Czechia’s HB Ostrov z.s. secured their pass to the next stage by recording their second win in the Round of 16 of the Europe Cup Women. They now join Romania’s CSM Constanta MUSEO DE LA ALMENDRA FRANCISCO MORALES from Spain and Portugal’s Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela. Today HB Ostrov z.s. needed four matches to overcome Spanish Real Club Tenis De Mesa Linares one more than they needed in the opening leg. Zdena BLASKOVA once again led her club with two wins beating Gloria PANADERO SANTOS and Roxana ISTRATE. Roxana won the only point for the hosts against Linda ZADEROVA. The list of Europe Cup teams for the next stage is complete and the draw for the quarterfinal will be finalized with the teams finishing in position no. 3 in the Champions League groups. Real Club Tenis De Mesa Linares – HB Ostrov z.s.1-3 Roxana ISTRATE – Linda ZADEROVA 3-0 (11-8 11-8 11-7) Gloria PANADERO SANTOS – Zdena BLASKOVA 1-3 (4-11 12-14 14-12 2-11) Claudia CARAGEA – Tatiana KUKULKOVA 1-3 (11-7 3-11 8-11 4-11) Roxana ISTRATE – Zdena BLASKOVA 0-3 (10-12 5-11 8-11)
KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW booked the place in the Round 4
The Polish team KS Global Pharma Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów emerged victorious against TT Club Ostrava 2016 in both legs of the Round of 16 in the Europe Cup Men. They now join Czechia’s SF SKK EL Niño Praha and Belgium’s TTC Sokah Hoboken in the fourth round. In the opening leg KS Global Pharma Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów needed four matches and tonight they repeated the success. PARK Jeongwoo Piotr CYRNEK and Robert FLORAS defeated Adam KLAJBER Jakub KLEPRLIK and Khalid ASSAR. There is only one match left in the round; tomorrow Polski Cukier Gwiazda will meet Spain’s C.E.R Robin Hat Prisco L’Escala after the Polish club won the opening leg. KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 Suchedniów – TT Club Ostrava 2016 3-1 PARK Jeongwoo – Adam KLAJBER 3-0 (11-5 11-5 11-5) Piotr CYRNEK – Jakub KLEPRLIK 3-1 (11-3 11-13 13-11 11-9) Robert FLORAS – Khalid ASSAR 1-3 (11-8 9-11 8-11 7-11) PARK Jeongwoo – Jakub KLEPRLIK 3-0 (11-9 11-7 11-6)
SCHLAGER and LIU Jia crowned ÖTTV Athletes of the Century Vienna City Hall
On the occasion of its 100th birthday the ÖTTV (Austrian Table Tennis Association) extended a warm invitation to the table tennis community and companions for an illustrious gala evening in Vienna City Hall. The event was thoughtfully infused with humor featuring a cabaret ping-pong special by Comedy Hirten and culminated in the recognition of red-white-red athletes of the century. In the esteemed presence of Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister Werner KOGLER European champion and six-time Olympian LIU Jia and world champion Werner SCHLAGER were honored as athletes of the century. Rosa SCHWEIZER and Stanislaw FRACZYK unfortunately had to cancel at short notice due to illness but were declared winners in the categories of athletes of the century with disabilities. Manfred SCHWEIZER accepted the trophy on behalf of his late wife who passed away in 1990 and FRACZYK was represented on stage by ÖTTV para national coach Johann KNOLL. The winners were determined through an audience and expert vote with red-white-red sports greats Michaela DORFMEISTER Thomas MORGENSTERN and Clemens DOPPLER acting as laudators. ETTU President Pedro MOURA and Secretary General Pierre KASS were also present at the ceremony. President MOURA was deeply moved by the special occasion and the extraordinary celebration. “It was an absolute pleasure and honor to be present at the Gala for the celebration of the 100th birthday of the Austrian Federation. In ETTU we have the motto to respect the past in order to build the future. Yesterday evening was full of joy and memories of top-class moments of Austria’s best players. I felt honored to have the opportunity to talk with the last European player who won the title at the World Championships Mr. Werner SCHLAGER and to share the stage with him and LIU Jia.” “Finally I want to congratulate the Austrian Table Tennis Federation for a hundred years full of success and wish them the next century full of success. I would also love to congratulate the Anniversary of the Federation to ÖTTV President Wolfgang GOTSCHE and extend my congratulations on a wonderful event. I wish him a great deal of success in the future ” said ETTU President Moura. Among the more than 400 guests and well-wishers including former top players and the current ÖTTV national squad notable figures such as Austria Sport President Hans NIESSL ÖFB General Secretary Thomas HOLLERER ÖPC General Secretary Petra HUBER BMI group leader Günter MAREK Philipp TRATTNER (head of the sports section in the BMI) ÖOC sports director Christoph Sieber state parliament member Barbara PRAMMER Upper Austria’s state sports director Gerhard RUMETSHOFER Irene STRÖCK BSG managing director Clemens TRIMMEL ex-top diver Marion REIFF and multiple kickboxing world and European champion Nicole TRIMMEL were present. ÖTTV Athletes of the Century: Athlete of the Century: Werner SCHLAGER Also nominated: DING Yi Richard BERGMANN Female Athlete of the Century: LIU Jia Also nominated: Gertrude PRITZI Sophia POLCANOVA Disabled Athlete of the Century: Stanislaw FRACZYK Also nominated: Rudolf HAJEK Andreas VEVERA Athlete of the Century with Disabilities: Rosa SCHWEIZER (born Kühnel) Also nominated: Doris MADER Stefanie KRENMAYER Quotes: Werner SCHLAGER: “It’s always nice to be able to recreate these moments from the 2003 World Cup final in Paris. But today it was even more special especially since my then coach Ferenc KARSAI was also there. I enjoy being able to celebrate with my former teammates Karl JINDRAK and Kostadin LENGEROV.” LIU Jia: “When I came to Austria I never dreamed that I would one day be on stage in the Vienna City Hall. Now I am an athlete of the century. That’s still incredible for me and I’m happy that I’m so popular in Austria. Now I want to do everything I can to ensure that the team can qualify for the Olympics. It will be extremely difficult but I would love to play in Paris and be ready for my seventh Olympic participation.” Wolfgang GOTSCHE (ÖTTV President): “To be able to hold a 100th anniversary celebration in this ambience of the Vienna City Hall – that was truly extraordinary and a real highlight for the sport of table tennis. We as ÖTTV were able to choose great athletes of the century: European champion Liu Jia and world champion Werner SCHLAGER as well as the para legends Rosa SCHWEIZER and Stanislaw FRACZYK are real role models.” The silver salver presented by ETTU was awarded to ÖTTV and on that occasion the two ETTU Badges of Honours were awarded to Austria’ s coach Jarek KOLODZIEJCZYK and President of Linz AG Froschberg Günther RENNER
Danish Table Tennis Federation to Host Career Day
The Danish Table Tennis Federation is set to host a Career day on November 18th offering insights into building a successful career in the sport. The event will feature workshops lectures and personal stories from prominent figures in the table tennis world. The workshop titled “Making a career plan – where do you want to be in five years?” will be hosted by Linus MERNSTEN and Magnus MALLANDER coaches of the Danish national team. Martin Buch ANDERSEN a rising star in Danish table tennis at just 23 years old will share his journey from starting in the Oberliga three years ago to becoming a player in the 2nd Bundesliga. His talk “My career so far: decisions and turning points ” promises valuable insights for young talents. Former French national team player and professional in the French Pro A Marie MIGOT will provide a unique perspective in her talk “A leap of faith: my life as a professional and French national team player.” Peter ROSENMEIER a two-time Danish Paralympic champion and renowned media personality in Denmark will lead a lecture and workshop on “Dealing with media self-marketing and how to negotiate contracts. Lessons from a life in the limelight.” Rosenmeier’s expertise promises to be particularly insightful for athletes navigating the complexities of media exposure and contract negotiations. The career day is part of an ongoing project by the Danish Table Tennis Federation to educate young athletes about the intricacies of building a career in table tennis. The initiative aims to help athletes visualize a path for themselves beyond their junior years fostering a supportive environment that discourages dropout rates in the sport. Through a combination of personal stories expert advice and interactive sessions the career day endeavors to empower the next generation of table tennis stars and equip them with the tools they need for a long and successful career in the sport.
SF SKK EL Niňo Praha won another thriller
SF SKK EL Niňo Praha advanced to the fourth round of the Europe Cup Men with two victories over Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61. In both legs the Czech team needed the full five matches to overcome the club from Denmark. This time Jiri VRABLIK was the backbone of the team’s success as he defeated Jens LUNDQVIST and Dominykas SAMUOLIS who also suffered at the hands of Tomas KONECNY. “It was a very close match. We had the chance to win 3:0 but then everything came again same close like in the first match in Prague ” said El Niño Praha Sport Director Matthias Landfried. Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 – SF SKK EL Niňo Praha 2-3 Jens LUNDQVIST – Jiri VRABLIK 2-3 (11-9 11-7 8-11 5-11 4-6) Dominykas SAMUOLIS – Tomas KONECNY 1-3 (12-10 9-11 6-11 8-11) Allan BENTSEN – Frantisek ONDERKA 3-2 (8-11 12-14 11-8 11-9 6-2) Jens LUNDQVIST – Tomas KONECNY 3-0 (11-9 13-11 11-8) Dominykas SAMUOLIS – Jiri VRABLIK 1-3 (11-5 9-11 8-11 8-11)
TTC Neu-Ulm kicked off the Champions League season in spectacular fashion
In the first match of the season for the German club in the Champions League Men TTC Neu-Ulm defeated HB Ostrov z.s. in Group B. This marks the second defeat for the Czech team in Stage two following their loss to KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki. “The 3-0 win is excellent; all three players performed very well and I can be satisfied. I really liked the atmosphere in the hall; the fans were great. Our goal is to win the entire competition so we came here with a strong lineup. And we can be even stronger for the next matches ” said TTC Neu Ulm coach Dmitry MAZUNOV. Europe’s no. 3 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Continent’s no. 8 Truls MOREGARD and Maksim GREBNEV won all three matches without losing a game. “A lot of big European clubs could learn here how to create the right atmosphere in the Champions League. We had no idea that there would be more than a thousand fans here. The atmosphere is fantastic. I never played against David REITŠPIES but you could see that he was very nervous at first. I gradually started to play my game and I won without any major problems ” said Truls MOREGARD. HB Ostrov z.s. – TTC Neu-Ulm 0-3 Pavel SIRUCEK – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 0-3 (10-12 6-11 5-11) Davis REITSPIES – Truls MOREGARD 0-3 (10-12 6-11 6-11) Tomas TREGLER – Maksim GREBNEV 0-3 (7-11 10-12 8-11)
TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN in Round 4
Belgium’s TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN progressed to Round 4 of the Europe Cup Men. After a 3-2 win in the opening leg today’s match was less closely contested. ASV Grünwettersbach lost in straight matches. Pär GERELL performed superbly against Timothy FALCONNIER in the opening match before Gabrielius CAMARA and Deni KOZUL engaged in the longest duel of the encounter. The Dutch player prevailed after a full five games. Slovenia’s KOZUL had a chance after he recovered from 0-2 to level but CAMARA withstood the pressure. In the previous leg Rafael TURRINI beat Quentin ROBINOT but tonight the Frenchman avenged the defeat to seal the match. TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN – ASV Grünwettersbach 3-0 Pär GERELL – Timothy FALCONNIER 3-0 (11-5 12-10 11-3) Gabrielius CAMARA – Deni KOZUL 3-2 (11-7 11-8 5-11 9-11 6-3) Quentin ROBINOT – Rafael TURRINI 3-1 (11-8 9-11 11-9 11-9)
TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN in Round 4
Belgium’s TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN progressed to Round 4 of the Europe Cup Men. After a 3-2 win in the opening leg today’s match was less closely contested. ASV Grünwettersbach lost in straight matches. Pär GERELL performed superbly against Timothy FALCONNIER in the opening match before Gabrielius CAMARA and Deni KOZUL engaged in the longest duel of the encounter. The Dutch player prevailed after a full five games. Slovenia’s KOZUL had a chance after he recovered from 0-2 to level but CAMARA withstood the pressure. In the previous leg Rafael TURRINI beat Quentin ROBINOT but tonight the Frenchman avenged the defeat to seal the match. TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN – ASV Grünwettersbach 3-0 Pär GERELL – Timothy FALCONNIER 3-0 (11-5 12-10 11-3) Gabrielius CAMARA – Deni KOZUL 3-2 (11-7 11-8 5-11 9-11 6-3) Quentin ROBINOT – Rafael TURRINI 3-1 (11-8 9-11 11-9 11-9)
GALONJA: ”Every Point Felt Like an Eternity”
After two thrilling long-distance clashes Museo De La Almendra Francisco Morales secured their spot in Round Four of the Europe Cup Women. In the return leg of the Round of 16 the Spanish club emerged victorious in a nail-biting five-match duel against Poland’s Czestochowa Bebetto AZS UJD. “It was a very close and intense match. The team from Poland changed their lineup to try to beat us 3:1 ” explained Marija GALONJA. Chinese player JIAQI Meng paved the way for success. “In the opening duel my Chinese teammate won 3:0 playing quite well. After that I lost to BILENKO 3:1 and I feel regret again because I was leading in the third game and ended up losing. Patrica SANTOS lost to Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO who played very well. The fourth match was crucial; Meng won against BILENKO in a close match 3-2 6-4 and for me every point felt like an eternity.” GALONJA admitted her heart was beating at 100. “In my last match I think I played very well and entered the game very confidently and it stayed that way until the end. Now we are so happy. We have never come this far in Europe before.” Museo De La Almendra Francisco Morales – Czestochowa Bebetto AZS UJD 3 -2 JIAQI Meng – Alicja LEBEK 3- 0 (12-10 11-8 11-4) Marija GALONJA – Tetyana BILENKO 1-3 (8-11 11-8 8-11 1-11) Patricia SANTOS – Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO 0-3 (10-12 6-11 6-11) JIAQI Meng – Tetyana BILENKO 3-2 (14-12 9-11 11-6 7-11 6-4) Marija GALONJA – Alicja LEBEK 3-0 (11-5 11-3 11-9) GIRBAU VIC T.T. – CSM Constanta 2-3 Airi ABE – Alina ZAHARIA 3-0 (11-5 11-5 11-3) Charlotte CAREY – Elena ZAHARIA 2-3 (9-11 6-11 11-8 11-6 2-6) Camila MOSCOSO – Bianca MEI ROSU 0-3 (8-11 12-14 4-11) Airi ABE – Elena ZAHARIA 3-2 (12-10 11-7 9-11 7-11) Charlotte CAREY – Alina ZAHARIA 0-3 (9-11 5-11 10-12) Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela – MIRÓ Ganxets Reus 3-1 Annamaria ERDELYI – Elvira Fiona RAD 3-0 (11-7 11-5 11-2) Matilde PINTO – Paulina VEGA 0-3 (8-11 10-12 5-11) Ines MATOS – Renata SHYPSHA 3-1 (11-7 11-9 8-11 11-4) Annamaria ERDELYI – Paulina VEGA 3-1 (11-6 14-16 12-10 11-9) The action today continued with the second leg of the duel between Spanish GIRBAU VIC T.T. and Romania’s CSM Constanta which saw the Romanian club progress to the next stage after two wins. It was very similar to the opening leg with the same result. Japan’s Airi ABE remained unbeaten and all three Constanta’s players Elena and Alina ZAHARIA overcame Charlotte CAREY while Bianca MEI ROSU prevailed against Camila MOSCOSO. Portugal’s Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela also recorded a second win in the third stage against MIRÓ Ganxets Reus. Annamaria ERDELYI beat both Elvira Fiona RAD and Paulina VEGA while Ines MATOS prevailed against Renata SHYPSHA. “We expected it would not be as difficult as in the opening leg because they came without their two best players but even so… For me personally it was more challenging than last time since I had to play against Pauline. We know each other very well; we train together here in Mirandela. Now I am so happy that I won both my matches and that we are through to the next round ” said ERDELYI.
GALONJA: ”Every Point Felt Like an Eternity”
After two thrilling long-distance clashes Museo De La Almendra Francisco Morales secured their spot in Round Four of the Europe Cup Women. In the return leg of the Round of 16 the Spanish club emerged victorious in a nail-biting five-match duel against Poland’s Czestochowa Bebetto AZS UJD. “It was a very close and intense match. The team from Poland changed their lineup to try to beat us 3:1 ” explained Marija GALONJA. Chinese player JIAQI Meng paved the way for success. “In the opening duel my Chinese teammate won 3:0 playing quite well. After that I lost to BILENKO 3:1 and I feel regret again because I was leading in the third game and ended up losing. Patrica SANTOS lost to Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO who played very well. The fourth match was crucial; Meng won against BILENKO in a close match 3-2 6-4 and for me every point felt like an eternity.” GALONJA admitted her heart was beating at 100. “In my last match I think I played very well and entered the game very confidently and it stayed that way until the end. Now we are so happy. We have never come this far in Europe before.” Museo De La Almendra Francisco Morales – Czestochowa Bebetto AZS UJD 3 -2 JIAQI Meng – Alicja LEBEK 3- 0 (12-10 11-8 11-4) Marija GALONJA – Tetyana BILENKO 1-3 (8-11 11-8 8-11 1-11) Patricia SANTOS – Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO 0-3 (10-12 6-11 6-11) JIAQI Meng – Tetyana BILENKO 3-2 (14-12 9-11 11-6 7-11 6-4) Marija GALONJA – Alicja LEBEK 3-0 (11-5 11-3 11-9) GIRBAU VIC T.T. – CSM Constanta 2-3 Airi ABE – Alina ZAHARIA 3-0 (11-5 11-5 11-3) Charlotte CAREY – Elena ZAHARIA 2-3 (9-11 6-11 11-8 11-6 2-6) Camila MOSCOSO – Bianca MEI ROSU 0-3 (8-11 12-14 4-11) Airi ABE – Elena ZAHARIA 3-2 (12-10 11-7 9-11 7-11) Charlotte CAREY – Alina ZAHARIA 0-3 (9-11 5-11 10-12) Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela – MIRÓ Ganxets Reus 3-1 Annamaria ERDELYI – Elvira Fiona RAD 3-0 (11-7 11-5 11-2) Matilde PINTO – Paulina VEGA 0-3 (8-11 10-12 5-11) Ines MATOS – Renata SHYPSHA 3-1 (11-7 11-9 8-11 11-4) Annamaria ERDELYI – Paulina VEGA 3-1 (11-6 14-16 12-10 11-9) The action today continued with the second leg of the duel between Spanish GIRBAU VIC T.T. and Romania’s CSM Constanta which saw the Romanian club progress to the next stage after two wins. It was very similar to the opening leg with the same result. Japan’s Airi ABE remained unbeaten and all three Constanta’s players Elena and Alina ZAHARIA overcame Charlotte CAREY while Bianca MEI ROSU prevailed against Camila MOSCOSO. Portugal’s Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela also recorded a second win in the third stage against MIRÓ Ganxets Reus. Annamaria ERDELYI beat both Elvira Fiona RAD and Paulina VEGA while Ines MATOS prevailed against Renata SHYPSHA. “We expected it would not be as difficult as in the opening leg because they came without their two best players but even so… For me personally it was more challenging than last time since I had to play against Pauline. We know each other very well; we train together here in Mirandela. Now I am so happy that I won both my matches and that we are through to the next round ” said ERDELYI.
