The European Table Tennis Union is thrilled to announce its partnership with the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), founded by Whoopi GOLDBERG. Last year, ETTU partnered AWSN, granting this groundbreaking network the rights to broadcast women’s matches from the European Table Tennis Championships (ETTC), the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup and the final stage of the European Champions League Women (ECLW). The upcoming CCB Europe Top 16 Cup, set to take place from February 20 to 23 in Montreux, Switzerland, will be the first table tennis event broadcast on AWSN. “ETTU is thrilled to partner with All Women Sports Network showcasing table tennis as one of the major sports being broadcasted through this state-of-art network. We could not find better opportunity to start this partnership being CCB Europe Top 16 Cup one of the most important events in ETTU calendar. We keep focused in implement our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan as Gender Equality and Inclusion are are part of the major priorities. AWSN will support our goal to promote European female table tennis players on more than 20 world wide countries”, said ETTU President Pedro MOURA. Whoopi Goldberg’s AWSN aims to elevate women’s sports to a global stage, providing live coverage of a diverse range of sports, including football, basketball, tennis, cricket, and even curling. AWSN is available in USA, Mexico, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Sub-Saharan, Africa, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Goldberg shared her personal inspiration behind AWSN, recalling how, as a child, her brother was encouraged to play sports, while her own interests were often dismissed simply because she was a girl. This experience planted the seed for AWSN, which she envisions as a platform to support young female athletes worldwide and even introduce collectibles like trading cards to celebrate their achievements. ETTU is proud to be part of this pioneering project, confident that AWSN’s visibility will elevate women’s table tennis and inspire the next generation of players. You can see the schedule here.
Champions League Men Quarterfinals: Can Anyone Stop the Favorites in the Second Leg?
The Champions League Men is heading into the decisive second-leg quarterfinals, where the last four teams will be determined for the Final 4 in Saarbrücken on May 31 and June 1, 2025. After an intense opening leg, the pressure is on, for the teams to either capitalize on their advantage or stage dramatic comebacks. FC Saarbrücken TT dominated the first leg in Hennebont with a commanding 3:0 win, proving why they are the reigning champions. With Truls MÖREGÅRDH, Patrick FRANZISKA, and Darko JORGIC in top form, they are in a prime position to advance. GV Hennebont’s TT young talents, Vladimir SIDORENKO, Lev KATSMAN, and Iulian CHIRITA, will need a flawless performance to pull off an upset. The challenge is enormous, as they now face FC Saarbrücken TT on their home court, where the German side rarely falters. KS Dekorglass Działdowo made a huge statement in the first leg, securing a clean 3:0 victory on the road. With Jonathan GROTH, Samuel KULCZCKI and Jakub DYJAS leading the charge, they now have the comfort of playing at home with a significant advantage. KS Global Pharma Orlicz 1924, however, has nothing to lose and will look to fight back. Cheng Ting LIAO, Robert FLORAS and Deni KOZUL must deliver an inspired performance to have any chance of turning the tie around. Bogoria showed their strength in the first leg, delivering a dominant 3:0 win in Austria. Panagiotis GIONIS and Takuya JIN were in excellent form, and now, playing at home, they have a golden opportunity to seal their spot in the Final 4. Wiener Neustadt faces an uphill battle, but last season’s semifinalists will be determined to prove they belong at this stage. Ivor BAN and Frane KOJIC need a fast start to keep their hopes alive. Borussia Düsseldorf lived up to their reputation with a 3:0 away victory in Montpellier. With legends like Timo BOLL, Dang QIU, and Anton KALLBERG in their lineup, they are one step away from another Final 4 appearance. The LEBRUN brothers, Felix and Alexis, had a tough first leg, but they are capable of causing problems for any opponent. Alliance Nîmes Montpellier needs to find another gear if they want to challenge the most successful club in the European Champions League at home at the ARAG center court. Who will reach the Final 4? With first-leg results known, strongly favoring FC Saarbrücken TT, KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo, KS Dartom Bogoria, and Borussia Düsseldorf, the pressure is on their opponents to mount comebacks. However, nothing is guaranteed in table tennis, and surprises can always happen. Don’t miss the action – watch all matches live on ETTU TV!
Champions League Women Quarterfinals: Can the Underdogs Turn the Tide in the Return Leg?
The Champions League Women quarterfinals move into the second leg. The first-leg matches delivered intense battles, with some teams taking the lead while others remain in tight contests. As the return legs approach, the stakes are higher than ever. KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg took a hard-fought 3:2 victory in Italy, but ASD Quattro Mori proved they are not to be underestimated. The Polish club, led by Fu YU, Satsuki ODO, and Elizabeta SAMARA, will now look to finish the job at home. ASD Quattro Mori, with Liemei HU leading the charge, nearly pulled off a surprise in Cagliari and will hope to build on that performance. However, overturning KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg on their home court will be a significant challenge. The second leg in Berlin promises to be a high-stakes showdown after UCAM Cartagena TM took a commanding 3-1 victory in the first leg. The Spanish side delivered an impressive performance, with Maria XIAO securing two key wins over Nina MITTELHAM and Xiaona SHAN, while Sofia-Xuan ZHANG added another victory against SHAN. The only point for TTC Berlin eastside came from Sabina SURJAN, who managed to defeat Yao LI. Now, ttc berlin eastside faces a must-win scenario on home soil. The five-time Champions League winners will look to MITTELHAM, SHAN, and SURJAN to turn the tide and force a decisive result. The German club has a strong home-court advantage, but overcoming UCAM Cartagena TM’s momentum will require top performances from their key players. Linz AG Froschberg delivered one of the most dominant performances of the first leg, sweeping Saint-Quentin TT 3:0 away at home. Suthasini SAWETTABUT, Ivana MALOBABIC, and Britt EERLAND were in top form, and now they return to Austria on their home turf with a commanding lead. Saint-Quentin TT, led by Camille LUTZ and Linda BERGSTRÖM, faces a daunting task. They will need a perfect performance in Linz to keep their semifinal hopes alive. The all-French quarterfinal remains finely poised after Metz TT secured a 3:1 win at home in the first leg. Metz, led by Christina KALLBERG and Jieni SHAO, put in a strong performance, but Etival ASRTT last years finalist is still very much in the tie. Etival, playing in front of their home crowd, will look to turn the tables. They remained unbeaten in the group stage and will rely on their balanced squad to push for a comeback. Who Will Reach the Semifinals? With the return legs approaching, Berlin, Linz, Tarnobrzeg, and Metz hold the advantage. However, nothing is decided yet, and surprises could be in store as teams fight for a place in the semis. Watch all matches live on ETTU TV!
SHYPSHA, SELLADO, BRHELOVA, and MAYOROV claim singles titles in Osijek
The Europe Youth Series, Croatia Open in Osijek concluded today after five intense days of competition. Renata SHYPSHA of Spain and Abraham SELLADO of England emerged as the winners in their respective Under 15 Girls and Boys Singles events. In the Under 13 category, Adela BRHELOVA of Czechia and Ladimir MAYOROV of Spain claimed the singles titles. In the Under 15 Girls Singles final, Renata SHYPSHA needed four games to overcome Patricia STOICA of Romania. Earlier in the day, SHYPSHA was pushed to a five-game thriller against Wanessa KULCZYCKA, while STOICA secured her final spot with a 3-1 win over Lizett FAZEKAS of Hungary. In the Under 15 Boys Singles final, Abraham SELLADO secured victory against Jan MRUGALA of Poland with a 3-1 win. On his way to the final, MRUGALA defeated Lenard SZABO of Hungary 3-1, while SELLADO fought through a full five-game battle to halt Mateusz WISNIEWSKI. In the Under 13 Girls Singles final, Adela BRHELOVA of Czechia defeated Zsófia FEGYVER of Hungary in straight games. BRHELOVA’s semifinal victory came after a tough five-game battle against Lizett FAZEKAS, while FEGYVER secured her spot by defeating Karla IVCIC of Croatia 3-1. In an all-Spanish Under 13 Boys Singles final, Alexander MALOV edged out Ladimir MAYOROV 3-2 in a dramatic clash. MALOV booked his final place with a 3-0 win over Louis FEGERL of Austria, while MAYOROV overcame Ignacy SŁAWIŃSKI of Poland by the same margin. The Under 15 Girls Doubles title went to Renata SHYPSHA and Eloisa BARREDA of Spain, who edged out Vanessa TANG and Sophia PICHLER of Austria in a close final. Siri BENJEGÅRD and Laurynne CABARDO of Sweden, along with Maya Roberta MADAR and Patricia STOICA of Romania, secured the bronze medals. In the Under 15 Boys Doubles final, Mark GERGELY and Lenard SZABO of Hungary clinched gold, defeating Jan MRUGALA and Mateusz WISNIEWSKI of Poland in straight games. The Azerbaijani duo of Onur GULUZADE and Tunar BAGHIROV, as well as the English pair of Abraham SELLADO and Kacper PIWOWAR, were eliminated in the semifinals. The Under 13 Girls Doubles event saw Lizett FAZEKAS and Zsófia FEGYVER of Hungary claim victory after a 3-2 win over Yasmin Kariss SERBAN and Nadalia IONASCU of Romania. This marked FAZEKAS’ first gold medal after securing two bronze medals in the Under 13 and Under 15 singles events. Polina ENCHEVA and Kalina STEFANOVA of Bulgaria, along with Małgorzata PORĘBA and Julia SZARMACH of Poland, finished as semifinalists. In the Under 13 Boys Doubles final, Joel ISAKSSON and Zac HALLÉN of Sweden emerged victorious, defeating Alexandru POP and Mihai IORDAN of Romania 3-1. Sung Bing CHEN and Benjamin BIAN of Austria, as well as Stefan BONCHEV and Dimitar DIMITROV of Bulgaria, were stopped in the semifinals. Earlier this week, Poland and Romania triumphed in the Mixed Teams Event, securing titles in the Under 15 and Under 13 categories, respectively. In the Under 15 Mixed Teams Final, Poland delivered a dominant 5-0 victory over Sweden. The Polish squad, led by Europe’s No. 7 Jan MRUGALA, also featured Wanessa KULCZYCKA, Gabriela PULECKA, and Mateusz WISNIEWSKI, demonstrating exceptional teamwork. The Swedish team, comprising Siri BENJEGÅRD, Emil ELLERMANN, Laurynne CABARDO, and Melker JOHANSSON, was unable to challenge Poland’s superiority in the final.
Poland and Romania Crowned Champions in Mixed Teams Event in Osijek
After three days of intense competition at the Mixed Teams Event in the Europe Youth Series in Osijek, Poland and Romania emerged victorious in their respective Under 15 and Under 13 categories. In the Under 15 Mixed Teams Final, Poland delivered a commanding 5-0 victory over Sweden. The Polish squad, led by Europe’s No. 7 Jan MRUGALA, also featured Wanessa KULCZYCKA, Gabriela PULECKA, and Mateusz WISNIEWSKI, showing an exceptional team performance. The Swedish team comprised Siri BENJEGÅRD, Emil ELLERMANN, Laurynne CABARDO, and Melker JOHANSSON, but despite their strong lineup, they were unable to match Poland’s dominance. In the bronze medal match, Spain secured third place with a 5-1 win over Romania. In the Under 15 Mixed Teams semifinals, fifth-seeded Poland continued their impressive run with a 5-2 victory over second-seeded Romania. The Polish lineup of MRUGALA, KULCZYCKA, PULECKA, and WISNIEWSKI proved too strong for Romania’s top-ranked No. 14 Maya Roberta MADAR, No. 17 Patricia STOICA, No. 19 David TORO, and Raul CREUCU. The second semifinal saw third-seeded Sweden edge out ninth-seeded Spain in a thrilling 5-3 encounter. Both teams showed formidable female players. Siri BENJEGÅRD (No. 4 in Europe) and Emil ELLERMANN secured a crucial mixed doubles victory over Renata SHYPSHA (No. 15 in Europe) and Roger QUESADA, handing SHYPSHA her first loss of the tournament. The Swedish squad also included Laurynne CABARDO and Melker JOHANSSON, while Spain was represented by Eloisa BARREDA and Mateo LOIS RODRÍGUEZ. In the Under 13 Mixed Teams Final, Romania clinched the title with a 5-2 victory over Slovakia. The Romanian lineup included Alexandru POP, Mihai IORDAN, Yasmin Kariss SERBAN, and Nadalia IONASCU, demonstrating a strong all-round performance. The Slovakian team featured Filip NAGY, Barbora Melisa GUASSARDO, Bianka BACSOVÁ, and Alex HLADONÍK, but they were unable to stop Romania from securing the title. In the Under 13 Mixed Teams semifinals, top-seeded Romania met third-seeded Spain in a highly anticipated clash. The match followed expectations, with Romania emerging 5-2 winners. The Romanian squad of POP, IORDAN, SERBAN, and IONASCU faced Spain’s Ladimir MAYOROV, Alexander MALOV, Nour SLAMTI, Carmen GÓMEZ, and Julia FERNÁNDEZ. One of the tournament’s most exciting duels occurred between Europe’s No. 1 Alexandru POP and No. 2 Ladimir MAYOROV, where MAYOROV secured a stunning victory, maintaining his undefeated status in Osijek and handing POP his first defeat. The second semifinal also followed the rankings, with second-seeded Slovakia overcoming Poland 5-2. Although Europe’s No. 5 Filip NAGY suffered his first loss against Olaf GLANERT, he recovered to defeat Wojciech FLAUMENHAFT. Slovakia’s winning team also included Barbora Melisa GUASSARDO, Bianka BACSOVÁ, and Alex HLADONÍK. Poland’s team featured Ignacy SŁAWIŃSKI, Wojciech FLAUMENHAFT, Julia SZARMACH, and Małgorzata PORĘBA.
Record-Breaking Participation at the EYS Croatia Open in Osijek
The Europe Youth Series traditionally kicks off its season in Croatia. For the third consecutive year, Osijek is hosting the EYS Croatia Open. With 187 players competing at the NSD Gradski vrt venue, this year’s edition has set a new record for the number of participants. The numbers speak volumes about the growing importance of the tournament—at its premiere in 2023, Osijek hosted 92 players, and last year there were 142. Competitions include mixed teams, singles, and doubles events in the Under-15 and Under-13 categories. Players from Montenegro, England, Romania, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Poland, Austria, Croatia, Spain, Denmark, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Bulgaria, and Germany are taking part in the tournament. You can see the pictures here.
Marcozzi Cagliari Clinches Historic First Italian Cup
In front of a passionate home crowd at the PalaTennistavolo, Marcozzi Cagliari made history by winning their first-ever Men’s Italian Cup, adding to their collection of four Italian Championship titles from 1990, 1992, 2000, and 2001. The cup and medals were presented by FITeT President Renato Di NAPOLI. After a 3-1 victory over Tennistavolo Sassari in the semifinals, Marcozzi claimed the title by defeating Virtus Servigliano with the same score in the final. Virtus had previously caused a major upset by eliminating the reigning champions Apuania Carrara 3-1. In the third-place match, Apuania Carrara defeated Tennistavolo Sassari 3-1. Federal councilor Raffaele Curcio expressed great satisfaction with Marcozzi’s return to the top after 24 years: “Marcozzi wins a trophy again after 24 years, and the coach’s surname remains the same. We have transitioned from Fabio Massimo FERRERO to his son Massimo, continuing the family tradition. Winning at home makes this triumph even more special, especially with Carlo ROSSI, who was born in this gym and has returned to play in Italy this season.” Curcio emphasized the team’s strength and unity: “Our goal before the Final Four was to perform well, and I believe we achieved that. The team is strong—perhaps not unbeatable, but well-balanced and always ready to step up when needed. Of course, competition is always tough, and every match presents its challenges. This Italian Cup, following our four past league titles, is truly significant. The home crowd played a crucial role in supporting the team.” Special recognition was given to Carlo ROSSI, who remained unbeaten in both singles and doubles throughout the semifinals and final. CHANDRA also maintained a perfect record, demonstrating his reliability. Meanwhile, Vallino COSTASSA secured the decisive victory, capping off a highly successful season. Finals MARCOZZI CAGLIARI – VIRTUS SERVIGLIANO 3-1 APUANIA CARRARA – TENNISTAVOLO SASSARI 3-1 Semifinals APUANIA CARRARA – VIRTUS SERVIGLIANO 1-3 MARCOZZI CAGLIARI – TENNISTAVOLO SASSARI 3-1
ETTU Opens Tender for Para U23 Camp 2025 Hosting
The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is pleased to announce the opening of the tender to host the Para U23 Camp, which will take place between June and December 2025. However, the preferred timing for the camp is June, prior to the European Para Youth Games (EPYG). Member Associations interested in hosting the camp are invited to submit their show of interest by Friday, February 14. While not mandatory at this stage, providing details such as the proposed host city, venue, and accommodation would be appreciated. Applications should be sent to galia.dvorak@ettu.org and ana.ivosevic@ettu.org. For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out.
ETTU Strengthens Professional Team with New Marketing and Digital Media Experts
The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is pleased to announce the addition of Carla FERNANDEZ and Chiara COLANTONI to its professional structure, reinforcing its commitment to digital media and marketing event promotion. Carla FERNANDEZ joins ETTU as Digital Media and OTT Content Manager. In this role, she will be responsible for developing and implementing the digital content strategy across various platforms. Her primary focus will be on strengthening ETTU’s online presence, engaging with fans, and optimizing content across the ETTU website, social media channels, and OTT platform to enhance audience interaction and global reach. As part of this transition, Chiara COLANTONI has stepped down from her role as Chair of the Athletes Commission and as a member of the Executive Board to take on the position of ETTU Marketing Assistant. Her responsibilities will include managing sponsor engagements, developing branding strategies, and coordinating promotional activities to enhance the visibility of ETTU competitions and their respective sponsors. With these strategic appointments, ETTU continues to enhance its professional team, ensuring that its marketing and digital media efforts evolve alongside the growing demands of modern sport.
Unbeatable Brunetti Castel Goffredo: The Seventh Italian Cup Joins Their Trophy Case
At the PalaTennistavolo in Cagliari, Brunetti Castel Goffredo triumphed with a 3-1 victory over Quattro Mori Cagliari, securing their seventh Women’s Italian Cup. The medals and the trophy were presented by FITeT President Renato Di Napoli. In the doubles match, Nicole ARLIA and Nikoleta STEFANOVA dominated the first and fourth games, while Miriam CARNOVALE and Arianna BARANI fought hard to save several set points, making comebacks in the second and third games. However, in the decisive fifth game, the Italian champions asserted their superiority to claim the win. In the first singles match, Anastasiia Kolish started strong, but Tania PLAIAN staged an impressive comeback, securing victory in four games. STEFANOVA then delivered a commanding performance, defeating BARANI in straight games. The fourth match saw CARNOVALE dominate KOLISH in the opening game. However, KOLISH leveled in the second and, after a hard-fought battle in the next two games, ultimately secured a crucial victory, breathing a sigh of relief as she sealed the match. Coach Alfonso LAGHEZZA reflected on the team’s triumph: “We are very happy with this result. It was not an easy match at all. The opening doubles were crucial for us—we knew we could do well, but we didn’t expect such difficulties. Looking at the scores, when we won, we did so convincingly, and even in the sets we lost, we had several chances to close them out but failed to capitalize. I did not expect the first singles match to go differently. KOLISH can be inconsistent, whereas PLAIAN has gained significant international experience and is very solid. Stefanova played excellently and secured a straightforward win over BARANI. In the third singles, CARNOVALE started very well, but thankfully, KOLISH regained control, playing with more confidence and calculated risks. Her win was decisive—had she lost, the final match between ARLIA and PLAIAN would have been extremely close and unpredictable. Winning this seventh Italian Cup is another major achievement this season, especially after our seventh Super Cup. To do so without Bernadette SZŐCS and Andreea DRAGOMAN, our two strongest foreign players, makes this victory even more special—for us and for the girls, who were truly determined to succeed.” Final Match Score: Brunetti Castel Goffredo – Quattro Mori Cagliari 3-1
