) while other seven matches will be held on Friday and Saturday. Again 16 clubs will fight for the title, divided in four groups. Russian Fakel Gazproma Orenburg defends the crown which it has won in the final clashes against ten times European champion Borussia Dusseldorf.
Borussia plays in Group D and it starts new season against well known opponent, Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Coach of German side Danny HEISTER explained why the upcoming season should be a huge challenge for his team:
“The new TTCL season will be as tough as it was last year. There are several teams playing with excellent players. Even number 16 seeded Ostrov has got a top player with Masataka MORIZONO, world´s 21. So I think this TTCL season will be as balanced as never before. Bogoria with JUNG Youngsik, Daniel GORAK and Pawel FERTIKOWSKi is one of the candidates in our group D to reach quarter finals. So it will be a great match to start into the new season. Our hall ARAG CenterCourt will be sold out and we will have a special atmosphere.”
Other Group D match will be held in France where Chartres ASTT expects STEN Marketing HB Ostrov. Host team, the 2012/13 TCLM finalist, is considered as one of favorites. They are continuing with same four players like in last couple of seasons: GAO Ning, Robert GARDOS, Par GERELL and Damien ELOI.
“We respect the strength of team Chartres and we travel to France with thoughts that we can only surprise our opponent. Regarding the whole season, our goal is to take the 3rd place in the group”, emphasized Jan HRNCIRIK, manager of STEN Marketing.
Top seeded Orenburg will fight for its fourth crown, as unique TTCLM participant with two Top 10 players on ITTF World Ranking List: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (no. 5) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (no. 8). They will be supported by the best no. 3 team`s player in TTCLM in last five seasons Alexei SMIRNOV. They are going to host SPG Walter Wels in the Round 1.
The 2012/13 semi-finalist, Saarbrucken expects VS Angers TT in the other Group A match. Coach of German club Slobodan GRUJIC, who won TTCLM as a player (with Gonnern), has sent compliments to his first opponent in the new season:
“Angers is very strong, experienced and well balanced team. We had good preparation thus we are ready for the match. As usual in the eve of the new season, players lack the matches, but we hope that we can reach first TTCL victory”.
Two big names are in the Group B are the 2008 TTCLM champion Wienviertel Niederosterreich and the 2012 finalist UMMC. In the Round 1 Russian side plays at home against GV Hennebont who still counts on Kalinikos KREANGA. World`s no. 6 Jun MIZUTANI will be a biggest weapon of Verkhnaya Pyshma`s side. Niederosterreich hosts Olimpia Unia, one of three TTCLM participants from Poland.
The 2014 TTCLM champion and 2015 ETTU Cup winner play in Group C and both start new season away: AS Pontoise Cergy in Bremen, and Eslovs in Torun. Pontoise is determined to continue its successful run, after 2014 TTCLM title and 2015 French National League crown. Marcos FREITAS should be a guarantee for that.
Round 1 of the 2015/16 TTCLM (August 20-22nd)
GROUP A
Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – SPG Walter Wels (August 21st, 14.20 CET)
1.FC Saarbrucken TT – Angers TT (August 21st, 18.00 CET)
GROUP B
UMMC – GV Hennebont (August 21st, 14.00 CET)
Wienviertel Niederosterreich – Olimpia Unia Grudziadz (August 22nd, 17.00 CET)
GROUP C
SV Werder Bremen – AS Pontoise Cergy TT (August 21st, 19.00 CET)
KST Energa-Manekin Torun – Eslovs Al Bordtennis (August 20th, 18.00 CET)
GROUP D
Borussia Dusseldorf – Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (August 21st, 19.30 CET)
Chartres ASTT – STEN Marketing HB Ostrov (August 21st, 19.00 CET)
