At the Palasport in Avenza, in front of a passionate home crowd, Apuania Carrara celebrated their fourth consecutive Italian Super Cup triumph by defeating their historic rivals, Top Spin Messina Watches Together, 5-3. The victory was particularly special as Top Spin Messina had won the Super Cup in 2019 and 2020. The trophy was presented by FITeT President Renato DI NAPOLI. The match was played across two tables and showcased thrilling action from start to finish. In the first round, Apuania Carrara took a commanding lead, with Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR defeating Niagol STOYANOV and Portugal’s João MONTEIRO, a former Top Spin player, overcoming Tommaso GIOVANNETTI. Top Spin Messina fought back in the second round. Moldova’s Vladislav URSU prevailed over Mihai BOBOCICA, but MONTEIRO maintained Apuania’s momentum by defeating STOYANOV. The third round brought excitement for Top Spin Messina as they leveled the match 3-3. URSU secured a victory against PUCAR, and GIOVANNETTI outplayed Matteo MUTTI. In the decisive fourth round, MONTEIRO completed a hat-trick by defeating URSU, and MUTTI sealed the win for Apuania by overcoming STOYANOV in a thrilling five-game match. “It was a heart-stopping match,” said Apuania Carrara President Guglielmo BELLOTTI. “Top Spin Messina confirmed they are a very strong team. We started well, but they came back, and at one point, anything could have happened. When MUTTI beat STOYANOV in the penultimate singles, we could finally breathe a sigh of relief. MONTEIRO was undoubtedly the man of the match with his hat-trick, especially his victory over URSU, who impressed me with his game intelligence. PUCAR also played an important role, and I’m sure if he had been needed for the last singles, he would have delivered his best table tennis. We are extremely satisfied with this fourth Super Cup victory.” Table 1 Table 2
City of Zagreb Honored Tino ČASL with Lifetime Achievement Award
At the ceremony honoring the best athletes of the City of Zagreb in 2024, three individuals from the world of table tennis received awards, including two lifetime achievement awards. The recipients were Dr. Martin Tino ČASL, President of STK Dr. ČASL, and Aleksa KOCIJAN, a member of the Supervisory Board of the Croatian Table Tennis Association (HSTS), who was nominated for this award in the field of sports recreation. Mirela Šikoronja IVANČIN, coach of Paralympic gold medalist Anđela MUŽINIĆ VINCETIĆ and a member of the Executive Board of HSTS, was named the most successful coach. Dr. ČASL has been involved in competitive sports (table tennis, tennis, basketball, and handball) for a remarkable 56 years. Over the years, he has been an athlete, and for the past 16 years, he has served as the president of the Dr. ČASL Table Tennis Club. Additionally, he has held key roles as Vice President of the Croatian Table Tennis Association, Vice President of the Zagreb Table Tennis Association, and a member of the Executive Board of the Women’s European Champions League. Under his leadership, the club has achieved extraordinary success: The pinnacle of his career came with the club’s victory in the Women’s Champions League in 2018 and their runner-up finish in 2019. In June 2024, the women’s team won the Europe Trophy, marking their sixth different title. No other club in history has won such a diverse range of competitions.
TTC Ostrava 2016 Starts Europe Cup Campaign with the Win Over STK Vyhne
After concluding their journey in the Champions League Round of 16 against Austria’s Wiener Neustadt, TTC Ostrava 2016 made a strong start in the Europe Cup Men Round of 16. In a dominante performance, the team from Ostrava secured a straight-match victory over STK Vyhne in Slovakia. Led by coach Petr KORBEL, Adam KLAJBER, Piotr CYRNEK, and Jakub KLEPRLÍK showed their strength against a trio featuring Miroslav HOŘEJŠÍ, Boguslaw KOSZYK and Filip SZYMANSKI. “Of course, we are happy with such a clear victory. We didn’t expect to beat STK Vyhne 3-0. We anticipated a tougher fight, but we’re not in the quarterfinals yet—this is just the first step. All three of our players delivered solid performances tonight,” said coach KORBEL. The return leg is scheduled for February 14th. STK Vyhne – TTC Ostrava 2016 0-3
Borussia Düsseldorf Stuns Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier
Seven-time Champions League Men winners Borussia Düsseldorf made a significant stride toward the Final Four with a stunning victory over Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier. In a matchup featuring the formidable Félix and Alexis LEBRUN, ranked World No. 4 and No. 14 respectively, last year’s runners-up delivered an upset by sweeping the French team in straight games in the quarterfinal’s opening leg in France. Anton KÄLLBERG set the tone by overcoming Félix LEBRUN in a thrilling five-game match, while Dang QIU defeated Alexis LEBRUN in four games. Timo BOLL, making his final competitive appearance abroad, sealed the victory with a narrow win against Esteban DORR. “Great performance from all of us. We knew how difficult it would be. Montpellier has a very strong team with the LEBRUN brothers and DORR,” said Dang QIU. “Both Anton and Timo’s matches were very important. They won by narrow margins, and we know that if we had been forced to play a fourth match, anything could have happened. The duel could have easily finished 3-2 for the French team.” The return leg is scheduled for February 16th, with the winner of the two-leg encounter advancing to the Final Four in Saarbrücken. Polish KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki recorded fast straight matches victory over last year’s Final 4 semi finalists, Austria’s SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt. Ivor BAN was streched to full distance against Milosz REDZIMSKI and Amirezza ABBASI MONJEZI also forced Panagiotis GIONIS to go all five games, but both failed to close the match. Marek BADOWSKI sealed the match with win over Frane KOJIC. “It is very good that we recorded a 3-0 victory against a very strong team in an away match. We played in a small venue with a heated atmosphere and gave our best. However, we are aware that the second leg will not be easy. We won two matches 3-2 after being down 1-2. The advantage is on our side, as we need only two points to reach the Final Four, but we have to stay focused,” said GIONIS. Champions League Men quarterfinal SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt – KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki 0-3 Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier – Borussia Düsseldorf 0-3
Froschberg LINZ AG Stands Firm Under Pressure to Dominate SAINT-QUENTIN TT
In the opening leg of the Champions League Women quarterfinal, Froschberg LINZ AG demonstrated resilience and dominance, overwhelming SAINT-QUENTIN TT with a commanding performance. The Austrian team, unbeaten in the previous phase, maintained their winning streak. Suthasini SAWETTABUT, Britt EERLAND, and Ivana MALOBABIC proved too strong for Linda BERGSTRÖM, Polina MIKHAILOVA, and Camille LUTZ, securing a decisive victory. “I will say this win has left us flabbergasted. SAINT-QUENTIN is a very strong team with special players. They have a system where you never know how they’ll play or what will happen. But we also have a player with a defensive style, so we prepared well,” said Britt EERLAND. “To be honest, it’s the quarterfinal of the Champions League, and we were well aware that anything could happen. We could only play at our best and hope for the best. Our mindset was: let’s help each other and give it our all. I felt a great deal of pressure in my match, but knowing the whole team was fighting helped me. Matches like these aren’t so much about tactics; they’re about who performs better under pressure. We’re far from finished, and we’ll give our best in Linz.” The return leg will be played on February 15th. Champions League Women quarterfinal SAINT-QUENTIN TT – Froschberg LINZ AG 0-3
ASC Grünwettersbach’s Team Effort Secures Victory Over SPG Felbermayr Wels
In the Europe Cup Men Round of 16, SPG Felbermayr Wels suffered a home defeat in the opening leg against ASC Grünwettersbach, despite a strong performance from Andreas LEVENKO. LEVENKO gave the hosts a dream start by defeating Leo DE NODREST and later added a second win against Ricardo WALTHER. However, his efforts were not enough, as Grünwettersbach showed their depth and strength as a team. DE NODREST, WALTHER, and Guilherme TEODORO each contributed a victory, underlining Grünwettersbach’s balanced team play and collective performance. “We’re really happy about the effort the team has put in today, but it was only the first part, and we will fight until the end to secure our place in the next round,” said Leo DE NODREST after the match. The return leg is scheduled for February 16th. SPG Felbermayr Wels – ASC Grünwettersbach 2-3
CTM Mirandela Recorded Victory Over HB Ostrov
Portugal’s CTM Mirandela triumphed over Czech club HB Ostrov in the opening leg of the Stage three of the Europe Cup Women . Annamaria ERDELYI delivered two wins against Veronika POLAKOVA and Zdena BLASKOVA. Mariana SANTA COMBA added the third point with a hard-fought five-game victory over Jana VASENDOVA. BLASKOVA secured the sole point for HB Ostrov by defeating Ines MATOS. “They came without their top player, Tatiana KUKULKOVA, which made our task much easier. We seized the opportunity to secure an advantage before the return leg in Czechia,” said ERDELYI. “I was very confident and played well. It’s great that Mariana managed to beat VASENDOVA. She performed at a high level.” The return leg is scheduled for February 16th. Europe Cup Women’s CTM Mirandela – HB Ostrov z.s. 3-1
Museo de la Almendra Francisco Morales Dominates in Round of 16 Opener
Last year’s Europe Cup Women runners-up, Museo de la Almendra Francisco Morales, secured a victory in the opening leg of the Round of 16. Their Spanish rivals, Universidad de Burgos – RM Terán, failed to pose a significant challenge in the all-Spanish showdown. Meng JIAQI, Margarita FETUKHINA, and Patricia SANTOS each delivered dominant performances, defeating María BERZOSA, Gabriela FEHER, and María MÉNDEZ in straight matches, all concluding in straight games. “I think it was easier than we expected, but it was a great result for us to win 3-0 and gain the advantage for the second leg. We had a very supportive fans during the home match, with many students coming to cheer for us. We really enjoyed it, fought as a team, and everyone played well. Hopefully, we can carry this momentum into the next match,”said Meng JIAQI. The return leg is scheduled for February 15. Museo de la Almendra Francisco Morales – UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS – RM TERAN 3-0
In Sarajevo: 12 Places on Offer for the 2025 European Teams Championships Final Stage
For the third year in a row, Sarajevo will host an ETTU event. Following the Under 21 European Championships in 2023, the Europe Youth Series tournament, and the European Olympic Singles Qualification in 2024, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina will welcome competitors for the 2025 European Teams Championships (ETC) Stage 1. The ETC will take place from January 21 to 25, bringing together teams vying for a spot in the Final Stage, scheduled from October 12 to 19 in Zadar, Croatia. A total of 12 teams will secure their tickets to Croatia, with six teams qualifying from both the men’s and women’s events. “We look forward to be back at the beautiful Sarajevo for another ETTU event, this time the first edition of the Stage 1 of European Team Championships, as well as for the ETTU Working Week, the moment Executive Board meets all the Committees Chairs and the ETTU staff, having the chance to discuss the plans and goals for the 2025, a very important year not only for ETTU but also for the sport at the global stage,” stated ETTU President Pedro MOURA.Key members of the LOC, including Competition Director Anes ALIĆ, General Secretary Amela MUJEZINOVIĆ, and President Mirsad PAJEVIĆ, emphasized in their joint statement: “All activities are in the final stages and fully aligned with ETTU regulations, directives, and procedures for organizing the Stage 1 of the European Teams Championships. We have made every effort to ensure that all participating teams have top-notch conditions for competition, accommodation, meals, and other amenities offered by the Hills Hotel complex. We take this opportunity to thank ETTU and their partners, Nittaku and Donic, for sponsoring the necessary table tennis equipment for the championship. In addition to the participating teams, we look forward to welcoming the ETTU Executive Board, Secretariat staff, and Chairs of the ETTU Committees. This will be an opportunity to further strengthen and expand our successful collaboration through the participation of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Table Tennis Federation in future projects and the organization of sporting events.” The last European Teams Championships Final Stage was held in Malmö in 2023, with Sweden’s men’s team and Germany’s women’s team holding the titles. Teams Competing in Sarajevo Women’s Teams: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Slovenia, Switzerland. Men’s Teams: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, San Marino, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, and Wales.
Clash of Titans in Vrsar
The inaugural Stone Racket of Istria Veterans’ Tournament will be held in Vrsar from March 5 to 9, offering a unique event for players aged 40 and older. Organized by the Maistra Hospitality Group in collaboration with the Vrsar Tourist Board, the Municipality of Vrsar, Grand Tour agency, and TTC Vrsar, the tournament aims to promote table tennis and show the beauty of the Istrian region while providing participants with an engaging program beyond the competitive matches. A major highlight of the event will be an exhibition match featuring table tennis legends, ETTU Vice President Zoran PRIMORAC of Croatia and Jörgen PERSSON of Sweden. Both players, who dominated the sport during their careers and have collectively won over 60 medals at major competitions, are excited to reunite in Vrsar. “This is a commendable initiative by Maistra to promote table tennis in such a special way,” said PRIMORAC. “When I invited Jörgen, he was delighted and immediately accepted. He fell in love with Vrsar and Istria during his training camp here before the Paris Olympics. He was amazed by the place and its conditions.” PERSSON’S connection to Vrsar is unsurprising, given the region’s renowned hospitality and breathtaking landscapes. “I’m personally looking forward to the reunion,” PRIMORAC added. “Jörgen is one of the greatest players of all time – a World and European champion, my friend, and a fierce competitor during our careers. Playing against him will be a pleasure, and we aim to entertain the audience and our fellow veterans. Of course, people shouldn’t expect a replay of the Olympic quarterfinals in Beijing, haha, but I promise it will be great fun.” PRIMORAC also emphasized PERSSON’S exceptional career achievements, noting his status as a seven-time Olympian and one of Sweden’s most decorated athletes. Both legends remain active in the sport, with PRIMORAC serving as President of the Croatian Table Tennis Association and PERSSON recently coaching the Swedish national team. “Physically, I might be in slightly better shape, but Jörgen has been more involved in the game as a coach of the Swedish national team. Still, we Croatians are masters of improvisation – I’ll try to outsmart him, haha,” joked PRIMORAC. “The important thing is to have fun, create an enjoyable spectacle, and promote the tournament, Istria, and Croatia. I hope this tournament becomes a tradition.” The event promises a memorable experience for spectators, offering the chance to witness two icons of the sport in action. For more information, visit www.stoneracketistria.com or follow the event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stoneracketistria.
