European Universities Table Tennis Championships
Olomouc will host two big international events in table tennis this summer. Except the traditional ITTF World Tour – Czech Open there will be the 8th European Universities Table Tennis Championship in June. Its venue will be the Olomouc Palacký university sport hall from the 20th till 25th June.
Academic table tennis is becoming more popular among young table tennis players around the world. The winners of world universiades are becoming successful also at important international competitions of adult players. Even the table tennis players belonging to elite top 100 of world ranking are the winners of EUC. The most famous among them is Kirill SKACHKOV. A Novokuzneck man playing for Orenburg State University gained six medals including four gold.
For the second time Czech republic welcomes European Universities Table Tennis Championship. The first championship took place in Ostrava in 2007. This June students will fight for academic titles in Olomouc. The organisers expect record breaking number of participants from all European regions. Among the numerous participants the Czech university students will not be missing.
„In Czech Republic the interest in academic table tennis is increasing in last years. Regarding the academic European championship right at the first championship in Ostrava Dana CECHOVA-HADACOVA excelled and gained silver medal in singles. The last EUC in Geneva in 2015 was even better for us. Michal BENES gained gold in singles and together with Ondrej BAJGER won gold in doubles“ reminded us abou the biggest success of Czech university students at EUC Vit RATAJSKY the chairman of Czech University Sports Association Table Tennis Committee.
Academic table tennis championships have their own friendly atmosphere. The first Czech medallist Dana CECHOVA-HADACOVA knows a lot about it.
„Students events are are different from the top ones. People talk more communicate it is more relaxed and there is not such a rivalry and competition. But it doesn´t mean the students competitions has less quality. For example in Ostrava in 2007 very good Russian women took part. I remember that in the singles semifinal I defeated Anna TICHOMIROVA who later became a main player of Russian national team and participated even at the Olympic Games in London“ said Dana CECHOVA-HADACOVA Czech national team player at the first European Universities Championship in Ostrava.
The Europen University Sports Association assigned the organisation of the 8th European Universities Table Tennis Championship in 2017 to Czech republic specifically to Olomouc the seat of Palacký University. The venue of the June championship will be Olomouc university sport hall where traditionally every August Czech Open – the ITTF World Tour tournament takes place.
„I trust the academic European championship even helps increase the interest in academic table tennis in our country“ continues Vit RATAJSKY and adds: „It will be one of the most significant events of this year. Preparations are culminating. I trust the tournament will be managed on top level.“
European Universities Championship is a specific event to which not national federations but individual universities or colleges sent their athletes. There will be six events at the 8th EUC in Olomouc – men´s and women´s teams men´s and women´s singles men´s and women´s doubles.
In singles the title of champion went to Michal BENES from the Technical University of Ostrava (CZE) and to Anna BLAZHKO representing the Institute of Economics Management & Law Kazan (RUS). Who wins this June in Olomouc? Find more about the 8th European Universities Table Tennis Championship in Olomouc at http://tabletennis2017.eusa.eu
Text and photos: František ZÁLEWSKÝ
