The action in Groups A and D of the Champions League Women Stage 2 is complete, with the remaining matches in Groups B and C set to conclude by the end of the week. The knockout phase is scheduled to begin in January 2025. Group A: SAINT-QUENTIN TT and KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG Secure Quarterfinal Spots SAINT-QUENTIN TT secured their progress to the quarterfinals with a second victory over Novi Sad. Camille LUTZ, Linda BERGSTRÖM, and Polina MIKHAILOVA delivered strong performances, defeating Tijana JOKIC, Aneta MAKSUTI, and Sara RADAK. While MAKSUTI managed to push BERGSTRÖM to a decisive game, the latter ultimately emerged victorious by death point. “We are very happy to reach the quarterfinal. It was our goal in the group. It has been a tough couple of weeks, so we are happy to finish our last match of the year with a victory,” said LUTZ. Meanwhile, reigning champions and four-time winners KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG completed Stage 2 with a perfect record, winning all four matches in the group. Group B: ttc berlin eastside and METZ TT Advance In Group B, ttc berlin eastside will face SKST Plus Hodonín on Sunday. However, with three wins already, the German club has secured a quarterfinal spot, as has METZ TT, with two wins and two losses. Group C: LINZ AG Froschberg Makes History Austria’s LINZ AG Froschberg topped Group C, remaining unbeaten in Stage 2. They secured their final victory against ASD QUATTRO MORI, though not without challenges. Liemei HU delivered two victories for the Italian team, defeating Ivana MALOBABIC and Britt EERLAND. However, Suthasini SAWETTABUT, Ivana, and Britt all scored points to maintain their clean record. “It is the first time in the history of the club that we pass this stage undefeated. I am so proud of the girls,” said Manager Günther RENNER. Britt EERLAND reflected on the team’s performance: “We did not expect to pass through this way. The clubs are very strong, and we had tough encounters and very close duels. But we showed a high level of play, great team spirit, and good communication with the coach. We felt like a team, supported each other, and constantly discussed tactics and improvements. Even when we were down, we knew we could come back with support. Today, our coach changed our positions to help us win, which added extra pressure on me and SAWETTABUT. But as professionals, we must handle that. At the end, I’m happy we withstood the challenge. It’s nice to finish the stage with good feelings and thoughts about the quarterfinals and Christmas.” In Group C, one match remains. Saint-Denis 93 TT will host ASD QUATTRO MORI on Friday. In the opening leg, the Italian team won 3-0. Group D: UCAM Cartagena TM Dominates to Secure Second Place UCAM Cartagena TM delivered a dominant performance to defeat Hungary’s Budaörsi Sport Club and secure their quarterfinal spot. Fei QI, Maria XIAO, and Sofia-Xuan ZHANG swept past Dora MADARASZ, Helga DARI, and Maria FAZEKAS without dropping a game. “Overall, with the team we had for each match, I think it has been a positive competition so far. Against Etival, we didn’t have our number one player, so it was even harder to beat them. We were lucky she could play both matches against Budaörs and bring us to the next stage,” commented Maria XIAO. Last year’s runners-up, French Etival ASR TT, had already secured first place in the group with a perfect four-win record. They will progress to the quarterfinals from the top position. Group A Novi Sad – SAINT-QUENTIN TT Group C Group D UCAM Cartagena TM – Budaörsi Sport Club 3-0
Panagiotis TZOVOLOS Elected President of the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation
Panagiotis TZOVOLOS has been elected the new president of the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation (HTTF). The elections for the new Board of Directors took place electronically during the General Assembly with TZOVOLOS securing the majority with 34 votes. Among the other presidential candidates, former president Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU received 20 votes and retained a seat on the Board, while Diana ZERDILA garnered 13 votes. TZOVOLOS becomes the eighth president in the 68-year history of the HTTF. Additionally, Manolis KOLIMPADIS was re-elected as the federation’s representative in the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) with 45 votes, while TZOVOLOS was elected as an alternate representative to the HOC. All 67 eligible clubs participated in the election, a promising sign for the beginning of the federation’s new four-year cycle. In his first statement as President, TZOVOLOS expressed gratitude and optimism: “I want to thank all the clubs for their strong participation in our Federation’s General Assembly and elections. My colleagues and I are ready to take on the responsibility of leading the federation with a forward-looking and creative approach.” Panagiotis TZOVOLOS brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served the table tennis community in various capacities over the years. A former table tennis athlete for EA Patras, TZOVOLOS transitioned to refereeing, becoming an international umpire. His officiating career includes notable events such as the Athens Paralympic Games, European Championships across various age groups, the Mediterranean Games, and Balkan Championships. TZOVOLOS has also contributed significantly to event organization, including roles in the 2004 Athens Olympics and as an assistant referee at the 1999 Pre-Olympic Tournament in Patras. First elected to the HTTF Board in September 2012, Tzovolos has been a continuous presence in the federation’s administration. From December 2013 to November 2021, he served as chairman of the Technical Committee. He has also chaired the Local Committee of Western Greece and the Peloponnese since the 2010s, with his involvement in local administration tracing back even further. ELECTION RESULTS FOR THE HTTF ADMINISTRATION The following members were elected to the HTTF Board: Newly elected Board