The Andalusian city of Granada hosted the ETTU Women’s Coaching Seminar from December 11th to 13th. This event specifically designed to support the development and professional knowledge of female coaches in Europe was highlighted for its focus on enriching the game promoting networking and fostering the continuous growth of attendees. The seminar opened its doors not only to European female coaches but also to male coaches and members of associations outside Europe thus incorporating a diverse range of experiences and perspectives that enriched the learning environment. Participants had the opportunity to actively engage exchanging ideas and presenting projects which contributed to a more interactive and committed atmosphere promoted by the group activities of the speakers. Krisztina TOTH who brought her technical experience and unique perspectives as a bronze medalist in world championships and seven-time European champion; and Mar ROVIRA RODRÍGUEZ a specialist in sports psychology offered valuable insight into mental health in coaching from a gender perspective. The event unfolded with sessions spread over three days. The seminar effectively combined theory with practice resulting in an enriching and educational experience for all attendees.
12 Clubs in men’s and 8 in women’s category secured their places at the Europe Trophy men and women
The weekend of fierce battles all over the Continent ended with 12 Clubs in men’s and 8 in women’s category qualified for the Europe Trophy men and women Grand Final. The tournaments were held in Lille (FRA) Eskilstuna (SWE) Zagreb (CRO) Valletta (MLT) and Pontevedra (ESP) in men’s and in Antwerpen (BEL) Tallin (EST) Bratislava (SVK) and Zagreb (CRO) in women’s category. Grand Final qualifier men: Lille Metropole TT (FRA) (Winner region I) De Boer Taverzo (NED) (Runner-up region I) Eskilstuna BTK (SWE) (Winner region II) Pöytätennis Espoo (FIN) (Runner-up region II) STK Vyhne (SVK) (Winner region III/C) SK Vydrany (SVK) (Runner-up region III/C) TJ Geolog Roznava (SVK) (Winner region III/D) KAP-OFF (TUR) (Runner-up region III/D) Panathinaikos A.C. (GRE) (Winner region IV/E) ASD TT Santa Tecla Nulvi (ITA) (Winner region IV/F) TTC RADNIČKI 1972 BEOČIN (SRB) (3rd place region IV) Arteal TDM (ESP) (Winner region V) Grand Final qualifier women: KTTC AFP Antwerpen (BEL) (Winner region I) Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Métropole CP (FRA) (Runner-up region I) Wamet Dobry Wiązar Dąbcze (POL) (Winner region II ASV Kufstein I (AUT) (Winner region III) SCO Bodensdorf (AUT) (Runner-up region III) Dr. Casl (CRO) (Winner region IV /D) STK Aquaestil (CRO) (Winner region IV /E) AD Muravera TT -B- (ITA) (3rd place IV)
59 Referees attended International Referee Conference in Slovakia
After 6 years without an International Referee Conference due to COVID restrictions ITTF URC invited this year all International Referees to attend the Referee Conferences this year. 121 out of 132 referees worldwide attended the IR Conferences either in Beijing in November or in Senec in December. The Conference in Senec has been supported and organized by Slovak Table Tennis Association. In the Conference the referees discussed different scenarios and agreed on common solutions. They also practiced public draws and implementation of events in a role play. Tina CROTTA from WTT presented the procedures and changes for the WTT events in 2024. Kevin CARPENTER informed about the ITTF Integrity Unit. A lively discussion started in the sessions with players and coaches. In Senec the Austrian coach Jarek KOLODZIEJCZYK discussed with referees the expectations of and cooperation between referees players and coaches. All referees also had to do an online rules exam. Werner THURY: “Three days of exchange of experiences and discussions finished with the common agreement that it is necessary to continue this way of development to ensure a common approach and professionalism. As chairperson I was really happy to see that around 90% of all referees worldwide attended the Conference this year.” Anton HAMRAN and the Slovak Table Tennis Association have organized the Conference in an excellent way. Jarek KOLODZIEJCZYK as ETTU chair of the Coaches Committee gave us an excellent insight into the expectations of coaches.
Sweden – fourth China Makes History as First Ever ITTF Mixed Team World Cup Champions
In Chengdu China emerging victorious swiftly defeating Korea Republic 8-1 and have forever etched their name in history as the first ever champions of the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup. Top seed of the tournament China finished the week with 56 games won and only 10 games lost. In tonight’s gold medal match the team proved too strong for Korea Republic and claimed victory 8-1. This result will see China as the first team to lift the GUOLIANG-SÖRLING Trophy as the winners of this groundbreaking event and continue to show its dominance in world Table Tennis. Defeated at the final hurdle Korea Republic will leave Chengdu with silver. Meanwhile Japan has claimed the bronze medal. Sweden composed of Kristian KARLSSON Anton KALLBERG Isak ALFREDSSON Linda BERGSTROM Christina KALLBERG and Filippa BERGAND finished at the position no.4. “An extraordinary event unfolded and we witnessed the making of table tennis history ” commented Petra SÖRLING ITTF President and IOC Member. “The success of this inaugural Mixed Team World Cup surpassed all expectations – players left us in awe spectators filled the venue every single day the innovative format exuded an incredible spirit and the dynamic playing system intensified the matches. A heartfelt thank you to Chengdu and I eagerly anticipate our return next year.”
IOC EB approves Individual Neutral Athletes for the Olympic Games Paris 2024
Russians and Belarusians who qualify in their sport for the Paris 2024 Olympics can take part as neutrals without flags emblems or anthems at the event next year the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday. In the statement published on the IOC site the strict conditions were reveiled. The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) who have qualified through the existing qualification systems of the International Federations (IFs) on the field of play will be declared eligible to compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in accordance with the the strict conditions. Individual Neutral Athletes are athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport. The strict eligibility conditions based on the recommendations issued by the IOC EB on 28 March 2023 for International Federations and international sports event organisers will be applied. Like all the other athletes at the Olympic Games the Individual Neutral Athletes will also have to comply with the rules and regulations applicable at the Olympic Games including anti-doping. Like all the other athletes they will also have to sign the updated Conditions of Participation applicable for Paris 2024. This contains a commitment to respect the Olympic Charter including “the peace mission of the Olympic Movement”. The Individual Neutral Athletes will be invited by the IOC and their respective IFs. Only a very limited number of athletes will qualify through the existing qualification systems of the IFs. Among the 4 600 athletes from around the world who have qualified for Paris 2024 so far there are only 11 Individual Neutral Athletes (eight with a Russian passport plus three with a Belarusian passport). In comparison to date more than 60 Ukrainian athletes have qualified for Paris 2024. It is expected that the Ukrainian delegation is going to be around the same size as at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The strict eligibility conditions for Individual Neutral Athletes at Paris 2024 are the very same strict eligibility conditions under which they qualified namely: Qualified athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport will be entered as and compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (“AINs”). Teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport will not be considered. Athletes who actively support the war will not be eligible to be entered or to compete. Support personnel who actively support the war will not be entered. Athletes who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies will not be eligible to be entered or to compete. Support personnel who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies will not be entered. Any such Individual Neutral Athlete like all the other participating athletes will have to meet all anti-doping requirements applicable to them in the lead-up to and at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and particularly those set out in the anti-doping rules of the IFs. The sanctions against those responsible for the war the Russian and Belarusian states and governments remain in place for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This means in particular that: No flag anthem colours or any other identifications whatsoever of Russia or Belarus will be displayed at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in any official venue or any official function. No Russian or Belarusian government or state officials will be invited to or accredited for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. You can read it here.
KS DEKORGLASS DZIAŁDOWO prevailed in France
In the penultimate duel in Group C of the Champions League Women KS DEKORGLASS DZIAŁDOWO overcame GV HENNEBONT TT. There is one match left in this group the return leg in Poland and it will determine the battle for the second position. SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt has already secured the top spot earning a place in the Final 4. The return leg is scheduled for December 19th. Tonight Jonathan GROTH led the Polish side to victory with two wins over Takumi MATSUSHITA and Vladimir SIDORENKO. Konishi KAII recorded the third point while in GV HENNEBONT TT SIDORENKO was the only one to score. GV HENNEBONT TT – KS DEKORGLASS DZIAŁDOWO 1-3 Vladimir SIDORENKO – Patryk LEWANDOWSKI 3-0 (11-8 11-8 11-7) Takumi MATSUSHITA – Jonathan GROTH 0-3 (3-11 8-11 6-11) Alexander GILLEN – Konishi KAII 0-3 (3-11 11-13 4-11) Vladimir SIDORENKO – Jonathan GROTH 0-3 (9-11 8-11 5-11)
Champions League Dramatic Turnaround for Linz AG Froschberg in Group C
Twice Champions League Women winners Linz AG Froschberg recovered from two defeats against French clubs at the start of Stage 2 to record two wins in the last two matches. Tonight ETIVAL ASRTT suffered at the hands of Austria’s players in France. Now the situation in Group C is very interesting. With Linz’s 3-1 away win against Grand Quevilly in the return leg two weeks ago the Austrian champions brought themselves back into the game for promotion to the quarter-finals. Tonight’s victory launched them to safer ground but everything remains open until the last match on December 14th when two French clubs will play against each other. If Grand Quevilly wins all three teams could hold on to two victories. So far in the opening leg Etival ASRTT beat Grand-Quevilly ALCL. Etival ASRTT – Linz AG Froschberg 1-3 SHAO Jieni – Sofia POLCANOVA 1-3 (11-8 7-11 4-11 3-11) Marie MIGOT – Suthasini SAWETTABUT 1-3 (2-11 6-11 11-5 9-11) Camelia IACOB – Ivana MALOBABIC 3-0 (11-5 11-9 11-1) SHAO Jieni – Suthasini SAWETTABUT 0-3 (5-11 9-11 5-11)
ITTF Receives Warm Welcome at Olympic House
ITTF was invited to the Olympic House where they received a warm welcome from International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas BACH. Leading the delegation was ITTF President and IOC Member Petra SÖRLING accompanied by IOC Member RYU Seungmin Executive Board Members Chairs of the ITTF Athletes Commission and senior staff. The productive dialogue between the ITTF and the IOC marks a significant stride towards fortifying the ongoing partnership between the two organisations. Chairs of the ITTF Athletes Commission Sharath Kamal ACHANTA LIU Shiwen and Singapore’s most decorated Olympian FENG Tianwei left their mark by signing the Olympians Wall and were honoured with OLY certificates of recognition by President BACH.
Apuania Carrara raised their third consecutive Italian Super Cup
Apuania Carrara secured their third consecutive Italian Super Cup victory by defeating Top Spin Messina WatchesTogether 5-2 at Palasport of Avenza. The competition unfolded on two tables playing the best of five singles out of nine. The defending champions faced a challenging task from the start with Tommaso GIOVANNETTI upsetting the odds against Andrej GACINA and Matteo MUTTI performing well to defeat Mihai BOBOCICA. In the subsequent matches STOYANOV took the lead but was then matched by Tomislav PUCAR BOBOCICA and GACINA. Only the encounter between GACINA and MUTTI ended in straight games. “As always ” said Apuania Carrara’s coach Claudio VOLPI “when we face Top Spin Messina close matches emerge. The game ended 5-2 but the score could have been different. These matches are challenging to predict because all the athletes are strong and familiar with each other. The players from Messina always give their best against us. This Super Cup felt like a final and it’s normal that motivations for both teams were very high. They played at a top level and I have to congratulate them; they deserve it. I am very satisfied with the performance of our athletes; there was excellent team spirit and there was no discouragement when GACINA lost to GIOVANNETTI at the beginning. Everyone was aware that the match was still very long and there was time to recover. I’m happy because the guys wanted to win and despite a bad start we managed to get the match back on track with a lot of effort. Little by little the points started to come and in the end we could celebrate.” Apuania Carrara – Top Spin Messina 5-2 Mihai BOBOCICA – Matteo MUTTI 1-3 (11-7 8-11 10-12 10-12) Andrej GACINA – Tommaso GIOVANNETTI 2-3 (7-11 12-10 11-3 8-11 5-6) Tomislav PUCAR – Niagol STOYANOV 3-2 (12-10 6-11 12-14 11-8 6-3) Andrej GACINA – Matteo MUTTI 3-0 (11-8 11-6 12-10) Mihai BOBOCICA – Niagol STOYANOV 3-2 (9-11 8-11 11-9 11-4 6-2) Tomislav PUCAR – Tommaso GIOVANNETTI 3-1 (9-11 11-2 11-2 11-5) Andrej GACINA – Niagol STOYANOV 3-2 (10-12 13-11 9-11 11-4 6-2)
SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt in Final 4
In their last match in Group C SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt overcame KS DEKORGLASS DZIAŁDOWO. In Group A A.S PONTOISE-CERGY TT defeated Tesla Batteries Havirov once again. In Poland Austria’s SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt secured their fourth win; for the second time they overcame KS DEKORGLASS DZIAŁDOWO. The match went the full distance but it did not prevent Austria from claiming the top spot in the group unbeaten. They have secured their place in the Final Four after progressing from Stage One of the Champions League. Ivor BAN was the backbone of the team’s success with two wins over ZHOU Yu and Patryk LEWANDOWSKI while Jin UEDA secured the third point. The Austrians are now in the Final Four and French GV HENNEBONT TT and KS DEKORGLASS DZIAŁDOWO have not played against each other yet. Their first duel is scheduled for December 8th. In France A.S PONTOISE-CERGY TT repeated their success against Tesla Batteries Havirov and prevailed in straight matches. The Czech club has already suffered two losses against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT e.V but the French team is yet to meet the reigning champions. Tonight Marcos FREITAS set the pace with a win over Adam STALZER; Mehdi BOULOUSSA followed suit with a victory over Tomas POLANSKY. Jan VALENTA had a chance to extend the match but in the decisive game Flavio MOURIER showed no mercy. KS DEKORGLASS DZIAŁDOWO – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2-3 ZHOU Yu – Ivor BAN 2-3 (9-11 6-11 11-5 11-5 5-6) Patryk LEWANDOWSKI – Jin UEDA 1-3 (5-11 11-9 3-11 8-11) Jonathan GROTH – Frane KOJIC 3-1 (6-11 11-4 11-5 11-5) ZHOU Yu – Jin UEDA 3-1 (11-13 4-11 14_12 11-7) Patryk LEWANDOWSKI – Ivor BAN 1-3 (11-8 5-11 6-11 7-11) A.S PONTOISE-CERGY TT – Tesla Batteries Havirov 3-0 Marcos FREITAS – Adam STALZER 3-0 (12-10 11-4 11-4) Mehdi BOULOUSSA – Tomas POLANSKY 3-1 (11-6 11-9 8-11 11-4) Flavio MOURIER – Jan VALENTA 3-2 (11-9 9-11 9-11 11-6 6-0)
