Bronze medalists from Cluj 2021 Team Portugal will be participating in the STUPA 2023 European Table Tennis Championships to be held in Malmö Sweden from September 10th to 17th 2023. The team consists of YU Fu SHAO Jieni Ines MATOS and Matilde PINTO. The team is in full preparation mode for the upcoming challenges. “Currently Matilde PINTO and I are training at the Mirandela center and we will not be participating in any competitions before Malmö. YU and SHAO are training in China and before the European Championships they will compete in the WTT tournament in Almaty ” clarified Ines MATOS. Did you have or are you planning to have some preparation together? “We still do not have information but it’s normal to come together some time before the big matches in our High-Performance Center to prepare ourselves in the best way for the Championships.” How is your current shape? “I am training to the best of my ability to help my team achieve a good result. I won’t say that I am in my best shape because I was on vacation but I am training extensively to be in top form hoping that when I arrive to play in the Championships the training will reflect in the results.” In the first stage Portugal is placed in Group D with Serbia and Bulgaria. “It’s always a challenging test and usually doesn’t allow for failures or mistakes. So from the first group game to the last we will have to perform at our best to ensure that we can advance to the next stage.” MATOS put the adversaries on “scanner”. “Regarding Serbia if I remember correctly we played against them in the Mediterranean Games and we won 3-1. However the match system is different from the European Championships and YU wasn’t there. Of course we know it’s a strong team with good players and we must give our best to win. About Bulgaria to be honest I don’t know much about the senior players but I know that if someone plays who is close to my age and has played in the European Youth Championships the girls play well. So I believe we have to approach all the matches with the same mindset because they are all important. Giving our best is the most crucial thing and sticking together as a team.” In Cluj the team won bronze. What is the goal now? “We set our goals as a result of our daily work. We enter competitions to be at our best for the sake of our country. If we can match last year’s result that’s good but if we can do better it would be excellent.” The place at the Olympic Games in Paris is also at stake in Malmo. How do you look at that? “The Olympic Games are always the ultimate aspiration for all table tennis athletes. However once again we must focus on viewing the Olympic Games as a consequence of a series of good results that we have to achieve throughout the year. So we will only think about the Olympic Games when we deserve to participate in them ” stated Ines MATOS.
2025 ITTF World Youth Championships in Romania
Bahrain and Romania were bidding to host the ITTF World Youth Championships 2025. During the ITTF Summit the quality of the bids presented by these two nations impressed the ITTF Council leading to a remarkable decision that exemplified the Council’s confidence in both candidates. This resulted in a unique outcome – a double attribution for both the years 2025 and 2026 – a testament to the dedication and capabilities of both nations. The Council’s decision was ratified during the AGM solidifying Manama Bahrain as the host for the ITTF World Youth Championships 2026. The decision to award both Bahrain and Romania with the opportunity to host these prestigious championships is not only a testament to the growing youth engagement in table tennis but also a reflection of our commitment to fostering the development of young talents on a global stage.
The World Team Table Tennis Championships is coming to London
London has been awarded the right to host the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships – exactly 100 years after the event was first held in our capital in 1926. The International Table Tennis Federation’s flagship event returns to the city of its birth to celebrate the centenary tournament in 2026. London will host the World Team Table Tennis Championships exactly 100 years after the city staged the first World Championships – alongside the foundation of the ITTF – in 1926. The competition will be held at the OVO Arena Wembley in May 2026 with practice facilities at Wembley Stadium. It will be the first time England has hosted the Worlds since 1997 and the first time since 1954 that the championships has been held in London. Delegates at the ITTF’s Annual Meeting voted for London to host the event ahead of fellow bid city Bangkok. CEO of Table Tennis England Adrian CHRISTY said: “This is the most fantastic news we could have wished for. The global table tennis family has put its faith in Table Tennis England to deliver a memorable championships in London and I can promise that is exactly what we will do. To bring the centenary World Championships back to the city where it all began is a huge honour and a massive boost for the sport in this country. “It’s been a monumental team effort to get us this far and we are hugely grateful for the support of the Mayor of London UK Sport our venue partners at OVO Arena Wembley and Wembley Stadium our consultant partner Onside and the team at Table Tennis England. “But the hard work begins now and we can’t wait to get started on delivering the greatest table tennis show on earth alongside the exciting impact projects we have planned.” The AGM vote followed a final presentation to delegates by each bid city. Both London and Bangkok had previously submitted detailed technical information about how they would stage the championships. As well as the aim to bring the centenary championships back to Where It All Began London’s bid was based on being the most environmentally sustainable championships to date. The competition venue and warm-up facilities will be the iconic OVO Arena Wembley while the world-famous Wembley Stadium will provide the practice facilities for the best players in the world in the Great Hall. Both facilities are within as little as 20 metres from the main Championship hotel and no more than 600 metres from all other hotels. With the centre of London less than 20 minutes away on the Underground the whole event is based on public transport and the ease of accessibility from the moment athletes and other delegates arrive at Wembley. CHRISTY added: “Sports organisations have a key role to play in reducing the environmental impact on the staging of major international events and we hope our ‘footprint’ of the event resonated with the ITTF delegates’ deliberations.” Sadiq KHAN Mayor of London said: “I am proud that London is hosting the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships. Bringing the centenary tournament back to our great city where it began is a fantastic boost for both local sport and the economy and it will also be the most environmentally sustainable championships to date. “London is the sporting capital of the world from grassroots to the elite level and I look forward to Wembley putting on a memorable show.” Sally MUNDAY CEO of UK Sport said: “Hosting major global sporting events here in the UK provides the opportunity for extraordinary sporting moments that reach unite and inspire the nation and we are absolutely delighted that the British public will be able to enjoy another World Championships on their doorstep. We look forward to working with the other event hosting partners to deliver this exciting event.” Sandra DEATON Chair of Table Tennis England said: “It is wonderful to be awarded the most prestigious World Championships to celebrate 100 years of our wonderful sport. Thank you to the ITTF Executive Board and all our member nations for giving us the opportunity to celebrate the history and deliver a World Championship to take the sport into the next hundred years. “Being awarded the 2026 World Championships is a result of a journey Table Tennis England has embraced over a significant period of time being brought together over the last few months under the incredible leadership of our CEO Adrian Christie. “Thank you to everyone involved. The delivery of the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships gives our governing body the opportunity to bring back the championships to where it all began.”
Czechia Table Tennis Team Aims High in Malmö Championships
The Czechia table tennis teams are gearing up for the 2023 STUPA European Table Tennis Championships in Malmö. The men’s and women’s teams are both poised for success with their eyes set on advancing far in the tournament. The Czechia men’s team comprises players Lubomír JANČAŘÍK Tomáš POLANSKÝ Pavel ŠIRUČEK and Jiří MARTINKO. Two years ago in Cluj the team secured a fifth place finish after a challenging quarterfinal loss to Germany with a scoreline of 1:3. In Malmö the Czechia men’s team will commence their campaign in the group stage where they will face tough opponents in Sweden and Italy. Coach Josef PLACHÝ expressed his ambitions stating “Our goal is of course to advance to the top sixteen. The Swedes are clear favorites in the group but we should vigorously contend for the second spot with Italy. We are bringing our best players to the tournament and I firmly believe our goal is achievable. Two years ago we made it to the top eight without Pavel ŠIRUČEK. There’s no reason we can’t set similar ambitions this year. Pavel ŠIRUČEK the national singles champion will undoubtedly elevate the team’s overall performance.” The Czechia women’s team is represented by a formidable lineup featuring Hana MATELOVÁ Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ and Helena SOMMEROVÁ. Coach Renáta ŠTRBÍKÓVÁ highlighted their initial goal stating “Our first objective is to advance beyond the group stage.” Their opening matches are against Slovakia and the Netherlands with a potential twist depending on the participation of the experienced Dutch player Britt EERLAND. “Britt EERLAND is an excellent player who could significantly elevate the entire Dutch team. However our match against Slovakia holds great intrigue as well. They are not just opponents; they are our friends. For instance Hana MATELOVÁ and Barbora BALÁŽOVA have been playing doubles together for several years. But once we step behind the table we become rivals like any other and our aim is to secure victory. Mentally it will be a challenging contest.” One significant psychological advantage for the Czechia team is their previous success in Stage 1 where they outperformed Portugal. “This achievement holds great importance for us ” emphasized Renáta ŠTRBÍKÓVÁ. “Each player secured a singles win against Portugal demonstrating that even the favorites can be defeated. Additionally the championship schedule aligns favorably for us. On the first day Slovakia and the Netherlands will face each other allowing us to assess their form and devise a winning strategy.”
ETTU Enhances Pre-Congress Preparations with Inaugural Financial and Proposition Webinars
The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) has taken a significant step forward in its preparations for the forthcoming ETTU Congress by organizing its first-ever webinars dedicated to finances and propositions. As part of the lead-up to the highly anticipated ETTU Congress scheduled to convene on September 13th during the European Championships in Malmö these webinars served as a proactive initiative to delve deeper into crucial matters. One of the webinars titled “Propositions Webinar” aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the proposed changes and their underlying rationales. It is important to note that this endeavor does not curtail the opportunity for meaningful discussions during the Congress itself. Instead it aims to enhance the Congress by allocating dedicated time to address these pertinent subjects fostering a more streamlined and effective discourse. ETTU Acting President Pedro MOURA emphasized the significance of these webinars in facilitating a more comprehensive dialogue. “We remain fully committed to engaging in discussions during the Congress ” noted MOURA. “The purpose of these webinars is to enrich our deliberations and ensure an even more productive and impactful Congress.” During the webinars participants had the privilege of hearing opening remarks from Acting President Pedro MOURA followed by a presentation by Secretary General Pierre KASS who delved into the intricacies of the Constitution Propositions. Additionally ETTU Acting Deputy President Heike AHLERT took center stage to address the vital topic of ETTU Regulation Propositions. During a separate webinar ETTU’s Vice President for Finances Sandra DEATON provided a presentation on the financial statement of 2022 the financial status of 2023 and the budget for 2024. These groundbreaking webinars represent ETTU’s unwavering dedication to fostering an environment of transparency collaboration and progress within the table tennis community. For those interested in revisiting the second webinar or delving into the details the recording can be accessed through the YouTube link. All relevant documents you can see here
Fatherhood Fuels JORGIC’s Confidence Ahead of European Championships
In 2017 Slovenia secured their first-ever medal at the European Team Championships by defeating Sweden in the quarter-finals of the men’s event in Luxembourg. Now led by the top-ranked European player Darko JORGIC they are embarking on the same quest at the 2023 STUPA European Championships in Malmö scheduled from the 10th to the 17th of September. Darko who became a father to a baby boy in July decided to take a break after an exhausting season following his quarterfinals appearance in the Singles event at the European Games just before his son’s birth. “It was a very long season packed with numerous matches both for the Slovenian team and my club. I was mentally and physically drained. After the European Games I took a break and refrained from playing or even training. After so many matches my mind was cluttered and I needed to rekindle my motivation to return to the game. I decided to pause after my defeat against Marcos FREITAS in the quarterfinals. It was one of his fantastic performances this year. He went on to win a medal in Krakow. My goal was to achieve a higher position but stopping Marcos at that point was challenging ” explained JORGIC. The break was taken up by Darko’s new family member. “Following Poland my coach Andrea and I agreed to have a complete break not even thinking about table tennis. This hiatus lasted until August 1st when we began preparations for the Europeans. We spent five days training with the Croatian team. It’s fantastic that we had the opportunity to collaborate.” Darko is content with his current form looking ahead to the upcoming tournament in Kazakhstan. “I feel good after the break. My body is rejuvenated and my motivation is high. I planned to peak in late August just in time for Malmö.” Slovenia is grouped with Denmark and Türkiye. “The competition is fierce; there are no easy groups. We all remember our defeat against Denmark in the first European Games when Bojan TOKIC was still on the team. That painful loss remains in our memory but we now understand better how to play against them. Türkiye is a potentially dangerous opponent as they have nothing to lose and will play freely against both Denmark and us.” Regarding the team’s performance JORGIC stated that a lot will hinge on the current form of Deni KOZUL and himself. Aljaz GODEC and Peter HRIBAR are also part of the team making Slovenia one of the youngest teams in Sweden. “The responsibility is significant but I am pleased that the younger players have performed well during training. They are highly motivated to present themselves in the best possible light and seize their opportunities. At some point I was pleasantly surprised.” Speaking about his new role as a parent Darko shared “Becoming a parent has given me an extra incentive to excel in competitions. Fortunately my spouse is also from the table tennis world so she understands the demands of being a player and the extensive training required. Nonetheless I always look forward to returning home spending time with the baby and giving my wife a chance to take a break. So far I have managed well when we are alone; I truly cherish every moment spent with the baby ” said JORGIC.
STUPA announced as title partner of the 2023 European Championships
The Indian based company Stupa Sports Analytics becomes official Title Partner of the 2023 European Table Tennis Championships which is to be held in Malmö Sweden between the 10th and 17th of September 2023. The partnership will gain considerable exposure for the European market and in extension the world market to further raise awareness of the advantages of modern technology within the sports analytics branch both to the individual player and the governing table tennis organizations. The Swedish Table Tennis Association (STTA) is delighted to announce that their existing partnership with Stupa Sports Analytics a pioneering sports technology company based in India now grows to another level as they will hold the exclusive Title Sponsorship for the highly anticipated 2023 European Table Tennis Championships. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place from September 10th to 17th in the vibrant city of Malmö Sweden. This collaboration marks a historic moment for both the world of sports analytics and the future of table tennis on a global scale. “We extend a very warm welcome to Stupa Sports Analytics as the Title Partner of the 2023 European Table Tennis Championships ” said Dennis LINDAHL President of the Swedish Table Tennis Association. “We are very excited for the opportunity to develop our existing partnership to another level and really intensify our cooperation for future endeavors. For the STTA all things regarding digitalization and modernization of our sport are in focus within our established strategy and Stupa Sports Analytics is in our eyes a very interesting company with high competence in this regard. We’re also very happy that they have chosen Sweden as one of their main foundations as they now seek further expansion through Europe and North America. Together we are embarking on an exciting journey that will undoubtedly shape the future of table tennis.” “We are thrilled to further solidify our enduring association with Sweden through our pivotal role as the Title Partner of the 2023 European Table Tennis Championships. Swedish Table Tennis Association has been a pioneering partner in our mission to bring digitization and data-driven insights to the world of sports. This event marks a significant milestone elevating our collaboration to new heights. As one of the leading federations with a strong belief in the power of technology Sweden TTA’s choice to partner with Stupa is both an honor and a testament to our shared vision. We are committed to making this partnership a beacon for innovation in sports and we eagerly look forward to continuing our journey as Sweden’s long-term partner in redefining the table tennis experience globally ” stated Ms. Megha GAMBHIR CEO and co-founder of Stupa Sports Analytics. The 2023 European Table Tennis Championships will not only showcase thrilling matches but also serve as a platform for Stupa Sports Analytics to demonstrate its innovative technologies in a real-world sporting context for example engaging fan experiences through AI services and insightful data visualizations.
ETTU unveils the Implementation Plan for its Strategic Plan 2023-2028
https://www.ettu.org ETTU proudly unveils the Implementation Plan for its Strategic Plan 2023-2028. Crafted to steer the organization towards its goals this document aligns strategies with actions KPIs and timeframes to ensure success. Discussions with ETTU Member Associations have enabled to make necessary adjustments that maintain the plan’s relevance in a table tennis world that is always changing. We have also established distinct timeframes for achieving goals in the short mid and long terms which further strengthens the overall structure. Sustainability and long-term growth stand as vital pillars within the ETTU’s Implementation Plan. Transparency and working together are evident as ETTU commits to giving yearly impact reports to Member Associations. It will be subject to periodic review and adaptation to ensure its alignment with the table tennis landscape and community needs. Link to the document
Andorra Hosts Youth Training Camp as Part of ETTU National Association Assistance Program
Andorra a picturesque European nation known for its stunning landscapes hosts Training Camp from August 14th to 19th. Organized as part of the ETTU National Association Assistance Program (NAAP) this project activity is the second of its kind with the inaugural event taking place in 2019. The upcoming training camp aims to provide a unique platform for nurturing young table tennis talents. The ETTU National Association Assistance Program is designed to support and enhance the development of table tennis at the grassroots level across Europe. The Youth Training Camp in Andorra aligns perfectly with this mission offering young players the opportunity to develop their skills and gain experience under the guidance of a experienced technical team. The esteemed technical team includes: Eduard MAYOROV (Coach) Svetlana BAKHTINA (Coach) Rodrigo TAPIA (Sparring) and Gerard MÀDICO (Sparring).
ETTU Backs London Bid for the ITTF Centenary 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships
Table Tennis England is eagerly vying to host the illustrious World Team Table Tennis Championships in London in 2026. With a commitment to delivering an unforgettable championship experience for the global table tennis community the bid also intends to commemorate the ITTF Centenary in the very city where international table tennis had its genesis and where the inaugural World Championships unfolded. Supporting this bid the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) stands alongside Table Tennis England and adds its weight to the endeavor. The collective goal is not only to secure a momentous event but also to contribute to a legacy that echoes the rich history of the sport. “ETTU strongly supports England TT and the city of London in their bid to host the 2026 World Table Tennis Championships. This presents a unique opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of ITTF at the birthplace of our extraordinary sport. We all have vivid memories of the remarkable 2012 Olympic Games in London especially the incredible atmosphere lived during the table tennis tournament. This experience gives us confidence that if London is chosen we will have the best World Championships our sport could ever aspire to. It’s a moment that the international table tennis community cannot afford to miss. I sincerely urge our international community not to let this opportunity slip away and to enthusiastically endorse England TT’s bid to host the 2026 World Table Tennis Championships ” stated ETTU Acting President Pedro MOURA. To ensure the triumph of this bid Table Tennis England is calling upon the international table tennis community for backing. The pivotal juncture will be the ITTF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Thailand on August 24. On August 23 2023 during the AGM the bids for the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships will be presented. Starting from 22:00 local time (17:00 CET) on August 23 the voting platform managed by LUMI will be accessible for a duration of 12 hours. This period will conclude with the commencement of the AGM at 10:00 local time (05:00 CET) on August 24 2023. Throughout the AGM the pre-voting platform will be temporarily suspended and will be reopened exclusively for “live” voting at the designated point in the agenda. Further instructions on casting votes will be provided by ITTF in due course. By rallying behind this bid the international table tennis community has a chance to play an instrumental role in a remarkable chapter set for 2026. Table Tennis England is earnestly urging all Member Associations to guarantee their representatives’ eligibility to vote at the ITTF AGM. The prospect of London hosting the global table tennis community in the very city that saw the sport’s inception is profoundly exciting. The bid’s triumph would undoubtedly etch a historic moment into the annals of table tennis history. Moreover Table Tennis England extends a warm invitation to attend the London 2026 Reception. This gathering is scheduled for August 22 at 19:30 local time and will take place at the Summit Hotel The Grand Fourwings Convention Hotel. Delegates can obtain directions to the venue room at the reception. The event provides a unique opportunity to personally engage with the passion and dynamism driving the London 2026 bid. The International table tennis community’s resolute endorsement is crucial to materialize London’s aspiration to host the ITTF Centenary 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships. The future of this championship rests in the hands of those participating in the ITTF AGM making it an epochal moment for the sport.
