ITTF Magazine_No

United Front for Ukraine
Singapore Smash an Infinite Success
QUADRI ARUNA
ANOTHER MILESTONE
OFFICIAL MAGAZINE INTERNATIONAL TABLE TENNIS FEDERATION Issue No.2 | July 2022 1

CONTENTS
ITTF Group: Tristan Lavier
Editor: Ian Marshall
Sub Editor: Richard Scruton
Statistician: Matt Solt
Designer:Jeff Tokaz
Contributors:
Mariam Alhodaby, Gaston Alto, Tim Boggan,
Francesca Bullock, Jorge Campos, Horacio
Cifuentes, Steve Dainton, Jacques Denys, Galia
Dvorak, Jia Li, Richard Joseph, Pierre Juliens,
Roman Klecker, Kristof Lajtai, Nicholas Lum,
Andrew Mudibo, Anthony Moore, Paloma Mutti,
Milica Nikolic, Olalekan Okusan, Leandro Olvech,
Jeff Onyango, Kastriot Orana, David Pace, Zoran
Primorac, Manfred Schillings, Jordi Serra, Trevor
Taylor, Werner Thury, Shunsuke Togami, Karen
Tonge, Samuel Tsuruta, Gustavo Ulloa, Tommy
Urhaug, Eugene Wang, Laura Wong, Yu Mengyu
Photographers:
Malcolm Anderson, Butterfly, Paul Calle,
Thorsten Gohl, Rémy Gros, Richard Kalocsai,
Roman Klecker, Noboru Konno, Leon Libin,
Bogdan Pasek, Zoran Primorac, Santiago
Regaira, Gustavo Ulloa, Tommy Urhaug,
Diane Webb
Cover Issue No.2 (July 2022): Quadri Aruna
Publication: date for issue no.3 i s
Friday 14th October
IN THIS ISSUE
4
8
12
14
ITTF Group
Infinite Success in Singapore
Destroying the Myth
China Visits the United States
52
54
58
60
26 Lifetime Achiever
30 You Can Do It
62
64
36
38
40
42
48
50
New Goals for Ashley Facey
Walk Tall
Life is not Life without Regret
Another Milestone
The Resilient Cuban
Backyard Hero to Pacific Premier
66
68
70
72
77
78
Stand Aside
United Front
Latest Partner
Progress at a Vital Time
Successor in Waiting
Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honour
Mannequin Parade
A Scientific Approach for Kenya
World Table Tennis Day
Hitting the Headlines
We Remember
Podium Places
The old norm
Tournaments cancelled, that has been the
unfortunate notice in recent times owing
to COVID-19, the disease may never
be entirely eradicated but throughout
the world it is on the wane. The logical
conclusion is that planet earth is returning
to normal, whatever that word may mean,
defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as
conforming to a standard; usual, typical,
or expected.
Notably, the “new norm” is a phrase
gaining in popularity, of course not found
in the Oxford English Dictionary; however,
for the sport of table tennis, is it the “old
norm”?
In May and June, two years after
the shutters closed on international
competition, the ITTF calendar is buoyant,
as full as ever before; most importantly
it fulfils the phrase, “table tennis for all,
for life”. The full age range was witnessed;
from under 11 events at World Table Tennis
Youth tournaments to continental veteran
gatherings for the more mature. Equally
most imposing numbers competed on the
para scene.
Globally some 40 tournaments in less
than nine weeks, in excess of four per
week, an example to the sporting world.
8 30 40
42 58 60
2 -ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 3

ITTF GROUP
ITTF Americas
In May, ITTF Americas launched a new website
2022 ITTF World Team Table Tennis
Championships Finals
Scheduled to be held in Chengdu from
Friday 30th September to Sunday
9th October, 100 days prior to the
commencement of play on Wednesday
22nd June, the 40 teams that will compete
in each of the men’s and women’s events
were announced.
Men
Host: China
Africa: Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Togo, Tunisia
Asia: Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei,
India, Japan, Iran, Singapore, Hong Kong,
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Uzbekistan
Europe: Germany, Russia, Sweden,
Denmark, England, Austria, Czech Republic,
Romania, Portugal, France, Croatia, Slovenia
Pan America: Brazil, Chile, Argentina,
USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Peru
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu
Intercontinental: Belgium
Reserves: Belarus, Slovakia, DPR Korea,
Poland, Ukraine
Women
Host: China
Africa: Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Mauritius, Algeria
Asia: Japan, Korea Republic, Hong Kong,
Singapore, India, Thailand, Chinese Taipei,
Kazakhstan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Indonesia
Europe: Germany, Romania, France, Portugal,
Austria, Ukraine, Poland, Luxembourg,
Hungary, Russia, Netherlands, Sweden
Pan America: Brazil, Canada, USA, Chile,
Puerto Rico, Argentina, Guatemala
Oceania: Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji
Intercontinental: DPR Korea
Reserves: Czech Republic, Belarus, Spain,
Italy, Slovakia
The lists are in order the respective teams
became eligibile; a decision regarding the
participation of Russia or Belarus will be
made at the ITTF Executive Committee to
be held on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday
27th July.
Petra Sörling guest speaker at Global Sports Week Annual Forum
Staged in Paris, on Wednesday 11th May, Petra Sörling, ITTF President, was one of the
guest speakers at the Global Sports Week Annual Forum.
Malta
On Friday 27th May, Petra Sörling alongside Pedro Moura, Acting President of the European
Table Tennis Union and Stefano Bosi, International Relations Delegate of the Italian Table
Tennis Federation met members of SportsMalta, the Maltese Olympic Committee and the
Malta Table Tennis Association.
“Our association was established in 1953, as yet we do not have our own office to meet
as a Board of Directors”, explained David Pace, Vice President of the Malta Table Tennis
Association. “Now, with the rate of growth being registered there is no time or space to
grow the sport, thus we are seeking assistance from our Maltese sports institutions to
understand us and enter into a commitment with us.”
Visit to London
In mid-May, leading ITTF members met their counterparts from Table Tennis England at
the O2 Arena in London.
2023 World Veteran Championships
Following the close of the first stage of
registrations on Saturday 2nd July for the
2023 World Veteran Championships, to be
held in Muscat, Oman from Sunday 15th to
Saturday 21st January, a total of 402
entries, 302 men and 100 women had
been received.
Overall, 45 member associations are
represented, India with 148 entries leads
the way. The second registration stage
commenced on Sunday 3rd July and
concludes at midnight on Thursday 15th
December.
Geelong the destination for 2026
Commonwealth Games
Table tennis will be included in the 2026
Commonwealth Games; the competition
will take place in the Australian city of
Geelong.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games schedule
published
In early April the schedule for the table
tennis events at the Paris 2024 Olympic
Games was published.
Match-Fixing Task Force Meeting
Held in Abu Dhabi from Tuesday 10th to Thursday 12th May, Kevin Carpenter, Head of
the ITTF Integrity Unit, delivered a 20 minute address at the 12th meeting of INTERPOL’s
Match-Fixing Task Force.
Lagos Meeting
Khaled El-Salhy met Femi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, on Tuesday
24th May; a major topic on the agenda was the possibility of the city hosting a World
Championships. Also present was Wahid Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President.
World Veteran Tour – Road to Oman
The World Veteran Tour returns to
the 2022 international calendar; four
tournaments have been named:
Thu 8th - Sun 11th Sept: Otocec, Slovenia
Fri 14th - Sun Oct: Loutraki, Greece
Thu 3rd – Sun 6th Nov: Djerba, Tunisia
Wed 14th – Sat 17th Dec: Los Angeles, USA
Each event winner on the “World
Veteran Tour – Road to Oman” will gain
a free entry to the Oman 2023 World
Veteran Championships, each player a
10 per cent entry fee discount.
World Refugee Day
In June the ITTF Foundation launched
a pilot series of eight-week training
sessions at two refugee establishments
in the German city of Leipzig.
4 -ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 5

ITTF GROUP
ASOIF General Assembly
Petra Sörling and Raul Calin attended the
46th General Assembly of the Association of
Summer Olympic International Federations
(ASOIF) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The
situation regarding Ukrainian sport and the
Paris 2024 Olympic Games were the main
items on the agenda.
World Ranking Working Group
Under the leadership of Washid Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice
President, notable changes were made with regards to the ITTF
World Table Tennis Rankings.
Visit to Rome
Petra Sörling, ITTF President and Steve Dainton, ITTF Chief
Executive Officer, met members of the Italian Table Tennis
Federation in Rome on Thursday 26th May.
ITTF High Performance and Development
In April, the ITTF High Performance and Development department
published its Annual Report for 2021.
High Performance Research Training Camp
In co-operation with Spinsight ESN Digital, the first Research
Training Camp organised by ITTF High Performance was held in
Bad Königshofen, Germany from Tuesday 19th to Saturday 22nd
April.
Competition Managers Seminar
Staged at the Westbrook Hotel in Lagos from Sunday 22nd to
Tuesday 24th May, Mohamed El-Dawlatly led an ITTF Competition
Managers Seminar for Africa. All under 40 years of age, in addition
to Nigeria, members travelled from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia.
Hopes Squad meets in Linz
Organised in connection with the WTT Youth Contender Linz, a
Hopes Training Camp was organised; the girls met from Monday
25th to Friday 29th April, the boys from Sunday 1st to Thursday
5th May.
Durban unveils logo
On Saturday 28th May, Durban unveiled the
logo for the 2023 World Championships.
International
Referee School,
Helsinki 2022
Led by Werner
Thury, Chair of the
ITTF Umpires and
Referees Committee,
an International Referee School will be
staged in Helsinki, Finland from Thursday
13th to Sunday 16th October.
ITTF Staff
Raul Calin, ITTF Secretary-General, transfers from Singapore to the Lausanne
office; Mounir Bessah moves to Singapore and becomes Deputy Secretary-General.
He maintains the Member Relations portfolio.
Vicky Elefthriade and Mikael Andersson both return. Vicky becomes WTT Head of
Series. She will be responsible for overseeing the administration and management
of each of the World Table Tennis tiers, in addition she will fulfil the role of ITTF
Events Project Manager.
Mikael becomes the Sports Director; his missions include sports innovation, the
creation of an international network of academies to develop the next generation of
players, plus restarting important areas most affected by the pandemic.Iulia Necula
moves from the ITTF Group Chief Executive Office to World Table Tennis as Head
of Player Relations. She will be responsible for the vision, growth and structure of
the new Player Relations department, strengthening the bond with the athletes.
Additionally, she will deliver the itinerary of player benefits and services including
medical, finance, education, welfare and talent. Meanwhile Bart Vermoesen has
joined World Table Tennis as Senior Event Supervisor. In addition to his role onsite
at events, he will fulfil the Technical Manager position at the Paris 2024 Olympic
Games.
Likewise, Barry Goh has joined World Table Tennis as WTT Event and Experience
Manager, a role he shares with Jin Kai Koh.
World Table Tennis also welcomes Long Fei Lim, an accountant, plus social media
specialists Alyssa Long and Ma Zhen in addition to Muwinda Panitha as Senior
Software Developer.
Sunset Sports Media Festival
Zoran Primorac, Chair of the ITTF Athletes’ Commission, alongside Peter Schmeichel,
the former Manchester United goalkeeper, and Julian Edelman who played for the New
England Patriots in the American National Football League, attended the Sunset Sports
Media Festival staged in Zadar from Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th June.
Enlio World Table Tennis Global Supplier
On Wednesday 15th June World Table
Tennis announced Hebei Enlio Sports
Group as its official flooring supplier.
Busy end to month
It was a busy end to the month of June
for ITTF Executive Committee members
and senior staff.
Petra Sörling was present at the Stag
European Veteran Championships in
Rimini; Khalil Al-Mohannadi, Steve
Dainton, Michael Brown and Mounir
Bessah visited Durban where they met
members of the South African Table
Tennis Board, taking the opportunity to
inspect the venue for the 2023 World
Table Tennis Championships Finals.
Meanwhile, Raul Calin, Kimberly Koh and
Bart Vermoesen visited Paris to receive
an update regarding preparations for
the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic
Games. Matt Pound, Philippe Le Floc’h,
Ai Fukuhara were in Tokyo for a series
of meetings with Masaya Kawata, the
newly-elected President of the Japan
Table Tennis Association.
6 -ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 7

WORLD TABLE TENNIS
Singapore Smash an Infinite Success
A concept, on Monday 7th March 2022
the initiative was realised; for the more
romantic the dream came true, a special
moment, in Singapore the first ball was
hit in the first ever WTT Grand Smash
tournament.
The US$ 2,000,000 prize fund, with
players rewarded from the very first
qualification round was a landmark, it was
also a platform.
It is early days and of course the world
is still recovering from the effects of
the pandemic, but the eventual goal
is that annually there will be four such
tournaments; that number is a vital factor.
Although some may moan that the
calendar is too full, the groaners would be
even more prevalent if it was the opposite,
there is space for further high level events.
Each to their own opinion but Ma Long
is high on the list of being considered the
greatest table tennis player of all time. A
host of accolades to his name but three
times winner of the men’s singles title at
the World Championships, twice Olympic
gold, are the standout titles.
Now compare that with tennis, wins this
year in Australia and France means Rafal
Nadal has no less than 22 Grand Slam
titles to his name, for Roger Federer and
Novak Djokovic each has 20 in total. They
have four times the number of major titles!
Accepted, over the years such
tournaments as the World Cup and ITTF
World Tour Grand Finals have been premier
events but realistically nothing compares
with the Olympic Games and World
Championships. They are the pinnacle.
However, when individual events are
considered the World Championships is
biennial, the Olympic Games quadrennial.
Consider golf, there are four majors each
year, it is similar with tennis, four grand
slams; all are presented to the highest
levels, all gain extremely high media
ratings. In their respective disciplines they
are the tournaments that the sporting
public will follow more than any other.
They are the events that hit the headlines,
attract global media attention; WTT Grand
Smash fulfils the role for table tennis.
“During our previous years of studying
the market we realised that if we
wanted to compete with other major
sporting properties then we needed more
professional and prestigious events on
a more regular basis”, explained Steve
Dainton, ITTF Group Chief Executive Officer.
Succeeding in such events in golf or
tennis are the most revered possessions;
in the table tennis domain the fact such
a situation can occur was evident in
Singapore. The top prize was valued not
just in monetary terms; also, in the light
of pride and prestige, a fact that did not
escape Steve Dainton.
“The players were fighting hard”, he
explained. “It may sound strange but Ma
Long so disappointed when he lost to Fan
Zhendong in the final was good to see;
it demonstrated we had produced an
extremely important event.”
Pleased with the attitude of the players,
Steve Dainton was also delighted with
further aspects of the occasion.
“The media response was outstanding,
social media approached the same
numbers as the World Championships;
numbers never known before, the
tournament proved its worth”, he added.
“In the past I’ve been somewhat hesitant
to invite businessmen, wondering if our
presentation has been good enough; in
Singapore I was in no doubt whatsoever,
totally confident.”
Impressively, the tournament was
broadcast in 196 markets, the event
reached a television audience of more
than 160 million, a cumulative reach of
more than 400 million. On social media, it
gained more than half a billion impressions
and 54 million video views.
Steve Dainton
WTT Grand Smash Opening Ceremony
8 -ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 9

WORLD TABLE TENNIS
Infinity
Key to the presentation was the Infinity
Arena; an innovation that, in addition
to the Grand Smash, is planned for
WTT Champions and WTT Cup Final
tournaments.
The arena is present from start to finish,
not just for the finals; where more than
one table is used, it is in a separate hall.
Assume an aerial view, the octagonal shape
of the court is depicted within the infinity
symbol, the lines cross over the net at the
centre of the table. Now, rotate the symbol
90 degrees and you see the number eight,
in many Asian countries believed to be a
lucky digit.
Innovative geometry, add a total of 20
LED screens, a light show the cue for the
master of ceremonies to wax lyrical, laser
beams flashing, music resounding, the
super trouper focused on the players as
they descend the catwalk; words do not do
justice to the spectacle.
Simply it is a complete theatre, no
boundaries, the crowd totally engaged, not
just the actors, good fun!
“In Singapore there was an amazing
reaction, a totally new look, the setting
so different to anything that had been
witnessed before; it was modern day
entertainment”, explained Joachim Davy,
the Content and Creative Director for
World Table Tennis. “In particular, people
from the business world were impressed,
previously unaware that table tennis could
be promoted in such an awesome manner.”
Additionally, the scene was depicted on
the wall outside the fans’ village, once
again creating a scenario that brought a
sense of unison; everyone together for the
occasion, another item that added to the
vital fun factor.
Sitting in the tiered seating, or on
occasions jumping up for joy, the crowd
was being spoilt! They were privileged to
see the best in action, athletes in every
sense of the world, masters of their craft,
fitness vital. They were watching the best
at their best. Leading players will tell you,
present matters well and naturally we raise
our game.
Undoubtedly, a pioneering spirit was
evident in Singapore, to some extent
setting an example for other Olympic
sports and international federations. Most
noteworthy is the fact the brainchild comes
from within, it is not a rebel organisation,
not challenging the status quo.
“World Table Tennis is born out of the ITTF,
we are part of the Olympic movement,
we must keep that spirit; the task is to
increase the value of our product”, stressed
Steve Dainton. “In Singapore we changed
the perception of table tennis, skepticism
was to be expected but now it is less; we
demonstrated how to professionalise our
sport; we proved we could do it.”
Different thinking but is that not what
makes great players, truly great? The
phrase also applies to competition itself;
it is an essential factor in order to move to
the next level.
There is nothing wrong with tradition and
it should be respected but if we stand still,
do not innovate, we go backwards; there
is no such thing as the finished article, but
it is the ideal we must strive to achieve.
Search for infinity.
US$ 2,000,000 total prize fund
US$ 100,000 for men’s singles & women’s singles winners
US$ 12,000 for winning doubles pairs
64 main draw for men’s & women’s singles
24 pairs in each of men’s & women’s doubles, no qualification
16 pairs in mixed doubles, two from host nation, no qualification
10 days for main draw
7 game matches for men’s, women’s singles semi-finals & finals
5 game matches in doubles & rounds prior to men’s & women’s
singles semi-finals
4 host nation players & pairs gain entry for men’s singles, women’s
singles, men’s doubles & women’s doubles
3 days qualification for men’s & women’s singles
2 players invited by ITTF to each of men’s & women’s singles
1 from the very first qualification round prize money awarded
Public events
10-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 11

PING PONG DIPLOMACY
Destroying the myth
Always known as Ping Pong Diplomacy, the
visit of the United States table tennis team
to China from Saturday 10th to Wednesday
21st April 1971, following the Nagoya
World Championships, was global news;
some ten months later from Monday 21st
to Monday 28th February 1972, President
Richard Nixon arrived in Beijing to hold
talks with Chairman Mao Zedong.
Soon after, on Wednesday 12th April
1972, guests of the United States Table
Tennis Association, a Chinese delegation
set foot on American soil; they stayed
until Tuesday 25th April 1972.
Without Trevor Taylor, a member of the
England men’s team present in Nagoya
alongside Alan Hydes and Tony Clayton,
those historic happenings may never
have taken place.
Over the years the actual proceedings
that triggered the series of events have
become distorted. The favourite story is
that Glenn Cowan was practising with
China’s Liang Geliang, they had been
playing for some 15 minutes when a
Japanese official advised the training area
had to close. Inadvertently, Glenn Cowan
jumped on the Chinese bus, the spark
of friendship was lit when he received
a silk-screen portrait of the Huangshan
Mountains, from Zhuang Zedong, China’s
leading player at the time.
The presentation of the scarf by Zhuang
Zedong is true; the other happenings
are subject to scrutiny. England’s Trevor
Taylor was the man on the spot.
“At a World Championships, there was
always a one day break between team
and singles events; on the free day I
wanted to practise before lunch, neither
Alan Hydes, who was not well, nor Tony
Clayton wanted to practise”, explained
Trevor Taylor. “I saw Glenn Cowan, asked
him if he’d like to practise for two hours,
he immediately agreed; we took the
shuttle bus from the hotel.”
Glenn Cowan wearing the shirt that expressed
his opinions
Had Trevor Taylor not
needed a practice
partner, would Ping
Pong Diplomacy ever
have been born?
Quite simply, the bus worked on a loop
system, hotel to venue and then back to
the hotel; there was no bus just for the
Chinese nor for anyone else.
“We arrived in the training hall, it was
full of Chinese, eventually we found a
table; we played for about an hour and
half before deciding to return to the hotel
for lunch”, added Trevor Taylor. “We sat
on the back seat, when we got on the bus
there was nobody else; then the Chinese
arrived!”
Notably, prior to the practice session,
England had received an invitation to
visit China.
“Before we left England we were told we
would be staying in Japan after the World
Championships, everything was very
secretive”, stressed Trevor Taylor.
Sitting on the bus in England, with Trevor
Taylor was Alan Hydes alongside Chester
Barnes and Denis Neale. Tony Clayton
was not present; he was the official nontravelling
reserve. Both Chester and
Denis advised they were not able to stay
on after the World Championships in
Nagoya.
“Alan and myself kept asking each other
if they would stay on the bus or leave;
they left! We were all quite stunned”,
continued Trevor Taylor.
Trevor Taylor 2022
Trevor Taylor 1972
Trevor Taylor
A shocked Trevor Taylor, equally in
Nagoya on the bus returning to the hotel,
he was startled just the same.
“Glenn asked for an interpreter, I’m not
sure if he ever took drugs but he was a
flamboyant character, no inhibitions, he
stood up and made a speech”, reminisced
Trevor Taylor. “Speaking through the
interpreter, he explained that in the
United States he had been on peace
marches against the Vietnam war; that
he respected Chairman Mao and loved
the Chinese people!”
The reaction was immediate, all the
Chinese applauded him, a standing
ovation but all were laughing; the reason
being he had such long hair, down to
his shoulders! The silk scarf was duly
presented, but all Glenn possessed in
order to return the compliment was his
comb; those facts of the story are correct.
“He continued, he stressed he would
love to be invited to China and asked
why the English team had been invited to
China and not the Americans?” continued
Trevor Taylor.
Arriving at the hotel, Trevor Taylor duly
returned to his hotel room to leave Glenn
Cowan the task of facing the media.
One day later the Americans received
the invitation; a gesture that Roy Evans,
at the time President of the International
Table Tennis Federation, found hard to
believe.
“Roy’s words were something like “don’t
be stupid, you are making things up”,
everyone was shocked with the news”,
smiled Trevor Taylor.
Nevertheless, it was true. One wonders,
had Trevor Taylor not needed a practice
partner would Ping Pong Diplomacy ever
have been born?
12-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 13

PING PONG DIPLOMACY
China visits the United States
Establishing diplomatic relations between
China and the United States took time; the
table tennis accord was rather quicker.
Thursday 13th April: A visit to the Chrysler Assembly Plant was
first on the itinerary, followed by lunch and a table tennis match
between the heads of each delegation, Graham Steenhoven
versus Zhuang Zedong; a shortened version, with Dick Miles the
umpire, 5-3 in favour of Zhuang Zedong.
Continuing the theme of “Friendship First,
Competition Second”, just over one week
after the Americans had departed Beijing
in April 1971 and had landed home safely,
an official communique was received from
China. The message confirmed they were
pleased to accept the invitation extended
by Graham Steenhoven, the President of
the United States Table Tennis Association,
during the historic visit.
Assisted by Dr Rufford Harrison,
immediately Graham Steenhoven set
about devising a thorough itinerary, one
that combined, culture, camaraderie and
competition.
In 1972, a successful two-week plan
was the end result.
Wednesday 12th April: A Pan Am Boeing
707, a long-range narrow-body jet airliner
landed in Detroit almost exactly one year
to the day since the United States team
had set foot in Beijing on Saturday 10th
April 1971. First out of the door was a
host of Chinese photographers, cameras
focused on United States photographers
eager to return the compliment!
Next came Graham Steenhoven,
President of the United States Table
Tennis Association, he had flown to
Ottawa earlier in the day to meet the
Chinese delegation at the conclusion of
their Canadian tour. He was followed by
Zhuang Zedong, at the time 30 years old.
Eventually, a 34 strong group comprising
players, officials, interpreters and
journalists laid foot on American soil.
Standing behind a security fence, the
United States players stood in line, the
men wearing blue turtleneck shirts and
blazers, white trousers, the women, all
white suits with orange turtleneck blouses.
The one exception to the embarrassment
of all was John Tannehill, not selected
because he had not responded to the
invitation requesting uniform size but
had been a member of the party the
previous year in the ground-breaking
visit to China. He arrived in what could
only be described as a pair of overalls
ready for heavy manual work.
Next, travel by coach to the Sheraton-
Cadillac Hotel, Americans and Chinese
together, press and cameramen filling the
aisle. A helicopter and motorbike escort
endorsed the importance of the occasion.
Lunch was followed by an exchange of
gifts, the esteemed visitors receiving
polaroid cameras. Later there were
practice sessions, a mayor’s banquet
ending the day.
A notable absentee was Glenn Cowan,
the man pivotal to initiating the United
States visit to China one year earlier. He
was unwell, the following day he returned
to Los Angeles and took no further part in
proceedings.
Waiting to welcome the Chinese, Connie
Sweeris, Olga Soltesz, Judy Bochenski, Jarie
Resek, Errol Resek
China arrives - Yang Chun, Zhang Xielin, Li
Furong, Liang Geliang, Chiu Yenliang, Ho Hsupin
The media arrived in numbers
The coach journey to the hotel
Note: The article is published in cooperation
with Tim Boggan and Malcolm
Anderson; the first-hand knowledge and
attention to detail invaluable.
Dick Miles, John Read, Wendy Hicks, Patty
Martinez, Dell Sweeris and Cyril Lederman await
the arrival of the Chinese team
John Tannehill stood out in his overalls
Olga Soltesz practising on the opening day of
the Chinese visit
Zhuang Zedong played Graham Steenhoven, Dick Miles umpired
Friday 14th April: Rest, then practice for the match in Detroit’s
Cobo Hall between the United States and China; the player to
catch the eye when preparing being China’s 20 year old Hu
Weihsin. He was using a two pound steel racket, the argument
being that it strengthened his arms.
Dell Sweeris, Fuarnado Roberts, George Braithwaite, Bernie
Bukiet, Errol Resek and Dal Joon Lee lined up for the United
States; for the women, the selection was Alice Green, Judy
Bochenski, Barbara Kaminsky, Olga Soltesz, Patty Martinez Cash,
Wendy Hicks, Pat Hildebrand and Connie Sweeris.
The result ended in favour of the visitors, the United States
recording one win; Dell Sweeris beat Liang Geliang (22-20, 21-18).
Dal Joon Lee plays Ho Tsupin, George Buben and Andy Gad officiate
Dell Sweeris beat Liang Geliang
Dick Miles explains the difference in rackets to Jim McKay
Zheng Huaiying versus Wendy Hicks, Jim Rushford and George Buben
officiated
Chinese team helps prepare the venue
14-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 15

PING PONG DIPLOMACY
Saturday 15th April: A journey to Ann
Arbor, a city west of Detroit was first on the
agenda but without John Tannehill. Prior
to departure, he had been somewhat less
than courteous when speaking to Graham
Steenhoven and had been immediately
excluded from the tour. On the second
day he had received his uniform but had
not played in the Cobo Hall; what he did
not know was he was due to compete in
Ann Arbor. Petulance meant he missed the
chance of a lifetime.
All were welcomed to the University of
Michigan, an educational establishment
with a large number of Asian students.
Later a match was staged between the
United States and China at the Chrysler
Arena, a contest in which George Braithwaite
lost to Chen Paoching. However, on
the immediately ensuing flight to Virginia
to visit the colonial city of Williamsburg
and the restored English governor’s 18th
century mansion, there was a celebration
for his 38th birthday.
A warm welcome at the University of Michigan
Sunday 16th April: The tour of
Williamsburg continued, followed by
exhibition matches at the William and
Mary College. Patty Martinez Cash gave
a spirited performance against Zheng
Minzhi, Errol Rezek lost part of a fingernail
when catching the forefinger of his playing
hand against the table. Reacting quickly,
Dr Linn Yuanshu, the Chinese team doctor
sitting in the crowd, entered the court to
dress the wound.
Play concluded, in quite heavy rain a bus
journey to Washington D.C. followed. A
visit to the Lincoln Memorial, a drive past
the Washington Monument; then to the
Park Sheraton Hotel to conclude the day.
At the Windmill - Liang Geliang, Zheng Minzhi, Wendy Hicks, Zheng
Huaiying, Zhuang Zedong
Monday 17th April: First on the agenda another bus journey;
this time to the University of Maryland and Cole Field House where,
in the presence of William Rogers, the United States Secretary-of-
State and Tricia Nixon, the elder daughter of Richard Nixon, the
President, the teams faced each other.
Led by Lin Huiqing, China enters the arena
The King’s Arms in Williamsburgh
Colonial papermaking
A birthday cake for George Braithwaite on the
flight to Virginia
A chance for Liang Geliang to practise
Fuarnado Roberts was beaten by Li Furong
George Braithwaite lost to Liang Geliang
A colonial flavour in Williamsburgh
Lin Hsiuying experienced defeat when facing Wendy Hicks
Judy Bochenski, Barbara Kaminsky, Olga Soltesz, Patty Martinez, Wendy
Hicks at the University of Maryland
16-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 17

PING PONG DIPLOMACY
Richard Nixon meets members of the United States team
Chinese team lines up alongside Richard Nixon
Shaking hands with Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon enters the Rose Garden
Tuesday 18th April: An early start and
back on the bus; the destination, the
Bethesda-Chevy Chase School where on
closed circuit television the Americans
watched the Chinese being interviewed.
Interviews complete, the next venue was
the baseball field. Li Furong and Zhang
Xielin declined the offer to use the baseball
bat for fear of injuring their arms; Zhuang
Zedong accepted, he connected on three
of the five pitches.
Baseball over, an exhibition match
involving Zhang Xielin followed, before
a planned visit to the Kennedy Cultural
Center did not go as planned, the Chinese
declined the invitation, the explanation the
group preferred to rest; perhaps aware
that the next item on the itinerary was a
visit to the White House.
Arriving at the historic building, a long
line of people stood around the edges of a
well-kept lawn, the party entered the Rose
Garden where each member of the Chinese
team was welcomed by Richard Nixon. The
Americans stood watching proceedings,
Pat Hildebrand, Barbara Kaminsky, Olga
Soltesz and Fuarnado Roberts all acquired
Richard Nixon’s autograph; he talked to
several players but seemed unaware that
most of the members of the team that had
visited China one year earlier were actually
present.
Convivial, a tour of the White House was
organised followed by dinner to bring the
day to an end.
The Chinese team in the Rose Garden The Chinese team welcomed by Richard Nixon The United States team at the White House
Dal Joon Lee, Errol Resek, Bernie Bukiet,
George Braithwaits, Fuaranado Roberts and Dell
Sweeris at the White House
Malcolm Anderson, Alice Green, Bernie Bukiet
and Fuarnado Roberts in the White House
Barbara Kaminsky in the White House
Pat Hildebrand in the White House
18-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 19

PING PONG DIPLOMACY
Wednesday 19th April: The visit to
the White House completed, the next
destination was New York where they were
greeted by the city’s major, John Lindsay,
followed by a tour of the United Nations. In
the horseshoe shaped Trusteeship Council
Chambers, George Braithwaite addressed
all present and played an exhibition match
against Hu Weishin, tickets being sold at
between US$ 10.00 and US$ 15.00.
Following the exhibition, a reception was
held; there being some confusion as to
who should and should not attend.
Notably, by the time the tour had reached
New York, Tim Boggan had been elected
President of the United States Table
Tennis Association to succeed Graham
Steenhoven.
George Braithwaite addresses the United Nations
George H.W. Bush addresses all present
Watched by George Braithwaite and George H.W. Bush, Zhuang Zedong responds
Ho Tsupin played George Braithwaite
An exhibition doubles match enthralled all present
Liang Geliang played Hu Weihsin
Wednesday 19th April: A journey to
the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island started
the itinerary, the Chinese scheduled
to play in the afternoon. There was some
concern that the venue was some 40 miles
from New York City but there was no great
need for such consternation, an estimated
7,000 spectators attended, notably including
Huang Hua, the Chinese representative
to the United Nations.
Dick Miles who had helped ABC Wide
World of Sports earlier in the tour in Detroit,
proved an excellent commentator.
The match was won by the Chinese, the
United States gaining one win; Errol Resek
beat Chen Paoching.
Lin Hsiuying faces Alice Green
The United States team enters the arena
Team line up prior to play commencing
20-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 21

PING PONG DIPLOMACY
Friday 21st April: The last day in New
York, a journey by bus to 42nd street and
Times Square in addition to a local school
where the communal experience was of
high importance.
The brief visit concluded, hosted by
Sports Illustrated, the party travelled to
Pier 83 and took Circle Line 35, a boat
trip and lunch around Manhattan which
included a visit to the Statue of Liberty.
Departing Fort Wood on Liberty Island, the
group visited the Chase Manhattan Bank
where a less than worldly-wise official
asked Zhuang Zedong if he played table
tennis.
Later, in the evening a reception was
organised by the Chinese Mission, notable
celebrities included actress Shirley
MacLaine and folk singer, Pete Seeger.
Visit to the Statue of Liberty
Visit to a local factory
A Riverboat journey ended the day
En route to the Statue of Liberty
Saturday 22nd April: A journey west
to Memphis, on the flight Zhuang Zedong
displayed his skill with card tricks. The
Mid-South Coliseum, a somewhat strange
choice of venue not being a hotbed for
table tennis, was the venue, the crowd a
disappointing 2,000 in number.
However, the outcome was more than
pleasing, a five-all result, Fuarnado
Roberts, Peter Pradit, Dal Joon Lee and
Erwin Klein alongside Lim Ming Chui who
had emigrated from Hong Kong were on
duty for the United States men’s team; for
the women Angelita Rosal, Connie Sweeris
and Wendy Hicks entered the fray.
Matches to note were the defeats of
Fuarnado Roberts by Li Furong, Lim Ming
Chui by Ho Tsupin; conversely, Connie
Sweeris beat Yang Shun and partnered
Wendy Hicks to doubles success.
Meanwhile, for the men Dal Joon Lee
won his singles contest, Erwin Klein and
Fuarnado Roberts secured the doubles.
The effect was that with one match to play,
Dell Sweeris needed to beat Hu Weihsin to
force the draw; just as on the third day of
the tour when in Detroit he had overcome
Liang Geliang, once again he responded.
He beat Hu Weihsin (23-21, 27-25).
A quite outstanding result, Dell Sweeris
attributed the success to the fact that he
had practised for one hour with Li Furong
and had received most valuable advice in
respect to his techniques.
Overall, prior to the fixture in Memphis,
the record had read 22-4 in favour of
the Chinese, it now read a much more
respectable 27-9.
Play concluded for the day, accompanied
by a coast guard boat, it was all aboard the
Memphis Queen, a 600 seater riverboat for
a trip down the Mississippi.
Basketball at Memphis University
Technique and tactics discussed at Memphis University
Yang Chun tried basketball in Memphis
Dal Joon Lee
Sunday 23rd April: A breakfast comprising broccoli, rice, fried
cabbage and red snapper plus sweet and sour pork started the day;
Zhuang Zedong received a specially crafted teak and zebra wood table
tennis racket, before a film in colour promoting Memphis was shown.
Lunch then frisbee throwing followed by a puppet show, which seemingly
was not well received by the Americans but enjoyed by the Chinese
even though they could not understand a single word. Departing
Zhuang Zedong presented the local hosts with a silk embroidery of the
People’s Park in Beijing before with a stop at the Stax Record Company,
the group arrived back at the hotel.
Immediately, a much awaited coaching session was conducted by the
Chinese in the late afternoon followed in the evening by a visit to Le
Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Zhuang Zedong offered a Double Happiness
table tennis ball for the toy room, which the organisers mounted in
a special place for observation only, both Zhuang Zedong and Graham
Steenhoven sang the “Snoopy Fence” on departure.
Tim Boggan on the Riverboat
Frisbee throwing in Memphis
22-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 23

PING PONG DIPLOMACY
Monday 24th April: A flight to Los
Angeles and a visit to Universal Studios,
a ride on the Glamour Train around the
428 acre site where they met Raymond
Burr, the actor, in addition to experiencing
animal acts and having the chance to
encounter Frankenstein.
Following the tour, a match was staged
at the Pauley Pavilion in front of 8,000
spectators. The Chinese won 7-3, Judy
Bochenski, local man Erwin Klein and Peter
Pradit recorded the United States wins.
Notably Erwin Klein beat Li Furong, Peter
Pradit overame Hu Weihsin.
The last match on the tour, the end result
34-12 in favour of China but whatever the
statistic a great victory; a fact illustrated
in the contest that brought matters to
an end. A “friendship doubles” in which
Fuarnado Roberts and Liang Geliang joined
forces, retrieving the ball from nearer the
court surrounds than the table, brought
the house down!
Tuesday 25th April: Departure from
the Beverly Hilton, the official end of the
two-week tour over. The Chinese stayed
for a few more days to relax, they visited
Marineland and Disneyland.
The Chinese had demonstrated their
incredible skills, all benefitted in some
way from the experience, “friendship first,
competition second” had prevailed; a
relationship between the United States and
China which just over one year earlier had
not existed, was cemented and remains
today, the legacy of 50 years ago.
A crowd of 8,000 was present for the last match of the tour
A teacup ride
Ho Tsupin and Lin Huiqing feed a killer whale
alongside Shih Pinglin
The teams line up
Li Furong lost to local man, Erwin Klein, Doug Stewart umpired
Farewell Speech, Lou Tapeng and Zhuang Zedong
Cable cars attracted attention
Lin Hsiuying played Patty Martinez, the umpire was Dr Richard Alden
A visit to Universal Studios
A visit to Universal Studios
Meeting legends
24-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 25

RECOGNITION
Progressing to compete at a high level, whatever the sport, it is always
exacting but even more exacting if you hail from a country that has no great
tradition in the discipline you choose and can be regarded as being from the
third world; facilities and finance not plentiful.
The presentation in Cuenca, Gustavo Ulloa with Paul Calle and Juan Villa
Nowadays there is support from such
organisations as Olympic Solidarity and
sport governing bodies. Nevertheless,
such aid is not a panacea; dedication,
hours of hard work, overcoming hurdles
and disappointments are needed.
Additionally, targets must be reasonable;
simply read the names of the countries that
gain honours at world level, such success
is for the precious few, history relates
it is for those who reside in countries
which possess all the necessary support
requirements.
The goal for the vast majority is to
achieve in their part of the world and
perhaps enjoy the odd memorable result
against a player from a higher echelon; in
order to realise such goals, the best option
may be to spend time in an area of the
world that offers a higher level of practice
and comprehensive facilities.
Such players who follow that path gain
valuable knowledge. They may not seek
official positions, preferring to stay in the
background, perhaps somewhat unnoticed
but fulfilling a most effective role; their
insights and understanding invaluable
when they are back where the journey
started.
Prime example
One such person is Ecuador’s 60-year-old
Gustavo Ulloa from Guayaquil, the nation’s
main port.
A family man, his wife Monica and as per
tradition in that part of the world, his son is
likewise Gustavo, daughter Monica Maria;
by profession an economist, he works for
a major tuna company, that is when not
tempted by the attraction of the table
tennis hall.
In mid-October 2021 he was lured; an
excursion from sea level Guayaquil to
Cuenca, high in the Andes mountains, a
journey which Sweden’s Nisse Sandberg,
when taking the route several years ago to
attend a World Junior Circuit tournament,
described as the “death road”; simply
don’t look down!
The destination was Polideportivo
Totoracocha, the venue for the 2021 ITTF
Pan American Under 13 and Under 11
Championships. In the presence of Juan
Vila, President of the Pan American Table
Tennis Federation and Paul Calle, President
of the Ecuador Table Tennis Federation,
Gustavo Ulloa received a lifetime
achievement award.
“Gustavo Ulloa is one of the greatest
Ecuadorian players ever”, said Paul Calle.
“He contributed greatly to table tennis in
Ecuador because he was the first player to
travel to Europe to train and compete in a
professional league. He opened the doors
to national athletes so that they can travel
and see table tennis as a profession.”
The award was well merited for a man
of the highest integrity, a genuine and
sincere interest in the sport of table tennis
but never seeks the limelight. Always an
open mind, always he is prepared to listen
to new ideas. Looking back over the years
there are those from South America who
have achieved more on the international
stage but make a list of the most prominent
names of the 1980s era and Gustavo Ulloa
would merit a place.
Contemporaries include the likes of
Brazil’s Ricardo Inokuchi and Claudio Kano,
Chile’s Marcos Nuñez and Jorge Gambra,
from the Dominican Republic Mario
Alvarez, Raymundo Fermin and Juan Vila.
Also, the Peruvians Walther Natan and Ezio
Scottini can be added to the list.
One only wonders how much more such
players may have achieved if they had
been born in Germany or Japan.
1984 South American Championships - gold for Richard Inokuchi, silver for
Gustavo Ulloa, bronze for Claudio Kano
Career
Amongst other successes in team
and doubles events, notably Gustavo
Ulloa won the men’s singles titles
at the 1981 Bolivarian Games and
1982 South American Games; in
1983 he was bronze medallist at
the South American Championships
and silver medallist at the South
American Championships of National
Champions.
Similarly, he was the runner up at the
1983 Iberoamerican Championships
and in 1984 at the South American
Championships.
“From a very young age I always
liked sport. I went through soccer and
basketball trying to satisfy my sporting
desires. I was a regular attendee at
intercollegiate competitions and also
a football fan”, explained Gustavo
Ulloa. “I didn’t miss a single home
game for my Barcelona team”.
Don’t be misled, Gustavo Ulloa did
not travel to Spain to watch football,
he watched the Ecuadorian version,
the most popular team in the country,
Emelec, also based in Guayaquil,
being the arch-rivals.
“I first encountered table tennis at
the home of a schoolmate. It was his
first communion party to which I was
invited. I didn’t even know how to
hold a racket, but I was very attracted
to playing and I managed, at the end
of the afternoon, to win some points”,
reflected Gustavo Ulloa. “I liked table
tennis so much that I was the last of
the guests to leave at the insistence
of my mother’s phone calls; from that
moment I put pressure on my parents
because I needed a ping pong table to
continue learning.”
Parents responded, a table tennis
table was acquired for the home, local
youngsters came to play; Gustavo
continued to play basketball at school
but gradually that sport had to play
second fiddle.
“I spent very good moments with
them which I have always kept in my
heart; one day I went to the school
hall to play table tennis, it was full of
a selected group”, reminisced Gustavo
Ulloa. “I knew something about table
tennis, or so I thought, I started
playing. On the recommendation of a
friend, coach Luis Ferretti watched me
and told me that if I was interested,
I could join the group, it was the
beginning.”
In addition to family support,
Luis Ferreti, was a source of great
encouragement.
“I remember that I started with a
three star Stiga Cobra racket, green
coloured rubbers, but most of the
time I played with a Power Drive from
Butterfly, Sriver on my forehand and
Challenger or Impartial pips out on
my backhand”, reminisced Gustavo
Ulloa.
26-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 27

RECOGNITION
Foreign travels
Ambitious, aiming high, in May 1983
Gustavo wrote to the Tamasu company
in Japan; the aim was to prepare for the
ensuing Pan American Games; eventually
after several delays, funding organised,
Gustavo arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday
26th October 1983.
“When I arrived at Narita airport there
was no one to greet me; I was very scared
since I could not even read the signs; I
went to a phone booth to call the Butterfly
offices”, recalled Gustavo Ulloa. “It was
at that moment that I saw a man with a
Butterfly sweater, I approached him to
identify myself. It was Imamura San.”
Travelling to Japan, for Gustavo Ulloa, he
had arrived in a very different world.
“On the way to Tokyo, Imamura San
listed the recommendations not to smoke,
not to drink alcohol; he asked me if I was
interested in watching the China versus
Japan match that was taking place”,
continued Gustavo Ulloa. “Obviously I
agreed to go, despite fatigue, jet lag and
carrying luggage, I really enjoyed watching
those monsters live.”
Gustavo stayed in Japan until February
1984, before moving to play the 1985-
1986 season on Germany.
“My friend Wolfgang Reichert, a table
tennis lover, had always been looking
into the possibility of getting me a club
in Germany, he had already spoken to
someone from Nierstein”, explained
Gustavo Ulloa. “At the 1985 World
Championships in Sweden, playing against
Luxembourg I beat a player who played in
the second division in Germany; with this
recommendation it was easier for me to be
accepted and I left for Germany.”
The Guayaquil Tennis Club supported
Gustavo with the cost of the ticket; an
agreement was reached with Nierstein,
a town located near Mainz, some 50
kilometres distant from Frankfurt on the
banks of the Rhine.
“I received a monthly payment, I didn’t
even have to pay for the laundry, and they
also paid for me to have a three month
course in German”, stressed Gustavo Ulloa.
“It was not a big deal; the important thing
was to be competing in Europe.”
It proved a successful venture, the team
won Oberliga Sudwest, and qualified for
the Second Bundesliga. Unfortunately, that
was to be the end of Gustavo’s career, ill
health, suffering from anxiety, meant the
end of European adventures, the end of his
playing career.
Meeting Hikosuke Tamasu in 1983
Nierstein in 1985 – Roman Becker, Thomas Fleischer, Markus Teichert, Gustavo Ulloa, Uwe
Lunkenbein, Jürgen Reitz
At the 1982 South American Championships
of National Champions in Lima
Tokyo in 1983, Kiyoshi Saitoh, Gustavo
Ulloa, Takehiro Watanabe, Masahiro Maehara
Learning
Knowledge gained; coaching was the next
obvious step.
“In my days as a player I had the great
opportunity to have Chinese coaches, the
provincial federation had agreements with
China and frequently sent coaches from
different sports, including table tennis”,
explained Gustavo Ulloa. “Most of the
salary was paid by China, it also happened
in other South American countries; as I was
interested in being a coach, I always asked
technical questions or simply observed
how they organised the training sessions
or the instructions they gave.”
Gustavo learnt from his time in Japan
when at the Butterfly Dohjo and at such
places as Senshu and Meiji universities.
“They were true schools for table tennis,
I learnt a lot; especially from such great
champions as Shigeo Itoh, Nobuhiko
Hasegawa and Masahiro Maehara; I
practised with Masahiro Maehara at a
seven-day training camp involving the
Kyowa Hakko’s team and Meiji University
players”, continued Gustavo Ulloa. “I can’t
forget Yoshihiro Hiraoka’s advice at the
Butterfly Dohjo.”
Home in Ecuador, Gustavo Ulloa helped
local players alongside Li Gen Sheng, a
Chinese coach but work, limited his time.
Later in 1995, for a period of two years,
he coached at the Salesianos Club
and then commencing in 2008 for
a period of some four years at the
National Training Centre in Guayaquil.
Knowledge but the advent of
the National Training Centre, an
abandoned building with an area
slightly larger than a tennis court, was
made possible thanks to support from
the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee
and the equipment manufacturer,
Stag.
Coaches may have all the knowledge
in the world but if there is no major
centre where they can meet or most
importantly where training sessions
and competitions can be held, then
the picture is incomplete.
Limited accommodation available
at the centre, that fact did partially
address the problem countries like
Ecuador face. In Europe travel is
comparatively fast and plentiful. In
Ecuador it takes about 35 minutes
to fly from Guayaquil to Quito, the
capital; by bus or car, ten hours on
dangerous roads.
“I supported this initiative because I
saw that it was something innovative
for us and that it could generate
change: we have always complained
that we obtain many international
titles at cadet and younger levels
but at junior level little is achieved”,
explained Gustavo Ulloa. “The training
camps to some extent addressed this
problem. The policy was to invite the
players with the greatest technical
possibilities to achieve when 18 years
old.”
Players progressed
The exception to the rule is Alberto Miño
who currently plies his trade in Germany,
becoming the first Ecuadorian to compete
in the Olympic Games when he played in
Tokyo. Always he had the highest respect
for Gustavo Ulloa, seeing his introduction
into the coaching structure a major bonus.
Additionally, very much as a result of the
training camps held and the co-operation
of the local Guayas Table Tennis Federation,
Rodrigo Tapia was present at the Singapore
2010 Youth Olympic Games, Emiliano
Riofrio won the cadet boys’ singles title at
the 2013 Latin American Junior and Cadet
Championships in Lima.
In recent times, Alberto Miño, Emiliano
Riofrio and Rodrigo Tapia have formed the
Ecuador men’s team.
All three are now seasoned competitors.
Most recently they formed the Ecuador
selection in the table tennis events at the
end of June for the 2022 Bolivarian Games
staged in the Colombian city of Valledupar,
the multi-sport gathering being held on a
quadrennial basis.
The Ulloa family, Gustavo, Gustavo, Monica and Monica Maria
“A major problem with the implementation
of the camps was the displeasure of some
leaders at having to come to Guayaquil
to carry out training sessions for the
national team”, explained Gustavo Ulloa.
“The issue was to be patient, because the
improvement of our players would be seen
in the medium and long term; of course,
the most talented progress the fastest.”
Unfortunately, for whatever reason,
nothing connected to Gustavo Ulloa, the
National Training Centre closed but now
under the guidance of Paul Calle, there is
an exciting new beginning.
In 2021 four successive events – ITTF
Hopes Week, ITTF Pan American Under
13 and Under 11 Championships, World
Table Tennis Youth Contender tournament,
Ecuador International Open - were held in
Cuenca; that was a positive move, it bodes
well for the future.
Most significantly for Paul Calle, himself
knowledgeable, in his attempts to make
changes, to progress, most certainly he
has an ally, a certain Gustavo Ulloa.
28-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 29

PARA
Tommy Urhaug with Princess Märtha Louise at the London 2012 Olympic Paralympic Games Games
Ever present
Commencing in 2000 in Sydney, Tommy
Urhaug has competed in every Paralympic
Games; since 1998 in France, in every
World Para Championships.
Meanwhile, at European Para
Championships, a debut in 1997 in
Sweden, always he has been present but
not always in action. In Italy in 2009, he
was prepared for battle but the day prior to
the start of competition, he was admitted
to hospital with an infected appendix.
Two years later in Croatia, again medical
problems; he played with a broken finger!
Performing with a bone fracture takes
courage, it underlines his determination
to succeed. Supported by the National
Olympic Committee, the Norwegian Table
Tennis Federation and the VI Foundation,
fortitude is just one facet to the man who
has a very caring nature.
“I play table tennis full time; I’m very
lucky to have this possibility but I’m also
doing some work for the national table
tennis federation and the National Olympic
Committee. Working with young athletes,
trying to recruit new athletes, making
speeches, doing some coaching and so on”,
explained Tommy Urhaug. “Also, I work in
a children’s hospital to help children and
their parents find a sport or an activity
they can do. I have table tennis practice
for a group of kids at the hospital once a
week; I am involved in many things there.”
Most commendable actions, even more
admirable is the fact that he wishes
to increase his capabilities, extend his
knowledge, so he can do even more to
promote table tennis and help others.
“I have been taking some courses in
recent years about working with kids as
well as sports related courses”, continued
Tommy Urhaug. “How to work in a board of
a club for example, how to run a club; also,
a little about how national and international
sports organisations operate, such as the
International Olympic Committee and
International Paralympic Committee.”
Performing such roles, Tommy Urhaug
very much fits the bill, his personal
experience invaluable.
“I was born with several tumours on my
body. I had many surgeries when I was a
little child; they managed to remove all
the tumours except one; that was the one
in my spinal cord and was not possible to
remove”, explained Tommy Urhaug. “That’s
the reason why I’m in a wheelchair. I’m not
totally paralysed, I can feel my legs, but
not use them.”
“As a human we are
made to be social, and
I think for people with
disabilities this is even
more important.”
Positive approach
Born with a disability of whatever nature
means coping with school life, in particular
dealing with disparaging comments, being
restricted in enjoying options available.
It was the same for Tommy Urhaug but
just as in later years when, facing an
adversary at the other end of the table, he
adapted; he took a positive approach.
“I cannot say that I had too many problems
at school. I had a lot of friends, and I was
doing most of the things they were doing. I
didn’t start using a wheelchair before I was
around 10 years old, so until then I played
football with crutches and had a lot of fun”,
reminisced Tommy Urhaug. “I was the
only disabled kid at school, so of course
there was some bullying, but I tried not to
listen to them and be myself. I had a good
childhood and school was not too bad.”
The dream was to be a professional
footballer, a sport in which he takes a keen
interest; in Norway he supports SK Brann,
on the wider international scene, the
English club, Liverpool, a most significant
choice. Compatriot John Arne Riise was a
member of the Liverpool team for seven
years. Memorably in the 2005 European
Champions League final again AC Milan,
losing 3-0, he made the cross that found
Steven Gerrard’s head and sparked one of
the greatest recoveries of all time.
A tenuous link but there is another.
Although confined to a wheelchair do
the words of the Liverpool anthem not
metaphorically define the character of
Tommy Urhaug? “Walk on, walk on with
hope in your heart and you’ll never walk
alone.”
The interest in football underlines his
overall passion for sport and the desire to
compete. Additional to football, he tried
wheelchair basketball, swimming, shooting
and badminton but nothing could compare
with table tennis.
“In my school there were some tables, I
played a lot between classes”, reminisced
Tommy Urhaug. “My father was also
working at the school, and he saw that I
had a talent and was really enjoying table
tennis. So, my father and I started to play
more and more. I liked it, I could play with
my friends, and it was very good for my
disability. The rest is history, I guess!”
At table tennis, Tommy excelled but it
was not the only discipline at which he
was to achieve most creditable success;
he distinguished himself in an art, very
different to the rigours of sport.
“I played in a brass band, we were six
times Norwegian champions”, smiled
Tommy Urhaug. “Also, I have participated
in the European Championships for brass
bands.”
Located in the centre of Radøy island
along the west coast of Norway, a
quite idyllic setting away from the
hustle and bustle of city life, the
village of Manger does not regularly
make headline news; that is except
when the most celebrated resident
returns home, possessing yet another
title gained at an international para
table tennis tournament.
A population of just over one thousand,
it is and always has been the home of
Tommy Urhaug. Married with two children
and a pet cat named Lily, he lives just 300
metres from his parents’ house.
The playing record speaks for itself,
competing in men’s singles class 5, in a
career now extending over a quarter of a
century, he has won gold at the Paralympic
Games, World Para Championships and
European Para Championships; he owns
the full set.
During that time, he has become an
iconic figure, the player to beat, most
importantly a source of motivation.
“For me it has always been important to
say to myself “you can do it”, even if I’m
in a wheelchair; I don’t think there are
any limits to what you can achieve. We all
have dreams, and we have to believe we
can make some come true”, said Tommy
Urhaug. “I try every day to inspire young
disabled kids to make their own choices and
take part in their own life, to have courage
to do that; you are special because you are
in a wheelchair, but we all are special in
one way or another.”
Have an open mind, think differently, be
courageous; it is very much the message.
“There are many ways to reach your
goals and if we struggle in one way, we just
find another way; take part in something
together with other people is very
important”, emphasised Tommy Urhaug.
“As a human we are made to be social, and
I think for people with disabilities this is
even more important.”
Notably, Tommy Urhaug sees the social
element as one of great importance;
whatever the disability, there should be no
barrier, quite the reverse.
“A lot of people struggle with mental
health problems; this is because a lot of
people are alone. So be active, take part in
a social thing. You are needed and welcome
even if you are in a wheelchair or not”,
continued Tommy Urhaug. “For me sport
has been very important. It has made me
who I am, it has given me a lot of great
moments and helped a lot in my gaining
self-confidence. I’m part of something and
that’s what we all need.
Tommy when 10 years old
Tommy and Gunn
With wife Gunn, daughters Solveig and Øyvor
30-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 31

PARA
Coaches
Nowadays he plays for Stord Table Tennis
Club, practising in Bergen and Oslo;
depending on tournament demands two
sessions per day, a total of two and a
quarter hours.
“Also, I do normal fitness for my upper
body, arms, shoulders, back, core and
try to do as much as possible to improve
my movement and mobility in the chair”,
explained Tommy Urhaug. “I also use a
hand bike a lot for my endurance.”
Since 1997, in the national team, Jan
Bergersen has been his ever present
coach; alongside his father, their combined
efforts greatly appreciated.
“They have also helped me a lot, not
only with table tennis practice, but also
everything around being a top athlete, to
get sponsors, support from the Federation
and National Olympic Committee; with
their help I have been able to focus on
practice and preparing for competitions”,
explained Tommy Urhaug. “This has been
a big help for me, I am really grateful for
what they have been doing.”
More recently, commencing in 2018
with the Tokyo Paralympic Games on
the horizon, Tommy has practised under
the watchful eye of Aleksey Yefremov of
Belarus.
“I started to train with Yefremov just to
try something new”, explained Tommy
Urhaug. “In a long career it’s very easy to
stop developing, so this was to get some
new impulse and ideas about how I can
still, after 25 years of playing, become
better.”
It is now a different world to when Tommy
Urhaug first started to play, standards
have risen, the game has moved forward.
“In the beginning when I started, we
didn’t have so much knowledge about how
to train”, stressed Tommy Urhaug. “I only
trained with able bodied players during the
first years of my career.”
Advice from Krizander Magnussen, a young player from Stord Table Tennis Club
Playing style
Thinking differently, looking ahead, endless
discussions with Jan Bergersen and his
father were held as to how to compete
against fellow wheelchair players in what is
a different game. Attacking strongly from
both backhand and forehand became the
major feature of his play.
“I think that’s how table tennis should
be played, I was one of the first, maybe
the first wheelchair player who started
to attack from the backhand”, reflected
Tommy Urhaug. “I remember when I won
my first European title in Slovakia in 1999,
I was not seeded but, because of my strong
backhand attack, a lot of the top players
struggled to play against me. They pushed
to my forehand, I attacked, they returned
to my backhand and I also attacked.”
A style more akin to that of an able bodied
player developed; importantly, there are
no clearly identifiable weaknesses.
“Wheelchair play involves more pushing,
using angles, try to lock each other in the
middle, I was and still am an attacking
player; that’s table tennis for me.”
continued Tommy Urhaug. “However, you
need to have good touch, wheelchair table
tennis is even more tactical than able
bodied; you need to play smarter, better
smart than hard.”
Additionally, much depends on the class
in which play; in class 5, the upper part of
the body functions normally, as opposed to
class 1 where players are tetraplegic.
“In my class there are now more and
more players who also are very good
attacking players, and they are more
complete as players; that makes them
hard to play against”, explained Tommy
Urhaug. “Except from that I guess it’s the
same as in many sports, you need to be
strong mentally, do the physical work, get
enough rest and eat the right things. You
must be and act like a top athlete whether
you’re in a wheelchair or not.”
Following the schedule of a top athlete
but that has not been easy in recent times
owing to the advent of the pandemic. At
home in Norway, the problem was not so
great. Tommy has his own hall.
“The biggest problem was that I spend
many days during the year in different
countries practising with other wheelchair
players. I’m very often in Great Britain,
France, Germany, Sweden and Slovenia; in
Norway I don’t have any good wheelchair
players to practise with, I need this to get
this feeling,” explained Tommy Urhaug.
“This is also a major reason why I didn’t
succeed in Tokyo. I have never been in such
a good shape physically and technically,
but I was missing the wheelchair practice
in my game. Also, I’m playing in the
German Bundesliga to get more wheelchair
games, but also this was cancelled during
the pandemic.”
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, he
finished in second place in his initial stage
group, losing to Serbia’s Mitar Palikuca,
before experiencing an opening round
defeat when opposing Great Britain’s Jack
Hunter-Spivey.
Helping children in a local hospital
Alongside Lyder his father
Host of titles
Tokyo was disappointing but after entering
a local tournament in 1995, the following
year securing a junior title, since 1999
success has followed success. Most notably
in July of that year, he was crowned
European champion in Piestany.
“Of course, the first gold medal at a
European Para Championships was huge.
No one was expecting me to win, I was only
18 years old, not seeded and quite new on
the tour”, reminisced Tommy Urhaug. “I
won the singles beating my teammate Rolf
Paulsen in the final and later we won the
team event. The bonus, I qualified for the
Sydney Paralympic Games, amazing.”
Later in the year in October, in preparation
for the Paralympic Games, alongside Rolf
Paulsen, Tommy visited Sydney, the pair
winning men’s team bronze at the Southern
Cross Multi Disability Championships.
“It was a long way yes, but we managed,
we met so many very pleasant people; for
me to qualify for Sydney was unbelievable”,
explained Tommy Urgaug. “I was just living
the dream.”
A major contender for medals, he won
his first men’s singles title at an open
international para tournament when
succeeding in 2000 in Budapest; an
event where one item was to his intense
displeasure.
“I really liked Budapest”, he recalled.
“Except one day, we were served a soup
for lunch and that’s maybe the worst thing
I have ever tasted. The soup had a pink
color, tasted terrible!”
Since those days, Tommy Urhaug has
travelled the world, wherever he has
played a major contender for honours.
“There are so many good memories, and
every tournament has its own story. I’ve
been lucky to visit so many countries and
seen so many exiting things through all
these years, so it’s difficult to pick one. Of
course, to play in Asia is always special”,
sighed Tommy Urhaug. “I have a special
relationship with Taipei, that’s where I won
my first World Championships title; the
people there were very friendly, I hope to
go back there one time. To play in China is
also very special. The home of table tennis,
many good memories from a long career.”
Overall, Tommy Urhaug has won four
World titles but of course the first is
very special; in Taipei, not only did he
enjoy men’s singles success, later in the
tournament he secured men’s team gold.
“In Chinese Taipei in 2002, I beat so many
good players on my way to the final; in the
final, I beat the Chinese Taipei player Lin
Yen-Hung. I had never beaten him before.
Afterwards, Rolf Paulsen and myself won
the team event, it made the tournament
complete”, explained Tommy Urhaug. “The
funny thing is that in Chinese Taipei I have
my own fan club and have been invited
back many times; this has made Chinese
Taipei a special place in my heart.”
Sports Personality of the Year trophies
Four years later at the World
Championships in Montreux, again he
enjoyed success. In the men’s singles event
he won gold in open wheelchair, bronze
in class 5. Additionally, he partnered Rolf
Paulsen to men’s team class 5 gold; an
event in which he has a special memory.
At the semi-final stage, the duo recorded
a 3-0 win against the Korea Republic;
sounds convincing but in the opening
match against Kim Byoungyoung, Tommy
trailed 2-10 in the fifth game, he recovered
to win 16-14!
“Everybody thought the match was over,
but I never stopped believing and never
stopped fighting”, recollected Tommy
Urhaug. “In a miraculously way, I was able
to win this game, we went on to win gold,
an indescribable feeling.”
A quite outstanding performance, as
were his efforts at the 2005 European
Para Championships in the Italian town of
Jesolo; the occasion when he won both the
men’s singles open wheelchair event and
men’s singles class 5.
“Maybe I played my best table tennis
ever in that tournament”, added Tommy
Urhaug. “It’s a European Championships
that stands out, as more recently does
2019 in Helsingborg, Sweden when me
and colleague Sebastian Vegsund won
men’s team bronze.”
The significance was at the time Sebastian
Vegsund was only 18 years old.
“It’s a good memory because I see a lot
of myself in him and I remember back
when I was at his age”, explained Tommy
Urhaug. “I had great start to my career, I
hope he will experience the same; being
on the right way.”
32-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 33

PARA
The pinnacle
Success at World and European
tournaments but nothing compares with
Sunday 2nd September 2012. In the ExCeL
Arena he won men’s singles class 5 gold at
the London Paralympic Games.
“To finally win this title, I had tried may
times with no success so, it was a big relief
to be able to do it in London. Standing at
the podium and receiving the gold medal
was huge”, reminisced Tommy Urhaug.
“Great memories. I will also say that the
whole tournament was very good for me
from beginning to end. I felt really good
and played very good table tennis. The
days before and during the Games I felt
unbeatable. I was really sharp.”
Four years earlier at the Beijing 2008
Paralympic Games, in an event where class
4 and class 5 were combined, bronze had
been the outcome. Frenchman Christophe
Durand had secured gold, Korea Republic’s
Jung Eunchang, silver. Two years later
at the 2010 World Para Championships
in Gwangju, Tommy had lost to Jung
Eunchang by the very narrowest of margins
in the men’s singles final.
The no.2 seed, in England’s capital city,
he faced a tough draw. In the group stage,
he beat Frenchman Nicolas Savant-Aira, at
the time the European champion, before,
for the first time in his career overcoming
Jung Eunchang. A place in the final, he
recovered from an opening game deficit
against China’s Cao Ningning, the top seed,
to arrest the title. The contest against Cao
Ningning being the only match in which he
dropped game.
“I had an interview after with a Chinese
television channel”, added Tommy Urhaug.
“They asked me one question. How was it
to beat a Chinese in the final in their own
sport?”
Understandably, Tommy returned home a
hero, red carpet treatment.
“It was massive, all over the news. My
final was broadcast directly on the biggest
television channel, so many people were
able to see it; this had never been done
before in para sport history in Norway”,
recalled Tommy Urhaug. “When I arrived
at the airport, the airport was completely
full of people waiting for me. It was crazy
and for me, an unbelievable situation; the
prime minister called to congratulate me,
and I also met the royal family when I
came home.”
Quite simply, Tommy Urhaug was the
centre of attention; it was life, like he had
never encountered.
“The days after I was on many television
shows, interviews and so on; important for
my career, but also very important for p ara
sport in Norway, a big change and a step
forward”, continued Tommy Urhaug. “The
biggest newspaper in Norway wrote that
this was the biggest sport moment in the
Norwegian history of sport, para or able. A
guy from the small country called Norway
beat a Chinese in their national sport. So,
this was a huge thing in Norway.”
Instant adulation, that sense of reverence
exists to the present day. Manger has a
very special son.
In 2012 meet King Harald V & Queen Sonja at the Royal Palace
“People in my village still talk about this
when I meet them at the local supermarket
or out in the streets. I think they are a bit
proud that a guy from their village was the
best in the world,” sighed Tommy Urhaug.
I’m also very proud of my village and the
people who live here. They have been
giving me massive support.”
Long career
Successful in para events, Tommy Urhaug
has also proved himself a redoubtable
competitor on the able bodied scene.
“I have had many great wins in able
bodied table tennis, as a junior I qualified
for the Norwegian Top Eight tournament”,
explained Tommy Urhaug. “Also, I have
won medals at the National Championship,
with my club Stord, a winner at the National
Team Championships; my highest national
ranking at senior level able bodied, no.23.”
Success on all fronts, on what continues
to be a long career, the interest never
wanes, the appetite for competition as
strong as ever. On Saturday 14th May at
the ITTF Slovenia Para Open in Lasko, he
won bronze in men’s singles class 5, a
landmark, it was his 200th medal in open
international para tournaments!
“Always I am thinking of developing
my game, every day try to become a
little better and find new ways to play.
Also, I think it’s great fun and that gives
me motivation to work hard every day”,
explained Tommy Urhaug. “The people
around me inspire me too. All the people
that help me so I can do my work. It’s also
fun for all the young players coming up,
that old guy trying to keep up with them;
in that respect so far, I think I have been
doing quite well.”
Trying to become a little better on each
occasion but is that not what has happened
to para table tennis in general in the last
quarter of a century? Has there ever been
a period when there has been so much
progress, such an increase in interest?
Importantly, has that had an effect on
Tommy Urhaug?
“There is so much happening that I want
to be a part of; so, I’m struggling to end
my career; the way para table tennis has
been changing in the last 10 to 15 years
keeps my motivation,” stressed Tommy
Urhaug. “I like to challenge myself and see
how good I can be; that has been the drive
for all my career.”
Life is now very different to when Tommy
Urhaug began his international career.
“When I started, we played, team,
singles, an open event and doubles in
two days; we played from early morning
until very late in the night. No breaks for
food and no rest. I played maybe 10 to 15
matches in one day. Then a quick dinner
and straight to bed. Early morning and
the same story again”, explained Tommy
Urhaug. “Table tennis was more like a
hobby for the players; only a few players
were professional. Almost all the top
players now play professionally and train
every day to become as good as possible.
The level of the game is higher, and the
standard of tournaments is higher.”
New standards but for Tommy Urhaug
there is no room for complacency.
“We still must develop this even more
and keep up this work. The players work
so hard and really deserve good playing
conditions to perform at their best. We
see a lot of changes now in able bodied
table tennis, I hope that para table tennis
can follow”, enthused Tommy Urhaug. “We
have to make it even more interesting
for media and big sponsors. In that way,
perhaps one day, we can have some prize
money in para table tennis; maybe one
day have able and para together?”
Future
Hopes for the future and who knows what
the future may bring for Tommy Urhaug.
“I have not decided if I will try to qualify
for my seventh Paralympic Games in Paris.
If I find the financial help to continue, I
guess I’ll be doing that”, said Tommy
Urhaug. “If I continue for sure I will go all
out, the goal will be to try to still be in
the top and fight for medals in the major
tournaments.”
Otherwise, Tommy Urhaug must seek
another path in life, being a qualified
occupational therapist opens doors.
“Working with children in hospital; they
want me to work more for them. I will
probably continue do some work in table
tennis such as a coach, sparring partner
or have a role in administration or on a
board”, explained Tommy Urhaug. “I have
had many offers from countries abroad
about doing work for them and that’s very
interesting. Also, in Norway I think there
are possibilities to have some work for
para sport in the future.”
Whatever he chooses, it is likely he will
have more free time; being an international
sportsman, it has been a busy life.
“Also, I want to spend more time with my
family in the future. They deserve that. I’ve
been away so much, so to spend time with
them would be appreciated,” concluded
Tommy Urhaug. “I have a boat and like to
fish, so many options.”
Whatever the future holds, one can be
sure Tommy Urhaug will prove a great
asset to whatever path he chooses; the
example he has set in the table tennis
halls of the world underline that fact, a role
model par excellence.
Teammates, Tommy Urhaug and Selcuk Cetin
Born: 16th June 1980
Birthplace: Bergen
Family: Married to Gunn, children Solveig
and Øyvor, sister Maria, parents Lyder &
Janfrid
Racket: Stiga Cybershape FL
Rubber: Stiga DNA Platinum H 2.3 on
both sides
Hand: Right
Sponsors: Stiga, Polar sport watches,
Mizuno, Bjorn Borg, Hufs, Northug
Languages: Additional to Norwegian,
speaks English, Swedish and Danish
fluently, understands German
Norwegian Sport Para Personality of the
Year: Six times winner (2003, 2007, 2009,
2013, 2014, 2016).
Royal recognition: King of Norway
trophy, the highest award, recipient (2002,
2003, 2006, 2008)
Government Award: Para sport in 2012
after winning London gold.
Career
World ranked no.1 in men’s class 5 on 20
occasions from July 2001 to October 2011.
Paralympic Games
2008 Beijing: bronze MS class 4-5
2012 London: gold MS class 5
World Para Championships
2002 Chinese Taipei: gold MS class 5
2002 Chinese Taipei: gold MT class 5 (Rolf
Paulsen)
2006 Montreux: gold MS open wheelchair
2006 Montreux: bronze MS class 5
2006 Montreux: gold MT (Rolf Paulsen)
2010 Gwangju: silver MS class 5
2014 Beijing: bronze MS class 5
2018 Lasko: bronze MS class 5
2019 Helsingborg: bronze MS class 5
2019 Helsingborg: bronze MT class 5
(Sebastian Vegsund)
European Championships
1999 Piestany: gold MS class 5
1999 Piestany: gold MT (Rolf Paulsen)
2001 Frankfurt: gold MS open wheelchair
2001 Frankfurt: bronze MS open class 5
2003 Zagreb: gold MS class 5
2003 Zagreb: silver MS open wheelchair
2003 Zagreb: silver MT class 5 (Rolf Paulsen)
2005 Jesolo: gold MS open wheelchair
2005 Jesolo: gold MS class 5
2007 Kranjska Gora: gold MS class 4-5
2007 Kranjska Gora: silver MT class 5 (Rolf
Paulsen)
2011 Split: silver MS class 5
2013 Lignano: gold MS class 5
2015 Vejle: gold MS class 5
2017 Lasko: bronze MS class 5
International Open Tournaments - Medals
(January 1999 – July 2021)
Total: 201 medals
Gold: MS 101 MT 39 Total 140
Silver: MS 23 MT 9 Total 32
Bronze: MS 12 MT 16 MD 1 Total 29
34-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 35

PARA
“I didn’t really like cycling before lockdown, but it
triggered something inside me, and I knew I had
the ability, the strength, and the background for
track cycling.”
New goals for Ashley Facey
by Francesca Bullock, British Para Table Tennis Team Press Officer
Two-time Paralympian, Ashley Facey
has laid down his table tennis racket to
pursue a new career in cycling.
The 27-year-old Londoner became a
member of the British Para Table Tennis
Team Performance Squad in 2009,
representing his country at World and
European Championships as well as at the
Rio and Tokyo Paralympic Games. Now he
is hoping to achieve success in another
sport having joined the British Cycling
Development/Foundation team.
“Table tennis has been brilliant to me,” he
said, “I’ll miss it a lot. I’ll miss the coaching
staff - they’ve been amazing and believed
in me - and I’ll miss my teammates - they
are a lovely bunch of people. I’ll miss
everyone but after Tokyo I needed a new
challenge in life, I’ve found it in cycling.”
Facey’s passion for cycling was born
during lockdown in 2020 when training
was suspended. He decided to remain in
Sheffield at the English Institute of Sport
to focus on fitness rather than return to his
London home.
“I started running but I thought it was
a bit boring after a while, so I decided to
invest in a bike and went out exploring
the Peak District. I’ve never spent so
much time outdoors in my life, but I really
enjoyed the peace and the countryside. I
didn’t really like cycling before lockdown,
but it triggered something inside me, and
I knew I had the ability, the strength, and
the background for track cycling. I was
told five or six years ago that I’m strong
and have the genes of a sprinter; once I
start working with the coaches, we’ll see
what I’m best suited for.”
Facey competed in his first Paralympic
Games in Rio 2016. He won his first major
medal at the European Championships in
2017, taking silver in men’s team class 10
with Kim Daybell.
He reached the quarter-finals in men’s
singles class 9 at the World Championships
in 2018 and came agonisingly close to his
first major singles medal at the Europeans
in 2019, losing his quarter-final in five
games after his opponent, Ukraine’s Lev
Kats, saved match point with a net cord.
He progressed to take men’s team class
10 bronze with Daybell and Joshua Stacey,
receiving a wild card to compete in Tokyo.
In the Japanese capital city, he narrowly
failed to progress from his men’s singles
group but did advance to the quarter-finals
of men’s team class 9-10 alongside Stacey.
He ranks winning the team silver with
Daybell as the highlight of his 13-year
table tennis career but is most proud of
being part of the British Para Table Tennis
team.
“Being a part of this team has been
incredible. I’ve learned resilience every
day, how to cope with being challenged and
being put under pressure – how to get out
of situations when you are uncomfortable
and what to do when it is not going well.
It’s just been an amazing journey and
I’m proud of everything I’ve done in the
sport”, said Facey. “Representing my
country, going to Europeans, Worlds and
two Paralympic Games was amazing and
winning a team medal with Kim and then
doing it again two years later with Kim and
Josh. But winning the silver medal with
Kim was the best.”
Having competed in two Paralympic
Games in table tennis, he is hoping to
represent ParalympicsGB in cycling but is
not setting himself any immediate targets.
“It’s a new chapter and we’ll see what it
brings,” he said, “but I’m really excited to
wear that British cycling jersey. Hopefully
one day that will happen and that’s all I’m
thinking about at the moment.”
Understandably it was a disappointed
Gorazd Vecko, the British Para Table Tennis
Team (BPTT) Performance Director.
“I am very sad that Ashley is leaving
table tennis, but he will always be part
of our BPTT family, and we will continue
to be here for him and help him even
after he has changed sports”, said Vecko.
“Ashley grew up in a tough environment
and BPTT gave him the opportunity to be
part of a programme that is not just about
achieving the best results but also about
personal development and helping athletes
to change their lives. We all wish him the
very best in his new sport and look forward
to seeing him compete in Paris.”
Ashley Facey achieved a career high
World ranking of number eight in men’s
class 9 in 2018.
36-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 37

MATCH OFFICIAL
Walk Tall
A level above; earlier this year in March,
the Czech Republic’s Roman Klecker was
announced the first ever gold badge
umpire by the International Table Tennis
Federation’s Umpires and Referees
Committee.
Introduction delayed owing to the
reduction of tournaments caused by the
pandemic, the distinction is the highest
in the officiating pecking order. Step by
step the 45-year-old from Brno in South
Moravia has climbed the ladder.
In 1995 he became a regional umpire,
in 2009 he gained national status before
in 2012 securing the international award;
in 2014 he was bestowed the prestigious
blue badge. Following the Tokyo Olympic
Games, in August 2021 he topped the
tree, he met the newly created gold
badge requirements.
A notable journey but that is not the
only significant journey he has made.
Above all he enjoys walking and that is
not just an evening stroll to the local
hostelry for a beer and a bag of peanuts.
Walking some 2,000 kilometres (1,242
miles) is about par for the course!
“Walking in nature gives me a lot
of freedom, happiness, silence, time
to relax, tells me a lot about myself”
explained Roman Klecker. “I can have
a closer contact with nature. I like the
rhythm of the pilgrimage – wake up,
walk, be silent, observe and listen, sleep,
wake up and walk again.”
Incredibly, in 2006 he set off from Horni
Jiretin in the Czech Republic, travelling
through Austria, Hungary, Croatia,
Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece, eventually
after 55 days, arriving in the Turkish
capital city of Istanbul.
The goal was to reach Jerusalem
but owing to war between Israel and
Lebanon, in addition to bombing raids
in Syria, he decided to interrupt his
journey. Later in 2014, he completed the
remaining 1,350 kilometres (838 miles)
over a 35 day period. He walked across
Turkey to Cyprus and then Haifa, where
he followed the Israel National Trail to
Jerusalem. Overall, it was a journey of
3,850 kilometres (2,392 miles) lasting 90
days.
It is just one of many such excursions
Roman Klecker has made, less than
200 kilometres is just a morning stroll
before breakfast! In fact, he has his
own organisation. He is the founder
and organizer of Full Moon Night Walks.
(https://uplnkovichodci.webnode.cz/fotogalerie/)
Assisting refugees on the Slovak - Ukraine border
Humanitarian
Long distance walking, you can add hiking
trips and a small garden at home to the
list, and that’s not all when it comes to the
outdoors.
He studied at the Jan Evangelista
Purkyne University in Usti nad Labem,
Faculty of Environmental Studies,
specialising in nature protection, waste
management and renewable energy.
Following graduation, he worked for
almost 20 years for a non-governmental
organisation focused on renewable
energy topics.
Currently he is the local projects coordinator
for climate change mitigation
and adaptation for People in Need (PIN),
similarly a Czech non-governmental
organisation. Based in Prague, the focus
is on human rights and humanitarian aid.
Memorably, on Thursday 24th June
2021, close to where Roman Klecker
lives, there was a devastating category
four tornado.
“It happened when I was umpiring at
the European Championships in Warsaw”,
recollected Roman Klecker. “After the
tournament I went immediately there
to help local people, later in September
PIN hired me; I am responsible for many
projects which may help the landscape
and villages to recover from this natural
disaster.”
The response describes the character
of Roman Klecker; he is an avowed
humanitarian.
Recently, he has been stationed on the
Slovak - Ukraine border; his responsibility
to establish and co-ordinate two
“humanitarian check points”. Alongside
other volunteers, he has been present 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
“As a member of PIN’s “tornado team”
in the south Moravian region, when
the Russian attack on Ukraine started,
I had just finished one part of my
environmental projects, so I had the
capacity to help our humanitarian team”,
explained Roman Klecker. “I immediately
asked headquarters in Prague to become
a volunteer and help where is needed.
Next day I was on the way to the border.”
Once people had crossed the border, the
first step was to assist them with hand
luggage, it was a border for pedestrians
only, some having waited in a queue
for 36 hours. They were given free SIM
cards, provided with warm food and
drink, whilst being able to rest alongside
their children in heated tents.
“If any of the refugees had someone
to pick them up, we directed them to
minivans so they could be transported
two kilometres to a parking place on the
football field behind the school; here, our
second point of humanitarian help was
organised”, continued Roman Klecker.
“Most of them did not have anyone
to come to pick them up so they were
waiting in a small tent camp close to the
border for the shuttle bus to Kosice city
and further.”
Long days, early morning to late at
night, organising volunteers to work
in shifts to provide all the necessities,
fuel for cooking and heating the tents;
providing food, drink and toiletries.
Twice a day there was a meeting with the
crisis crew in addition to communication
with army and police officers.
“We have registered hundreds of
volunteer drivers bringing humanitarian
aid”, added Roman Klecker. “I was
also operating on the Ukrainian side,
negotiating humanitarian help there and
providing refugees waiting in a queue
with drinks and snacks.”
Undoubtedly, a most demanding
experience.
“We were all facing many emotional
situations every day, some refugees
had medical issues; on our football field
during the night there was an attempted
kidnapping of a two year old child, luckily
not successful”, sighed Roman Klecker.
“My heart is still there.”
Umpire
Now, isn’t his passion for walking and
being stationed at checkpoints, relishing
the outdoor life somewhat a contradiction?
In the sporting world he enjoys the exact
opposite, sitting in a chair indoors!
“I started to play table tennis with my
father at home when I was around six but
in a real club later when I was eight years
old; I was big fan of Jan Ove Waldner. Until
17 years old I played almost every day,
five days a week practising, tournaments
at weekends”, recollected Roman Klecker.
“Besides school, table tennis was all my
life at that time.”
However, progress to high level in a
country steeped in table tennis did not
happen.
“As a young student, I was twice a week
teaching table tennis at my secondary
school. I grew very quickly, 15 centimetres
during two months in a summer holiday”,
added Roman Klecker. “Some parts of my
backbone were deformed and causing
a strong pain, so I could not play that
often and not without pain. Later I went
to study at university outside Brno and
stopped table tennis for a few years; so
that was the start of slowly becoming an
umpire. Our club also needed some new
umpires, I attended my first seminar.”
The role of umpire very much fits the
character of Roman Klecker, assisting
at the Slovak border, being with people,
part of the occasion however demanding,
wanting to make sure that fellow man is
treated without prejudice or favour; it
is for him of paramount importance. It
is the same in the table tennis hall, the
concept of a match being conducted in
a correct manner, overrides; the skill of
the player being the factor that should
prevail.
“I love table tennis, the atmosphere at
team matches or tournaments. I always
wanted to be as close as possible to the
world’s best players and have chance
to be part of the game; help to ensure
that the match result will be according to
the rules and fair play”, stressed Roman
Klecker. “It is simply great to be part of
an exciting table tennis match even if you
are not playing. You can enjoy the match
from umpire’s chair. Another motivation
was that I could travel a lot, visit new
countries make new friends.”
Equally, the persona of Roman Klecker
is one of humility, he has reached the
top rung of the ladder. It is a position he
values but more importantly, as in other
walks of life, he considers the role one
in which a prime task is the help others.
“Right now, I am member of the Czech
Umpires and Referees Committee,
responsible for conducting almost all our
seminars for umpires. I was also one of
mentors for the ITTF High Performance
and Development Programme”, stressed
Roman Klecker. “That’s what I really
like, to teach new promising umpires,
to motivate them and spread experience
among others. I do some refereeing on
home soil, mostly as a deputy referee,
but to be honest, currently I love much
Tokyo 2020
more to sit on the umpires chair and to
be part of the match. In the future, who
knows?”
Advising and assisting motivates
Roman Klecker in every walk of life but,
understandably, like everyone else, he is
The longest walk
2005: 3,300 km (2,050 miles), 66 days
Brno
1 -Tulln
2 - Scheibs
3 - Salzburg
4 -Innsbruck
5 - Feldkirch
6 - Einsiedeln
7 - Bern
8 - Lausanne
9 - Geneva
10 - Le Puy-en-Velay
11 - Moissac
12 - Saint-Jean-Pied-De-Port
13 - Pamplona
14 - Burgos
15 - Leon
16 - Santiago de Compostela
Finisterre
proud of the moments when selected to
officiate at the highest possible level.
“Probably the most memorable match
for me as an umpire was the first ever
Olympic mixed doubles final last year in
Tokyo when Japan beat China 4-3, an
incredible match”, recollected Roman
Klecker; the contest witnessed Jun
Mizutani and Mima Ito beating Xu Xin
and Liu Shiwen. It is now table tennis
folklore.
“Other very special matches: the Tokyo
Olympic Games men’s singles semifinal
Dimitrij Ovtcharov versus Ma Long,
the 2017 German Open final Ovtcharov
versus Boll”, added Roman Klecker. “I
really like difficult matches because I
can learn something from every tricky
situation; last year, some of my dreams
came true: Olympic Games final and
World Championships final.”
Undoubtedly, the year 2021 was very
special for Roman Klecker but also tinged
with immense sadness. On Friday 1st
October, his mother died of cancer. She
was 71 years old.
The following month, Roman was on duty
in Houston at the World Championships
officiating in the men’s singles final;
looking down, mother could be justly
proud of her son.
YEAR DISTANCE DURATION START DESTINATION
2001
2002
2003
2004
2006
2007
2011
2013
2014
2015
2017
2018
2020
2020
700 km
650 km
600 km
1400 km
2500 km
1800 km
2000 km
550 km
1350 km
250 km
450 km
240 km
250 km
115 km
13 days
22 days
14 days
28 days
55 days
37 days
44 days
14 days
35 days
5 days
16 days
7 days
7 days
3 days
Overall, a total of some 16,000 km (9,941 miles) not
including hundreds of mountains hiking trips in Uzbekistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh plus trips to Balkan countries such as Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
As
Patince
Zahorska Ves
Rip
Horni Jiretin
Canterbury
Prague
Firenze
Istanbul
Gothenburg
Prague
Oporto
Prague
Vienna
Jablunkov
Studanky
Nova Sedlica
Rome
Istanbul
Rome
Prague
Vatican City
Jerusalem
Halmstad
Santiago de Compostela
Fatima
Brno
Mariazell
38-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 39

RETIREMENT
Yu Mengyu in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
LIFE
not life without regret
“My mother
took me to play
table tennis for
the first time.
In other words,
my mother was
my first coach.”
The Hollywood movie concludes with
tears rolling down the cheeks as
the national anthem plays, followed by
the gold medal being held proudly to
catch the flashing lenses of admiring
photographers. Real life is very different,
a fact exemplified by Singapore’s Yu
Mengyu who announced her retirement
earlier this year on Tuesday 22nd March.
Depart the Olympic arena when you
have lost in the early rounds, the pain is
not that great, there is the satisfaction
of having been part of the greatest of all
sporting gatherings. Bid farewell when
twice you have been a quarter-finalist
and twice the bronze medal loser, one
step short of that precious medal, then
you wonder what might have been. The
memories haunt for years to come.
Having at Beijing in 2008 and London
four years later being required to stand
aside for Feng Tianwei, Li Jiawei and
Wang Yuegu, with the retirement of the
latter two names from the international
scene, the Olympic opportunity arose in
2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
Yu Mengyu reached the women’s singles
quarter-final before being a member of
the trio that experienced defeat against
Japan in the women’s team bronze medal
contest. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
Games it was the opposite scenario; a
bronze medal women’s singles reverse
followed by a last eight women’s team
conclusion.
“From my own perspective, I did not do
well enough”, reflected Yu Mengyu. “My
childhood dream inspired me to do my
best. During the cycle of the Tokyo 2020
Olympic Games, overcoming injuries
again and again honed my will. My calm
and stable mentality helped me perform
well.”
Nevertheless, Yu Mengyu could look
back at her efforts with great pride; it is
only the very few, those who move into
the category of legend that have better
records.
“In the bronze medal match of the
women’s team event at Rio 2016, I
won the first singles match against Ai
Fukuhara who reached fourth place in
the women’s singles”, added Yu Mengyu.
“In Tokyo, it was indeed a pity that I did
not win a medal; life cannot be perfect
in everything. Life with a little regret is
real life.”
Precious medal
Agonisingly close but she has one very
precious gold medal to her name. Although
she played in just one match, that being
when beating Ariel Hsing in the group
stage against the United States, she was
a member of Singapore’s gold medal
winning squad at the Liebherr 2010 World
Team Championships in Moscow.
“At that time, the Singapore women’s
team was at its strongest period, we
were confident in the semi-final against
Germany; when we faced China in the
final, no one believed that we could win”
recollected Yu Mengyu “I was the youngest
member of the team. I was so excited,
every point in the match took my breath
away.”
Perhaps that achievement is food for a
Hollywood movie?
“One of my best memories is the moment
we stood together on the podium as
champions after the victory”, continued Yu
Mengyu. “After returning to Singapore, we
attended a grand celebration ceremony;
seeing how happy our fans were, it made
us feel so proud.”
Equally, Yu Mengyu can look back
positively at her achievements on the ITTF
World Tour. In 2009 she won the women’s
singles title in India; partnering Sun Beibei,
she enjoyed women’s doubles success in
2007 in Nanjing and 2011 in Rabat.
“At the Indian Open in 2009, winning the
singles was a happy and exciting moment
for me; in 2007, side-by-side fighting
against brilliant opponents with Beibei, I
won my first doubles title in a major event”,
reminisced Yu Mengyu. “It was success
based on being united as one; the feeling
is different from fighting individually in the
singles. In 2011 we won again; during this
time, I became more mature and stable
inside myself.”
Outstanding performances but not of
the highest value in the Yu Mengyu bank;
overcoming a shoulder injury and then
gaining a podium place tops the list.
“I think the best was the Asian Games
2018; I had my first surgery after the
Rio Olympics”, she explained. “It took me
nearly 18 months to recuperate. After
that long period of recuperation, winning
the bronze medal in the women’s singles
in that Asian Games made me regain
confidence.”
Cruel Olympic Games Facts
Other than Yu Mengyu, no female
player, who has never won a medal,
has twice finished in fourth place or
has reached four quarter-finals.
If the 1992 regulations had applied
when two bronze medals were awarded,
life for Yu Mengyu would have been so
different. On her one and only Olympic
appearance Li Bun Hui (DPR) reached
the women’s singles and with Yu Son
Bok the women’s doubles semi-finals.
Singapore has a reputation for
Hotbed
Perhaps the greatest pride, an Olympic
Games medal, eluded Yu Mengyu but she
can reflect on a career which many would
envy; one which started in the world’s
greatest table tennis hotbed, Liaoning in
northern China. If that province gained a
unilateral declaration of independence,
they would win the men’s and women’s
events at the World Team Championships!
Born on Friday 18th August 1989, Yu
Mengyu started to play table tennis when
five years old.
“My mother took me to play table tennis
for the first time”, smiled Yu Mengyu.”In
other words, my mother was my first
coach.”
A member of a group comprising some
25 girls, Yu Mengyu underwent a training
regime that illustrates the reasons why
that part of the world has produced such a
never-ending list of world class stars.
“On Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
morning training for one hour was a
10,000 metres run from 5.50 am to 7.00
am, followed by two training sessions 8.15
am to 11.00 am and 2.15 pm to 5.00
pm. Sometimes, I took extra training in
the evening from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm”,
explained Yu Mengyu. “On Tuesday and
Thursday, I had normal lessons in the
morning and attended training in the
afternoon from 2.15 pm to 5.00 pm. In the
evening, I took extra training from 6.30
pm to 8.00 pm. On Sunday, sometimes I
took training in the morning from 8.15 am
to 11.00 am and rested in the afternoon.”
A table tennis education bar none, in
2006 when 17 years old, Yu Mengyu left
for Singapore.
“Former head coach of the Singapore
women’s table tennis team, Mr. Chen
Yong, watched my matches in a junior
competition in China”, said Yu Mengyu.
“Pleased with my performance, he invited
me to join the Singapore national team.”
Make no mistake for a teenager that was
a major decision; Yu Mengyu had to adapt.
“At a very young age, for the first time
I had to face a new environment. I had
to face many difficulties independently”,
stressed Yu Mengyu. “In the beginning,
I missed my parents very much; the
experience helped me grow up quickly and
become independent.”
women’s singles fourth place; in
addition to Yu Mengyu, Jing Jun Hong
achieved the finish in 2000, Li Jia Wei
in 2004 and 2008.
Yu Mengyu can take comfort in the
career of Jörgen Persson. He lost the
men’s singles bronze medal match in
2000 and 2008, he was beaten in the
quarter-finals in 1988 and 1992. In
addition, he reached the last eight of
the men’s doubles on three occasions,
in 1988 partnering Erik Lindh, in 1996
and 2000, alongside Jan-Ove Waldner.
Yu Mengyu adjusted and became a most
popular member of the Singapore national
team, nowadays most content in the island
city state.
“Singapore is a garden city, very safe and
peaceful”, added Yu Mengyu. “There is a
lot of nice food here, such as durian, chili
crab and so on.”
A career that has spanned some 16 years
on the international stage is at an end,
what of the future?
“I hope to further my studies, thereby
improving and enriching myself”, concluded
Yu Mengyu. “Since I have accumulated
much experience over the years, I would
like to pass on my experience to the
younger generation and train more aspiring
young players, by doing so, I can continue
to make a contribution to the development
of table tennis.”
Coaching younger players, surely taking
into account her upbringing, it is an ideal
role.
Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Women’s Singles
R3: v Jian Fang Lay (AUS) 9,9,6,10
R4: v Jeon Jihee (KOR) 10,-8,10,7,2
QF: v Kim Song I (PRK) -8,6,-5,-6,9,-6
Women’s Team (doubles – Zhou Yihan)
R1: Singapore 3-0 Egypt
WS: v Dina Meshref 3,6,6
WD: v Nadeen El-Dawlatly/Yousra Helmy 7,6,4
SF: Singapore 0-3 China
WD: v Ding Ning/Liu Shiwen -4,-1,-9
Bronze: Singapore 1-3 Japan
WS: v Ai Fukuhara -4,5,3,-4,5
WD: v Ai Fukuhara/Mima Ito 9,-9,-1,-12
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Women’s Singles
R2: v Shao Jieni (POR) 3,2,8,9
R3: v Chen I-Ching (TPE) 5,9,10,6
R4: v Liu Ju (USA) 9,9,9,-8,-6,8
QF: v Kasumi Ishikawa (JPN) -8,5,12,6,2
SF: v Chen Meng (CHN) -6,-8,-7,-6
Bronze: v Mima Ito (JPN) -3,-9,-6,-4
Women’s Team (doubles – Lin Ye)
R1: Singapore 3-0 France
WD: v Stéphanie Loeuillette/Yuan Jia Nan 6,5,11
WS: v Yuan Jia Nan 8,-7,5,8
QF: Singapore 3-2 Korea Republic
WS: v Jeon Jihee -8,-4,9,-6
WD: v Jeon Jihee/Yang Haeun -7,-4,4,10,-7
SF: Singapore 0-3 China
WD: v Chen Meng/Wang Manyu -5,-7,-5
40-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 41

COVER STORY
“I started
playing table tennis
on the street when I
was seven years old, I
started playing just
for fun”
Quadri Aruna
Date of Birth: 9th August 1988
City of Birth: Oyo, Nigeria
Current Residence: Portugal
Family: Married to Ganiyat, brother Femi, sister Basirat
Racket Blade: Aruna Gewo Hinoki Carbon (AN)
Forehand Rubber: Gewo Nexxus EL Pro 53 Hard
Backhand Rubber: Gewo Belag Nexxus EL Pro 53 SuperSelect
An outsider, not known beyond national
boundaries, when play concluded at
the 2009 Africa Cup in the Moroccan capital
city of Rabat on Sunday 5th July, the name
attracted global attention. Quadri Aruna
had qualified for the Liebherr Men’s World
Cup.
It was the spark for a journey that over
a decade later saw him listed amongst the
sport’s very elite. In early May 2022 when
the World Table Tennis Rankings were
announced for week no.18, he occupied
the no.10 spot; totally unprecedented for
the continent of Africa.
“I feel so happy and excited to be
ranked 10th in the world. For me, it
is another big challenge and with the
support I have been getting all over the
world, it seems it is very possible to even
go further, so I feel really challenged”,
said Quadri Aruna. “Similarly, I’m very
happy and excited, I’m looking forward
to the future.”
A lofty status, one very different to the
previous decade; he entered the World
Rankings at no.567 in March 2007; prior
to the start of play in Rabat he was
named at no.427, when the listings were
announced for January 2010, he occupied
the no.262 spot.
Morocco
Success in Morocco, it was success for one
of the youngest players in the tournament;
at the time 20 years old.
Looking back, with the benefit of
hindsight, there were early warning signs
that something special may happen. Four
groups in the initial stage, a minimum
seven players per group, of his six
matches, Quadri Aruna surrendered
just one individual game. Strangely the
hiccup was against Rikesh Taucoory from
Mauritius, the lowest rated player!
More significantly, in the match that
concluded the phase, he beat Congo
Brazzaville’s Suraju Saku, the top seed,
likewise, hitherto unbeaten. Thus, a
place in the final group was reserved.
Thankfully for Quadri Aruna it was allplay-all;
had the modern day system
of knock-out from the start being
implemented, the title would not have
finished in his hands. He was beaten
in his opening final group match by
compatriot Segun Toriola, at 34 years of
age, the oldest player, male or female, on
duty in Rabat.
Chances of gold had dwindled but
Egypt came to his rescue. In the final
group also appeared the names of El-
Sayed Lashin and Ahmed Ali Saleh; they
both overcame Segun Toriola but lost to
Quadri Aruna.
Additionally, in the opening contest,
El-Sayed Lashin had beaten Ahmed Ali
Saleh and thus at the end of the day, like
Quadri Aruna, had two wins to his name;
for Ahmed Ali Saleh and Segun Toriola
it was one apiece. In such instances the
contest between the players concerned
decides; thus, the title belonged to
Quadri Aruna.
The win meant an invitation to
Moscow and a place in the now defunct
Intercontinental Cup, part of the Men’s
World Cup. Four players competing on a
group basis, one from each of Africa, Latin
America, North America and Oceania, the
winner joining the 15 direct entries in the
main event.
Significantly, if that situation applied at
the present time, both Quadri Aruna and
Omar Assar would be direct entries! Such
is the progress made by Africa in recent
years.
Second place in the Intercontinental
Cup was the outcome for Quadri Aruna.
He lost to Cazuo Matsumoto; the
Brazilian’s traditional penhold grip style
of play totally alien. The man from São
Paulo excelled in the art of service and
first attack, Quadri Aruna was never able
to become embroiled in his forte, top spin
rallies.
Düsseldorf
A more than respectable start to competing
in the showpiece event; the next Men’s
World Cup appearance, in 2014 in Düsseldorf
with Germany’s Martin Adomeit on
coaching duty, Quadri Aruna was a sensation,
his performance now one of sporting
folklore.
In the group stage he beat Japan’s
Kenta Matsudaira and Russia’s Alexander
Shibaev before recording an opening
round win against Hong Kong’s Tang Peng.
Thus, in the history of the tournament
he became the first African to reach the
quarter-finals; he bowed out to China’s
Zhang Jike but not before he had given
the champion elect a severe test, a six
games classic decided the verdict.
It was a massive milestone; prior to
his epic performance in Düsseldorf, he
stood at no.73 on the World Ranking,
immediately following at no.30. The
question was raised: was this the highest
position, such an exalted status, that a
player from Africa had reached since the
first lists were issued in 1928?
The answer was in the affirmative;
in July 2013, Egypt’s Omar Assar had
advanced to no.57, a listing that put him
within reach of a player so admired by
Quadri Aruna, his Nigerian compatriot,
Atanda Musa. He reserved the no.40 spot
in June 1981.
Watch Quadri Aruna play, especially the
expansive forehand stroke and you see
Atanda Musa; both exciting players, both
thrilling the crowds.
“He is one of the greatest ever players
from Africa, a huge inspiration for African
players”, reflected Quadri Aruna.
Later in the year in Dubai, at the Star
Awards Evening, Quadri Aruna was
named “Male Player of the Year”.
42 -ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 43

COVER STORY
Rio de Janeiro
Quite simply one milestone followed another;
two years later at the Rio 2016 Olympic
Games there was one more. He beat Slovakia’s
Wang Yang and Chinese Taipei’s
Chuang Chih-Yuan before causing arguably
the biggest upset in the whole tournament.
He overcame Germany’s Timo
Boll to become the first quarter-finalist
from Africa in the table tennis events at
an Olympic Games.
Five years later at the Tokyo 2020
Olympic Games, Omar Assar followed
suit, both flying the flag for Africa like
never before; both losing to the gold
medallist elect, Ma Long.
Other successes followed, at ITTF
Challenge tournaments, Quadri Aruna
won the men’s singles event in 2017
in Poland, before in 2018 and 2019
prevailing on home soil in Nigeria.
The effect: on the World Rankings in
September 2016, he was listed at no.25.
In January 2018 he had risen to no.20,
seven months later in August he was at
no.18. Later in 2021, when week 37 was
issued in September, Quadri Aruna stood
at no.15. One year later in the first week
of February 2022 he moved to no.11; the
next step as they say is history.
“It has been a difficult journey so far
to the top which includes several hours
of travelling, sleepless nights, hard work,
injuries, defeats, and of course, several
positive wins”, stressed Quadri Aruna. “In
the end, I can say I am very happy and
satisfied; everything is still possible. It is
very possible to go much further.”
Quadri Aruna has proved himself to be
a professional in the best sense of the
word; moreover, he has proved himself to
be a fine human being. Speak to him and
you see a sincerity in his eyes, you see
a most humble person with an extremely
caring nature, one with deep regard and
respect for his fellow man.
Assistance
Each year since becoming a professional
player in Portugal in 2011, he has given
equipment and clothing to young players
in Nigeria.
“I started playing table tennis on the
street when I was seven years old, I
started playing just for fun”, reminisced
Quadri Aruna. “It was so hard to get
equipment in order to play while growing
up. I think it’s very important up and
coming players do not have same
problem. It’s the best way I can support
table tennis in Nigeria.”
Such promising players as Taiwo Mati,
Olajide Omotayo and Rilwan Akanbi have
received support from Quadri Aruna.
“It gives me great joy”, stressed Quadri
Aruna. “I want always to be a good
ambassador for Nigeria, club, family and
my sponsors; to give my heart and soul
while representing club and country.”
There is no doubt he is a fine emissary;
he has set new standards for Africa. Most
importantly, he gives total commitment
and portrays an outstanding example
in every walk of life; for a role model,
country, continent and the sport of table
tennis needs to look no further.
44-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 45

ASIA
Six Months
At the NSDF 2019 World Junior
Championships Shunsuke Togami
impressed; not only in his standard of
play but in the splendid manner in which
he conducted himself. He received the
Swaythling Club award; the citation
reading: “for setting a good example and
upholding the best interests of sport”.
He stood out from the crowd.
Furthermore, he departed Korat with
bronze in both the boys’ team and boys’
singles events. A promising teenager
but could he climb the next step, could
he produce such performances at senior
level?
The pandemic caused an enforced break
but when traditional events returned
in 2021, the answer was positive,
unequivocal. In early October he departed
Doha with a fistful of medals, enjoying
success at the WTT Star Contender
tournament followed by the ITTF-ATTU
Asian Championships. Soon after in
November his name appeared on the list
of honours at the World Championships
Finals in Houston.
Momentum established, momentum
maintained; four months later at the
WTT Singapore Smash tournament in
March, there was a podium finish, the
success following what for a player from
the Land of the Rising Sun is one of the
most prestigious accolades of all. He won
the men’s singles title at the Japanese
National Championships.
Should we be surprised? Not at all, were
there two factors in Korat that suggested
more was in the offing?
There was desperate disappointment,
that can either summon surrender or
stiffen the sinews; for Shunsuke Togami
it was the latter. At the semi-final stage
of the boys’ team event, he lost to both
Xu Yingbin and Xiang Peng in full distance
contests; crucially, he was beaten by
Xiang Peng in the vital fifth match of
the fixture. Later in the second round of
the boys’ singles he was to reverse the
decision against Xu Yingbin, before at the
semi-final stage once again experiencing
defeat in opposition to Xiang Peng, the
champion elect, this time in three games
but every game decided by the minimal
two point margin.
“Against the Chinese team, I didn’t want
to lose both matches; I recovered to win
the third and fourth games against Xiang
Peng and thought I could push myself
through to win”, reflected Shunsuke
Togami. “At the end of the match I just
wanted to run away from the arena.”
Positives
Defeats but surely there were positives,
China provides the yardstick. Xu Yingbin
and Xiang Peng were the only players
against whom he experienced a singles
reverse. He had proved he could compete
against the best of his generation.
“The matches against Xiang Peng were
very long, each point was tough to win”,
recollected Shunsuke Togami. “Xiang
Peng’s playing style is same as mine, he
is good in the rallies. He never makes
any mistakes; you are always under
pressure, it’s difficult to keep stable in
such conditions.”
Most certainly we look forward to the
next time when Shunsuke Togami meets
the likes of Xiang Peng; certainly, in
the mind of Shunsuke Togami there is a
growing self-belief.
“Comparing myself to 2019, I have
definitely improved”, stressed Shunsuke
Togami. “Especially physically I am
better, I now play with confidence; even
against top ranked players I can win with
my counter attacking skills.”
Physically stronger; that fact shone
through in Doha at the WTT Star
Contender tournament and ITTF-ATTU
Asian Championships, events separated
by only a two day break.
“Halfway through the Asian
Championships I actually got cramp, my
body was sending me a distress signal”,
recalled Shunsuke Togami. “I didn’t have
any more matches that day; it occurred
to me that my level of play might drop.
Luckily, I recover very quickly, had there
been more matches that day, to be
honest I still could have played on.”
Equally in Doha, his skills when
partnering a left hander were evident; a
fact that could prove key when national
team selection is the subject on the
menu.
Did we witness the emergence of
partnerships involving Shunsuke Togami
that could well prove a most competitive
force in the next decade; men’s doubles
alongside Yukiya Uda, mixed in harness
with Hina Hayata? Perhaps, Tomokazu
Harimoto is the favoured partner for Hina
Hayata, but Shunsuke Togami is more
than a suitable substitute.
It was the mixed doubles top step on
both occasions, men’s doubles bronze
followed by gold.
“In the men’s doubles our objective
was nothing but to win. I believe Uda’s
“Chiquita” and forehand are very powerful
even compared with the top rankers”,
said Shunsuke Togami when reflecting
on the Asian Championships. “The trust
I have in him and the trust he has in me
I think is the key to how we managed to
win the title.”
One of the favourites for the top prize,
it was the same in the mixed doubles
but there was an added pressure for
Shunsuke Togami.
“I believed that Hina had the potential
to be able to win three events”, he
explained. “She seemed to be enjoying
the matches, on the other hand I was
giving all I had to make sure I wasn’t the
one to let her down!”
Shunsuke Togami played his part
to perfection, Hina Hayata ended the
tournament unbeaten, three titles to
her credit; she did not compete in the
women’s doubles.
Every event
Three podium finishes for Hina Hayata, at
the Asian Championships it was one more
for Shunsuke Togami. He secured a medal
in every event, he was both a men’s team
and men’s singles semi-finalist, Chinese
Taipei ending progress in the former, Lee
Sangsu, the eventual winner, in the latter.
Defeat against Lee Sangsu but most
notably, after accounting for Yemen’s
Ibrahim Gubran in the opening round, he
beat Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting, the
no.2 seed.
“It was Wong Chun Ting’s first match,
I’d played in the opening round and
played really well, so I was confident;
we had beaten Wong Chun Ting and Doo
Hoi Kem in the mixed doubles, so he had
the feeling I was a big threat”, explained
Shunsuke Togami. “A penholder, the
returns are a little different, I just told
myself not to think too much and hit the
ball back hard; also, I had Mr. Tasei on
my bench as coach, his advice was very
easy to understand which helped me to
play with confidence.”
A fine effort against Wong Chun Ting,
Shunsuke Togami prevailed in three
straight games; surely that was his peak
performance?
“Actually, I think my best performance
was in the fourth round against Feng Yi-
Hsin; I have played him several times,
I’ve never lost against him but the match
before, he had defeated Cho Seungmin”,
stressed Shunsuke Togami. “Also in the
team event, he defeated Shinozuka, I
could see that he was a different person
to whom I played before.”
Good form and success in Doha, the
following month it was the same in
Houston at the World Championships
Finals, he reached the third round of
the men’s singles, China’s Wang Chuqin
ending adventures.
“I felt the major difference between
Wang Chuqin and myself was the basic
skills; I think I gave a decent fight in the
rallies, but as for the service, receive,
skill over the table he was better”,
explained Shunsuke Togami. “To have
had the opportunity to play against Wang
Chuqin was an experience that will help
take me to the next level.”
A third round exit was more than
satisfactory, in the men’s doubles, the
outcome was one of mixed feelings;
through to the semi-finals and thus
a bronze medal. However, in the
penultimate round it was defeat at the
hands of Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon,
the pair they had beaten in the final of
the Asian Championships the previous
month.
“After we saw the draw, we felt more
confident than feeling under pressure but
as we won more matches the pressure
grew; especially, after we beat Harimoto
and Morizono and were in sight of a
medal. In the quarter-final match against
Drinkhall and Pitchford we were very
anxious”, recalled Shunsuke Togami.
“The tactics followed by Jang Woojin and
Lim Jonghoon were very different to the
Asian Championships. During the Asian
Championships Uda’s “Chiquita” was
very effective, this time Lim used long
services, we couldn’t return using the
“Chiquita”, we were not able to adjust.”
Nevertheless, Shunsuke Togami could
look back on a period of four months
with pride, but the proudest moment was
to be as the New Year dawned. At the
Japanese National Championships, there
was more success partnering Yukiya Uda,
the duo won the men’s doubles. More
significantly, he won the men’s singles
title.
“I thought I had a chance to win either
the doubles or singles”, said Shunsuke
Togami. “The final two days were played
with spectators at the venue, I wanted
those people to see that I had improved.”
Most certainly Shunsuke Togami
delighted his growing legion of fans. At
the later stages of the men’s singles, he
beat Koki Niwa in straight games prior to
recording a six games win in opposition
to Kenta Matsudaira to add his name to
the illustrious winners of the Emperor’s
Cup.
“I was in a good physical and mental
condition; most importantly I was able
to play faster than Niwa, that was the
best part”, explained Shunsuke Togami.
“Against Matsudaira, he kept changing
the rhythm of the play which made me
struggle; at the end I managed to adjust;
overall I think I varied my services well.”
More medals to his locker, it was the
same at the Singapore Smash tournament
in March. The men’s singles did not go
to plan; he witnessed an opening round
defeat by the very narrowest of margins
when facing Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic but
with his now established partner, Yukiya
Uda, it was men’s doubles silver. At the
final hurdle the pair lost to Fan Zhendong
and Wang Chuqin.
“Honestly, in Singapore, there wasn’t a
single match in which I thought I played
well; I feel that any match I won was
with great difficulty”, sighed Shunsuke
Togami.
A somewhat dissatisfied young man but
the overwhelming majority of players
who competed in Singapore would have
been more than delighted with a similar
outcome. Perhaps, he was not quite at
his best but if you can enjoy success at a
major event when the odd degree below
par, that underlines a strong character.
“Thinking positive is vital, I have
gained the strength to win in difficult
situations; that has given me confidence
and helped me improve”, concluded
Shunsuke Togami. “Although I have won
medals at Asian Championships and
World Championships, I sincerely hope to
become better, not stop at the standard I
have reached.”
Later in the year in May, at WTT Feeder
tournaments in the United States, in
Freemont and Westchester, as previously
with Yukiya Uda, he won the men’s
doubles; additionally in the latter he
reached the men’s singles semi-finals.
However, if in five years’ time or more,
we look back at the career of Shunsuke
Togami, will it be the six month period
from September 2021 to March 2022 that
proved the most pivotal?
Ten medals of which five were gold!
Shunsuke Togami
Date of Birth: 24th Aug 2001
City of Birth: Mie Prefecture
Current Residence: Tokyo
Personal Coach: Yukinobu Takayama
National Team Coach: Kunihito Tasei
Racket Blade: Zhang Jike ALC FL
Rubber – Forehand: Tenergy 05 Hard
Rubber – Backhand: Tenergy 05
Six Months - 10 medals
WTT Star Contender Doha 2021
Mon 20th – Sat 25th Sep
MS: Round Two
MD: Semi-Final (Yukiya Uda)
XD: Winner (Hina Hayata)
2021 ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships, Doha
Tue 28th Sep – Tue 5th Oct
MT: Semi-Final (Yuto Kizukuri, Hiroto Shinozuka)
MS: Semi-Final
MD: Winner (Yukiya Uda)
XD: Winner (Hina Hayata)
2021 World Championships Finals, Houston
Tue 23rd Nov – Mon 29th Nov
MS: Round Three
MD: Semi-Final (Yukiya Uda)
XD: Round Two (Saki Shibata)
2022 Japan National Championships, Tokyo
Mon 24th – Sun 30th Jan
MS: Winner
MD: Winner (Yukiya Uda)
2022 Singapore Smash
Mon 7th – Sun 20th March
MS: Round One
MD (Yukiya Uda): Runner Up
Mon 7th – Sun 20th March
MS: Round One
MD: Runner Up (Yukiya Uda)
46-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 47

LATIN AMERICA
Family
Mother present, it is the support given by
the family which Jorge Campos most values;
four brothers, he is the second oldest.
“Knowing that I have their support is what
gives me the strength to continue being focused
on what I do”, he stressed. “Women
like my mother Angela, grandmother Irma,
aunts and cousins are the architects of my
education, dedication, love and sweetness
towards what I do. Men like my father and
uncles have given me knowledge, toughness,
passion and being able to keep a
winning mentality. I am very grateful to
them.”
Family support for the young man who
started to play table tennis when eight
years old has proved a major factor as to
why he has become a most valued member
of the Cuban national team.
“...I was supposed
to play baseball
like almost every
kid in Cuba...”
Caribbean yearns
Clearly, Jorge Campos is most content living
in Sardinia, there is no great language
barrier, his native Spanish is from the
same Latin roots as Italian; however, as
they say: “there is no place like home”, the
Caribbean yearns.
“When June arrives I almost always
return to Cuba for the holidays, there I
always have to train for tournaments such
as the Pan-American, Central American or
like last year the Tokyo Olympics”, reflected
Jorge Campos. “When I don’t train, I try to
spend as much time as possible with my
family, with friends, and go out. I try to
clear my mind a bit and disconnect from
table tennis.”
The question now faced is how high can
Jorge Campos climb in a country that is
famed for its boxers alongside track and
field athletes? Owing to his amateur status
was Tefilo Stevenson versus Muhammad
Ali the greatest fight that never happened?
Did anybody run faster than Alberto
Juantorena? Most certainly nobody has
jumped higher than Javier Sotomayor.
Throughout history Cuban sporting
expectations have been high; for Jorge
Campos it is a doubled edged sword. If he
can raise his level of play, then he raises
the profile of table tennis in Cuba.
“I want to continue improving myself
as a player, continue playing at a high
level. It is difficult for me to be able to
play international tournaments since our
federation lacks finances, we do not have
sponsors who can help us”, said Jorge
Campos. “I want to be in the top 100, I
want to continue to increase my ability
to achieve important things in this sport;
since the Olympics, I have only played in
the Caribbean Championships. My next
international tournament is the ITTF Pan
American Championships in Chile.”
The 2022 ITTF Pan American
Championships will be staged in Santiago
from Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd
October, medals for Jorge Campos?
Considering the potential major
challengers for honours in the Chilean
capital city, they are players who we may
well see in action at World Table Tennis
tournaments; opponents who enjoy
greater international opportunities.
Fewer opportunities for Jorge Campos
but could that fact work in his favour?
Could the situation make him the most
motivated of all?
The Resilient Cuban
Consternation, compensation, coronation;
a year in the life of Jorge Campos.
In mid-April at the 2021 Latin American
Singles and Mixed Doubles Qualification
tournament, staged in the Argentine city of
Rosario, he suffered agonies in his efforts
to qualify for the men’s singles event at the
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Twice he missed out by the minimal
margin in the deciding seventh game of the
crucial contests to determine Tokyo places.
In the first knock-out competition he was
beaten by Puerto Rico’s Brian Afanador, in
the second he experienced defeat at the
hands of Ecuador’s Albert Miño. The latter
was more painful than the first, at one
stage he appeared in command holding a
three games to one lead.
Make no mistake, the defeats hurt
the Cuban whose character is quiet and
reserved; somewhat different to what you
may expect from a Latin American.
“I was really disappointed because I
had prepared myself mentally as well as
physically, I arrived in good shape with a
great deal of motivation”, explained Jorge
Campos. “I felt that I let myself down, as
well as my family; I think the reason for
the defeats was mainly tactical.”
Dissatisfaction but later in the proceedings
there was recompense; partnering Daniela
Fonseca, the duo won the mixed doubles
event without at any stage being extended
the full distance. A pair in harmony had
reserved a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
Games.
“Of course, I was looking forward to
playing in the singles event, but the
mixed doubles qualification made up for
the difficult moments, the disappointment
disappeared”, added Jorge Campos.
“Having dreamed of competing in the
Olympic Games for three years, the dream
had come true. I always loved the idea of
going to Japan.”
Clean sweep
Eventual success, one year later in March at
the 2022 Caribbean Senior Championships
in Havana, it was total success; he
completed the clean sweep, a full house.
Lining up alongside Eday Gomez and
Livan Martinez, he guided Cuba to men’s
team gold. Later, renewing his partnership
with Daniela Fonseca, the mixed doubles
top prize was secured; as in Rosario, the
duo never being stretched the full five
games distance.
“Daniela and myself, we understand each
other well; I always try to help her, she
has the confidence to do what she wants,
she has great courage”, stressed Jorge
Campos. “I just try to do my part.”
Two titles secured, joining forces with
Livan Martinez he emerged the men’s
doubles winner, before concluding matters
standing on the top step of the men’s
singles podium.
Overall, in the six days of action, he lost
just one match, that being against Isaac
Vila in the men’s team semi-final fixture
against the Dominican Republic.
“I had no great expectations, just give
my best to achieve all the goals, to win for
Cuba; it was difficult, the tournament was
intense”, continued Jorge Campos. “Maybe
the fact that I was playing at home with
my family watching made the event more
mental than technical and tactical.”
A pressure situation, a great deal was
expected of Jorge Campos; he started in
all events as one of the favourites; behind
Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez he was the
second highest rated player on duty.
“The support of the Cuban fans in the
venue, matches broadcast on television,
seeing my mother sitting in the hall, the
children who play table tennis watching the
matches closely; those things made me
relaxed, the results came by themselves”,
explained Jorge Campos.
“I started playing by pure chance, I was
supposed to play baseball like almost
every kid in Cuba, but it turned out that I
ended up falling in love with table tennis”,
smiled Jorge Campos. “I started in Havana
with Olga Luisa Hach, now she is in Mexico.
I was in the school programme with her,
then I went through another great coach
Leonardo Setien, he helped me get to the
Rio 2016 qualifier event in great shape.”
At 13 years of age, Jorge was selected
for the national junior team, climbing the
ladder he gained a place in the senior team
under the guidance of Yoel Boris.
Progress under watchful coaches,
mentors for whom Jorge Campos has the
greatest respect; also, playing in Europe
has proved invaluable. Presently in the
Italian League he represents Marcozzi, in
Greece he plays for Panathinaikos. Also,
this year he has played in Pro A for Saint
Denis in the French League.
Previously, from 2010 to 2013 he
represented Tibble Künsangen, a small
club in the Stockholm suburbs, in the
Swedish League, the team progressing
from the third to the top division. A five
year absence from European competition,
he played for TTC Kist for four seasons in
the German fifth division, before in 2020
moving to Italy to compete for Norbello,
prior to moving to Marcozzi.
An intense programme, a high number of
matches; the effect a carefully organised
training schedule is demanded.
“I try to train two sessions of one hour
30 minutes every day”, explained Jorge
Campos. “I generally rest a session on
Wednesdays or Fridays depending on
fatigue or league match.”
Jorge Campos at the 2022 Caribbean Championships
Jorge Moises Campos Valdes
Date of Birth: 19th September 1991
City of Birth: Havana, Cuba
Current Residence: Cagliari, Italy
Racket Blade: Butterfly Viscaria FL
Forehand Rubber: Joola Dynaris
Backhand Rubber: Joola Dynaris
48-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 49

OCEANIA
Backyard Hero to Pacific Premier
An online video conference to facilitate
proceedings, at the Annual General
Meeting held on Saturday 30th April,
unopposed, Australia’s Anthony Moore
was elected President of ITTF-Oceania; he
succeeds Graeme Ireland, who acted as
Interim President following the untimely
passing Anthony Ho in July 2021.
Resident in Melbourne, Anthony Moore
brings to the post a wealth of sporting
administrative experience. He is currently
a Director of Table Tennis Australia as well
as Finance and Audit Committee Member
for Tenpin Bowling Australia.
Previously, he was Secretary-
General and Chief Executive Officer for
Basketball Australia, a member of the
Board of Management of the Australian
Commonwealth Games Association, as
well as being a Director for Women Sport
Australia.
Notably, he is the Founding President of
the Glen Iris District Basketball Club. The
latter may not be an organisation that
commands global status and may appear
out of place when compared with other
positions, but it is one of which Anthony
Moore is justifiably proud.
“We started a grassroots basketball club
for our local community and, as Founding
President, for over five years it has
provided a great learning on the pathways
for participants starting their sporting
journey”, he reflected.
The Glen Iris District Basketball Club
underlines the genuine interest Anthony
Moore has in sport.
“We love all sports in Australia, as a child I
enjoyed Australian Rules football, backyard
cricket, we would swim, ride bikes, play
tennis”, he explained. “As I got older and
grew to a height of 6ft 5ins or 199cm tall,
basketball was my sport of choice, I played
representative basketball for many years. I
also had the good fortune to represent the
State of Victoria playing gridiron, American
football.”
He lists Michael Jordan and Andrew
Gaze from the sport of basketball as his
childhood sporting heroes, in addition to
Peter Daicos from Australian Rules football.
Excelling at basketball but like everyone
else he played table tennis but never
progressed beyond one may be termed a
moderate domestic artisan.
“Like most Australians we had a table
tennis table at home and enjoyed games
with family and friends; my younger
brother Matt and I would stage intense
battles worthy of an Olympic final on
many occasions when growing up”, smiled
Anthony Moore in a somewhat nostalgic
tone. “I never progressed beyond backyard
hero level.”
50-ITTF Magazine
Motivation
Participation, enjoyment and learning
from the discipline that sport imposes is
of major importance for Anthony Moore;
it was source of motivation for seeking
election as Oceania President.
“My connection to the sport is genuine
and heartfelt as table tennis was a game
our late mum, Barbara, enjoyed”, explained
Anthony Moore. “Taking the game up in
her early 60s, our mum played weekly with
a group of friends; the social connection,
fun, laughter and joy the game provided
her is something my family holds dear.”
Now that is considerably different from
the norm; those who progress to high
office will all have their own motives
and reasons but surely those of Anthony
Moore are unique? Is it not more common
the sport in question has been played at
high level domestically or internationally
and there is a desire to remain involved,
believing knowledge gained can promote
their chosen discipline?
Motivated, a vital ingredient; equally
of prime importance is the level of
understanding he brings to the role.
“With nearly 30 years of experience and
knowledge working in sports administration
I felt I may be able to assist the further
development and growth of table tennis in
the region”, explained Anthony Moore. “My
exposure to the Oceania region has come
through the Australian Government’s Sport
for Development programme during my
Anthony Moore
Date of Birth: Sunday 7th September 1969
City of Birth: RAAF Base, Richmond, New
South Wales, Australia
Current Residence: Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia
Family: Older brother Peter, older sister,
Katherine, young brother Matthew. Three
children Ryan (21), Harvey (18) and
Alexandra (16)
Academic Qualifications: Executive Masters
Sport Organisation Management (MEMOS),
Graduate studies in Business Administration
Profession: Sports Consultant
stint at the Australian Sports Commission
and through my time at Basketball
Australia. From these programmes I have
developed a good understanding of the
complex challenges that face this part of
the world.”
Furthermore, there are exciting times
ahead for sport in the region, especially in
his native Australia.
“Having secured the hosting rights for the
2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria
and the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic
Games in Brisbane, ITTF-Oceania will now
be positioning itself to take advantage of
these major events in our region”, added
Anthony Moore.
Such multi-sport events are a shop
window; at the Gold Coast 2018
Commonwealth Games, large numbers
were present in the Oxenford Studios to
watch the table tennis events; on more
than one occasion “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”,
rang loud and clear.
“In practical terms, ITTF-Oceania
will work closely with our member
associations across the region to fast
track the development of their individual
national federations and provide greater
outcomes for our athletes via improved
high performance pathways”, continued
Anthony Moore. “My experience across a
range of sports will help drive this focus so
that all of table tennis can prosper over the
decade to 2032.”
Connecting
A decade of opportunity beckons and
does table tennis not have a precious
ingredient for progress in a part of the
world that predominantly comprises small
islands? You do not need the area of a
championship golf course or football field
to set up a surface on which it is possible
to lay racket on ball.
Such a theory is endorsed by the fact that
all 24 countries and territories in Oceania
are affiliated to the International Table
Tennis Federation; to this day table tennis
is the only sport with a presence in every
Oceania country or territory.
“The feedback from Oceania National
Olympic Committee members is that table
tennis is very popular in each island nation.
Like many sports table tennis relies heavily
on volunteers to operate. Volunteers are
the lifeblood of community sport in our
region and without them we would struggle
to deliver much to our participants”,
added Anthony Moore. “Our member
associations are engaged at various levels
and we at ITTF-Oceania need to connect in
meaningful ways that assist their efforts to
grow the sport.”
Connecting, in Oceania it is a major
hurdle. Increasingly it is not by means
of speaking to each other, with all the
modern day methods using the latest
magical app to hit the market, the degree
of communication difficulty is reduced.
The problem is simply basic travel; very
few who live outside the region have any
concept of the vast distances!
The journey experienced by Scott
Houston in 2010 underlines the fact.
Nowadays the Chief Executive Officer for
Table Tennis Australia, but in those times
Oceania Table Tennis
Federation Presidents
Formed 1st June 1977, recognised by
ITTF in December 1977.
The Founding President was New
Zealand’s Ken Wilkinson BEM
Patrick Gillmann (NCL)
May 2005 – April 2014
he was the Oceania Development Officer.
The destination was Tokelau, an island
located halfway between Hawaii and New
Zealand, too small to have an airport.
Thus, it was two nights at sea, 54 hours
each way and not to Scott Houston’s liking.
He suffers terribly from sea sickness!
“We are the only region in the world
not connected by land to another region,
travel is the biggest issue for Oceania”,
emphasised Anthony Moore. “If I was to
fly economy from Melbourne to Guam next
month, my options include flying via either
Manila, Singapore or Tokyo at a cost of up
to AUD 2,500 for a 42-hour travel time
each way journey or AUD 4,250 for a 20-
hour trip each way.”
Translating Australian dollars to American
dollars, AUD 2,500 is about US$ 1,802;
AUD 4,250 approximates to US$ 3,063.
Cost is a major concern, but it is just one
hurdle in enabling sporting prosperity.
“Other key issues for the region are
increasing opportunities for coach
development and technical official
development”, added Anthony Moore.
“We can’t play competition events without
our umpires; we need quality coaching to
improve the standard of play.”
Major tasks face Anthony Moore, it is the
same for any such organisation, essential
is to create harmony and co-operation,
the family feeling, facts of which the
Melburnian is aware.
“In the short term, my focus is on
communicating with our member
associations to understand their challenges,
needs and desires for table tennis in their
country”, he explained. “From experience,
conversations are important as they not
Ken Wilkinson BEM (NZL)
June 1977 – August 1993
James Morris (NZL)
April 2014 – April 2017
Geoff Rau (NZL)
August 1993 – July 1996
Anthony Ho (FIJ)
April 2017 – August 2021
only provide a shared understanding of
perspectives, they provide great insight
into the opportunities for growth. My
default position has always been one of
looking at problems as opportunities to
be solved. It’s probably why I like jigsaw
puzzles. I like making things fit together.”
Understanding needs, responding
to requests is a motivating factor for
members; equally it is important to be far
seeing, have ambition that stretches the
imagination but is equally realistic.
“My grand vision for the sport of table
tennis is to have Oceania regularly host
World Table Tennis events that all fans,
players and friends of table tennis can
access and enjoy”, said Anthony Moore.
“We have a golden decade ahead with
two marquee global sporting events in our
region, so the opportunity to deliver events
and activities that can serve as forums and
workshops for administrators, coaches,
technical officials as well as athletes is
upon us.”
A golden decade, most importantly
Anthony Moore is crystal clear where he
sees Oceania when the fireworks glitter on
Sydney Harbour Bridge to announce New
Year in 2033.
“The end goal is to have flourishing and
thriving member associations in each
nation that individually and collectively
serve as a model for other sports on what
is possible in the greatest continental
region in the world”, he concluded.
Proud of his heritage, good for him!
Ambitious and why not? Add those factors
together and there is one conclusion,
goals set have every possibility of being
achieved, maybe sooner rather than later.
Neil Harwood OAM (AUS)
July 1996 – May 2005
Graeme Ireland (AUS)
August 2021 – April 2022
ITTF Magazine- 51

NORTH AMERICA
Standing aside
Competing in the Olympic Games, it is the
ultimate; whatever the discipline it means
you have achieved. You have an accolade
that is with you for life. If the opportunity
arises to ply your skills in the celebrated
quadrennial gathering, it is not a prospect
you will reject; quite the opposite, you will
relish the desire to test your skills in an
event which involves the best on planet
earth, you will grab the chance with both
hands and refuse to let go.
On Sunday 8th March 2020, at the North
American Singles and Mixed Doubles
Qualification Tournament in Kitchener,
a city some 60 miles west of Toronto,
Eugene Wang partnered Zhang Mo to
mixed doubles success; they booked a
Tokyo place.
Similarly in the men’s singles, he secured
his reservation for the Japanese capital;
in the final, in straight games, he beat
Jeremy Hazin.
“For me, if I just played in one event I
could enjoy it more; living in Canada I had
no great chance of progressing to the later
rounds in the men’s singles, I had no real
training plan”, said Eugene Wang. “I wasn’t
playing that well; so, it was better to focus
on the movement needed for the mixed
doubles. Of course, Covid had restricted
opportunities to play and practise abroad.”
Eugene Wang was realistic; he was true
to his character, thoughtful. He is most
humble, an unassumingly personality; ask
him to detail the best performance of his
career and he can’t think of any!
Just to put the record straight Tokyo was
his third consecutive appearance in an
Olympic Games; additionally, he has won
the men’s singles title at the United States
Open on three occasions. Now, there’s a
few thousand players who would like to
boast that record!
Equally, he’ll never be a great historian;
what’s gone has gone, he looks to the
future and that’s what he did in Kitchener.
“The Canadian Table Tennis Association
spoke to me and asked if I would give
Jeremy the chance to play in Tokyo”,
continued Eugene Wang. “We all want
Jeremy to stay in the sport, so I agreed.”
Safe players
Total co-operation, realising the needs
of young players emerging in Canada,
Eugene Wang and the national association
were of one accord.
“He has the passion to the maximum; in
that aspect he is to be congratulated, the
environment in Canada is that table tennis
is seen as a hobby not a professional sport
like ice hockey or basketball. He deserves
support”, stressed Eugene Wang. “In the
lower international tournaments, Jeremy
has made progress, he has been getting
close to some good results. I’m excited to
see that; I think he needs to take more
risks; he is too safe.”
Too safe! Watch any player in the world
and there are few safer than Eugene Wang!
“For myself to compete against world
class players, like Jeremy, I need to take
more risks, be really assertive at the big
moments”, he stressed. “I believe I have
the potential to go forward.”
It may appear a little late in his career
to suggest that he can climb higher, but
it is not out of the question. He has major
attributes in his favour.
Always he remains calm, focused,
unruffled, somewhat an introvert; the
opposite of Zhang Jike. He’s not going to
leap over the court surrounds and kiss the
podium top step in celebration or boot court
surrounds into smithereens after securing
the tournament winning point. Playing
he is most consistent, his game is built
on solid foundations, the career starting
in the city of Shijiazhuang, the capital of
Hebei province; by train about two hours
from Beijing West Railway Station. It is
where Canadian colleague, Zhang Mo and
Singapore’s Gao Ning emanate.
“I first played table tennis when I was six
years old, I went with my mother to her
company, she had a managerial position,
they had a table; I played at the table
tennis school for about five years before,
when 11 years old, joining the provincial
team, I played no other sports”, reminisced
Eugene Zhen. “I spent some eight years in
the provincial team before leaving in 2003;
I played in Qatar with Johnny Huang who
had earlier moved to Canada.”
Now there is a name to jog the memory;
amongst his many achievements, at the
1993 Men’s World Cup in Guangzhou he
finished in third place; to this day the
best ever by a player from the whole Pan
American continent.
“I arrived in Canada in 2004, Vancouver,
Johnny was there, I did some coaching;
there was no great reason why Canada,
I was 19 years old, no fear, I wanted to
travel, explore the world”, smiled Eugene
Wang. “Why not Canada?”
Knowledge
Certainly, he has made the country his
home; eventually travelling some 2,200
miles east to Ontario.
“I stayed in Vancouver until 2006; from
2006 to 2013 I was at the National Training
Centre in Ottawa”, continued Eugene
Wang. “From 2013 to 2018 I practised
in Saarbrücken, Germany alongside such
players as Tiago Apolonia and Bojan Tokic,
before returning to Canada to live in
Toronto.”
A table tennis education in China,
international exposure, the outcome, he
possesses immense knowledge.
“Now I think I have a better overall view
of the game, a better understanding and
reading of the game, through both playing
and coaching”, explained Eugene Wang.
“Also, because of my age a better mentality
which I can use to help myself; nowadays I
play with more variation, better placement
to make the opponent uncomfortable.”
Experienced, a fine player but it is his
caring nature, his concern for others that
stands out. It showed in the fact that he
stood aside to give Jeremy Hazin a golden
opportunity; it also shows in his attitude
towards humanity in general.
“I just wish this pandemic will go away
and that everyone in the whole world can
stay safe”, concluded Eugene Wang.
Quite simply the sentiment sums up his
character; there is not a hint of egotism or
arrogance, no suggestion of selfishness or
self-interest, he puts others first, a most
sincere concern for fellow man.
By stepping aside, Eugene Wang stands
tall.
Jeremy Hazin
Zhang Mo and Eugene Wang at the 2020 Olympic Games
52-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 53

EUROPE
United Front for Ukraine
WTT Star Contender Doha
(Fri 25th - Wed 31st March)
Men: Yaroslav Zhmudenko
Women: Tetyana Bilenko, Ganna Gaponova, Margaryta
Pesotska
WTT Youth Contender Linz
(Fri 27 Apr - Tue 3rd May)
Boys: Yehor Borshchevskyi, Simon Enskyi
Girls: Sofiia Chumarna, Valeriia Korzun, Veronika
Vasylenko, Iryna Yachmienova, Yuliia Yachmienova
Created as an emergency response for
COVID-19, since the outbreak of war in
Ukraine, the #TableTennisUnited Fund
has been supporting those affected;
Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Galia Dvorak,
both born in the eastern European
country have expressed their support,
Galia Dvorak having been appointed
by the ITTF Foundation as the Goodwill
Ambassador.
Thanks to the overall support afforded,
by the end of June no less than 70
Ukrainian players had competed in
international table tennis tournaments
since Russia launched a full scale
invasion on Thursday 24th February.
“Furthermore, most of the World
Table Tennis Youth Contender event
organisers in Europe offered free
registration for the Ukrainian teams,
others at highly reduced prices”,
explained Leandro Olvech, Director
ITTF Foundation, appreciative of the
efforts made.
Competing is the key factor, but one
member of the group set a record. At
the ITTF Slovenia Para Open in May
in Lasko, Maryna Lytovchenko, gold
medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic
Games, became the first player to
complete a full house of titles since
doubles was introduced at the start
of the year. She won women’s singles
class 6, before in class 14 partnering
Hungary’s Zsofia Arloy to women’s
doubles success and colleague Viktor
Didukh, the men’s singles class 8
winner, to mixed doubles gold.
Later in the Czech Republic she
repeated the feat; once again she won
women’s singles class 6, before joining
forces with colleagues Marharyta
Saltanovska and Maksym Nikolenko to
secure the respective women’s doubles
class 20 and mixed doubles class 14
titles.
Success abundant, in addition,
following their efforts in Slovenia and
the Czech Republic, by the end of June,
Lev Kats, Ivan Mai, Vasyl Petruniv and
Natalya Kosmina had also added to
their gold medal collection. Notably,
Ukrainian Para players and their families
have been taking refuge in the Slovak
Republic where they have been able to
practise at the Prievidza Table Tennis
for ALL Training Centre.
Not to be overshadowed, at WTT
Youth Contender events, competing in
the under 11 girls’ singles, Veronika
Pryshchepa advanced to the semi-final
stage in Havirov, Iryna Yachmienova
emerged the runner up, a finish she
had also achieved in Linz. Likewise, in
the under 11 boys’ singles category,
at the World Youth Festival in Györ,
Volodymyr Nevishzin won gold; earlier
he had gained fourth position in Berlin,
prior to being the silver medallist in
Wladyslawowo.
Somewhat older, Veronika Matiunina,
who in early February, before war broke
out, had been an under 19 girls’ doubles
bronze medallist in Tunis partnering
Croatia’s Hana Arapovic, secured the
same colour medal in the under 17
girls’ singles event in Havirov.
Success for Veronika Matiunina in
Poland, in late June she was very much
the player to note at the World Youth
Festival; she won both the under 19
girls’ singles and under 17 girls’ singles
titles. Additionally, in the under 19
age group, she secured the girls’ team
title in harness with Ana Khachaturova
and Olha Ponko, the girls’ doubles
partnering Iolanta Yevtodi.
Support from the TableTennisUnited
fund has played a major role in enabling
Ukrainian participation; furthermore, it
does not stop with para and World Table
Tennis tournaments. Financial support
is being afforded to the Ukrainian team
in their preparations for the Chengdu
2022 World Championships Finals, as
well as providing the Deaf-Mute team
with accommodation in Leipzig.
Iryna Yachmienova
Volodymyr Nevizhyn
Natalya Kostromina
Lev Kats and Ivan Mai
Viktor Didukh
Maryna Lytovchenko
WTT Youth Contender Wladyslawowo
(Mon 16th - Sun 22nd May)
Boys: Yehor Borshchevskyi, Simon Enskyi, Pylyp
Koloidenko, Volodymyr Nevizhyn
Girls: Anastasiia Khachaturova, Olha Ponko, Veronika
Vasylenko
ITTF Slovenia Para Open, Lasko
(Wed 11th - Sat 14th May)
Men: Viktor Didukh, Roman Gulyk, Viktor Karp, Lev
Kats, Ivan Mai, Maksym Nikolenko, Vasyl Petruniv,
Oleksandr Yezyk
Women: Natalya Kosmina, Maryna Lytovchenko
WTT Youth Contender Platja d’Aro
(Tue 24th - Mon 30th May)
Girls: Anastasiia Khachaturova, Olha Ponko, Veronika
Matiunina
WTT Youth Contender Havirov
(Mon 6th - Sun 12th June)
Boys: Vladyslav Bidochko, Volodymyr Burylov, Anton
Derliuk, Andrii Grebeniuk, Onufrii Hoian, Artem
Khymenko, Pylyp Koloidenko, Mykhailo Lovha,
Maksym Melnychuk, Oleksii Musiichuk, Nazar Petukh,
Oleh Rehotun, Nazarii Solodkyi, Vadym Soltys, Matvii
Tretiak, Nazar Tretiak, Mykyta Zavada
Girls: Violetta Afanasievska, Mariia Bodnar, Olena
Chernyavska, Diana Koliennikova, Valeriia Korzun,
Mariia Kurishchenko, Veronika Matiunina, Yuliia
Pelykh, Olha Ponko, Veronika Pryshchepa, Tetiana
Pukalo, Sofiia Sheredeha, Alina Vydruchenko, Iryna
Yachmienova, Iolanta Yevtodii, Zoidze Yelyzaveta
Europe Under 13 Challenge, Podgorica
(Thu 16th - Sun 19th June)
Boys: Anton Derliuk, Vadym Soltys
Girls: Mariia Bodnar, Diana Koliennikova
ITTF Czech Para Open, Ostrava
(Thu 23rd – Sat 25th June)
Men: Viktor Didukh, Roman Gulyk, Lev Kats, Ivan
Mai, Maksym Nikolenko, Vasyl Petruniv, Oleksandr
Yezyk
Women: Natalya Kosmina, Maryna Lytovchenko,
Marharyta Saltanovska
World Youth Festival, Györ, Hungary
(Tue 21st – Sun 26th Jun)
Boys: Simon Enskyi, Onufrii Hoian, Dmytro
Hryhoriak, Yaroslav Kovalchuk, Yaroslav Kravets,
Mykhailo Lovha, Volodymyr Nevishzin, Artem
Ovchynnikov, Nikita Rievienko, Daniel Senek, Kiril
Shaitan, Artem Solomennik, Oleksandr Virozub,
Mykyta Zaporozhets, Mykyta Zavada
Girls: Anastasiia Khachaturova, Daria Kovalova,
Veronika Matiunina, Anastasiia Miniailo, Kyrylo
Navrotsky, Oleksandra Novohatska, Nadiia Paiul, Olha
Ponko, Tetiana Pukalo, Lisa Solomennik, Veronika
Vasylenko, Iolanta Yevtodii,
54-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 55

EUROPE
Diana Koliennikova and Vadym Soltys
Mariia Bodnar
Swaythling Club International Supports
Fostering international friendship,
encouraging young players; those aims
were stated clearly in 1966 when the
Swaythling Club was formed, initially an
organisation for those who had represented
their country at a World Championships;
today the membership somewhat wider.
Now, 56 years later, an opportunity
arose for those ideals to be once again
practised. Initiated by Richard Scruton, the
Treasurer, supported by Claude Bergeret,
the President, in June two boys, two girls
and one coach received support to attend
the Europe Under 13 Challenge staged in
Podgorica, Montenegro.
Following official channels and with
the help of Galia Dvorak, in addition to
her role as the ITTF Foundation Goodwill
Ambassador, a European Table Tennis Union
staff member, contact was made with the
relevant personnel. A positive response
expressing gratitude was immediate.
“Results were not as good as expected,
they had hoped to be in the best eight
in the team competition but on the first
day they didn’t play very well”, said Galia
Dvorak. “It was clear that they were not
well prepared, but the coach was pleased
to see how during the competition they
were getting better and better.”
Preparation, considering the situation
that element was almost impossible; it
was an achievement they even arrived in
Podgorica.
“They are all staying in different places,
they are underage, so, it is difficult to
travel; before this competition they didn’t
have the opportunity to attend a training
camp and prepare properly”, explained
Galia Dvorak. “They had a training camp
in Budapest in May, but that was a long
time ago.”
It is a question of finding solutions to a
situation that if we turn the clock back,
even less than a year, did we really believe
was possible in Europe?
“Most of the men are staying in Ukraine”,
continued Galia Dvorak. “Other players
are living abroad with their mothers, older
siblings or grandparents, so to travel
they are also relying on the help of their
families.”
Oleksandr Bielskyi, the coach, is currently
residing in Tours, France. Anton Derliuk
lives with his sister in Osijek, Croatia; he is
practising in a club with local players and
other Ukrainian refugees. Bravely, Vadym
Soltys has stayed in Ukraine, in Lviv;
recently there has been shelling close to
the hall where he plays, in recent times he
has not been able to practise.
Meanwhile, Mariia Bodnar doesn’t have
a fixed residence, she is moving around
Germany trying to find a more definitive
place to stay. Somewhat differently,
Diana Koliennikova is living in the Czech
Republic; thanks to the help of Dimitrij
Prokopcov, originally from Ukraine, she is
able to practise on a regular basis.
Nevertheless, all reached Podgorica
safely. Oleksandr Bielskyi and Mariia
Bodnar flew to Podgorica, Anton Derliuk
travelled by bus, Diana Koliennikova
arrived with the Czech team.
All, whether it be at the Europe Under
13 Challenge or at World Table Tennis
Vadym Soltys
www.tabletennisunited.org
tournaments, are extremely grateful
for the support. Concerned, Oleksandr
Bielskyi is of the unequivocal opinion the
greatest help the table tennis community
can provide is to offer the youngest
players good training possibilities, either
permanent or training camps.
The players who competed in Podgorica
are the future, but what of the future?
“If the war continues for a long time
players may be repatriated into countries
where they are living now and may never
come back to Ukraine; all trying to gain
residency in the countries in which they
are staying”, stressed Galia Dvorak. “Some
don’t have homes to come back to, some
players simply don’t know if their homes
are standing anymore.”
An uncertain future, the heart is with
Ukraine.
56 -ITTF Magazine

PARTNERSHIP
Horacio Cifuentes
Date of Birth: 16th Mar 1998 in La Plata
Residence: Buenos Aires
Playing Hand: Right
Height: 1.69m
Current Clubs / Training Centres: Amiens
(France), Oporto (Portugal), Atlanta (Argentina)
Racket: Donic Crest Off FL
Rubber: Donic Bluestone Z1 Turbo on both sides
Gaston Alto
Date of Birth: 6th Jul 1985 in Mendoza
Residence: Mendoza
Playing Hand: Right
Height: 1.76m
Current Clubs / Training Centres: Clubul Sportiv
Mioveni (Romania), Entente Saint Pierraise
Tennis de Table (France), Regatas de Mendoza
(Argentina)
Racket: Gewo Aruna FL
Rubber: Butterfly Tenergy 05 Hard on both sides
Success on the international stage with
different partners is not unusual, it’s
been realised many times but when those
partners are 26 years apart in age, it
is unusual; such is the men’s doubles
achievement of Argentina’s Gaston Alto.
At the Latin American Championships, in
2011 he partnered Liu Song to victory; in
2014 and 2016, he won alongside Pablo
Tabachnik. Also with Pablo Tabachnik, he
succeeded in 2015 on the ITTF World Tour
in Buenos Aires.
Liu Song was born in 1972, Pablo
Tabachnik in 1977, somewhat later Gaston
Alto in 1985.
Now his latest partner is Horacio
Cifuentes, born in 1998. In 2019 they won
at ITTF Challenge Polish Open; they were
runners up at the Pan American Games,
before winning at the Pan American
Championships, a title they retained in
November 2021. Most recently they were
runners up at the WTT Contender Lima
2022.
How have you adjusted to partnering
each other?
Horacio: We complement each other;
he does a lot of damage with his service
and I with my receive. He receives well
when returning the ball with backspin;
that sometimes benefits me because our
opponents return slowly, I can play with
speed. He directs his blocking strokes well
which provides me with openings. We can
plan what each other needs, that means we
can play with a great degree of variation.
Gaston has good services; in a game we
can steal six or eight points with services.
Generally, after his service, I can start a
strong attack. Thus, he can look to finish
the point. I prepare the play; his forehand
top spin wins many points.
Gaston: I had become used to playing
with a left hander, playing with a right
handed player changed everything, it
was difficult for me to adapt. It was two
years with not very good results; with a
left-hander you can play more forehands.
Playing with a right-hander you have to
play more backhands. Horacio’s reception
of service with a flip or banana and my
serve are very important; Horacio has
a very explosive counterattack over the
table. We are strong in the short game,
tactically we are very much together; such
things are key in our doubles.
What do you think are the main
reasons why you won the men’s
doubles at the 2021 ITTF Pan American
Championships?
Horacio: We set out to win, we didn’t believe
we were the best in the tournament, we
didn’t come with that intention because we
knew it would be difficult to win. I think
there was a great desire to win. Things
went well because we wanted the title so
much; we found answers, we played well.
Gaston: Doubles is not just playing. The
body has memory, we know where to play
the ball, where each of us is going to direct
his next stroke; that knowledge makes
the difference. Doubles is a short match,
it is five games, the points pass quickly so
getting to know your partner is essential;
that is what happens to us.
At the 2018 Pan American
Championships in Santiago; you were
beaten in the semis by Brazil’s Vitor
Ishiy and Eric Jouti; what do you think
were the reasons for the defeat?
Horacio: It was at the start of our
partnership; the doubles results were bad.
After Santiago, we started training for the
Lima 2019 Pan American Games, our level
went up in an incredible way. From there
it went quite well for us. Training sessions
with the national team for the Pan Am
Games was key. We dedicated a specific
time for doubles every day.
Gaston: Before 2019 we hadn’t trained
hard together. Horacio was only just
starting to appear in senior events. I was
adapting to playing with a right-hander. I
was very uncomfortable. Any defeat made
us stronger; we learnt.
In 2019 you won the men’s doubles
at the Pan American Championships;
why do you think you were successful?
Horacio: A month earlier we had played
at the Pan American Games in Lima and
had lost in the final to Hugo Calderano and
Gustavo Tsuboi in a very tight match. We
lost but we had played at a good level, so
we had gained confidence.
Gaston: Hugo Calderano and Gustavo
are a good pair; they had been playing
together for a long time. I remember
that with Pablo Tabachnik we had already
played against them in 2015. They were
strong once the match started, I think
we did a good job with our serves and
counter attacking play, so arriving at the
Pan American Championships we were in
good shape.
In 2019 you won at the Polish Open;
what stands out in your mind?
Horacio: I had a ticket to return home
in the doubles after the round of 16, we
won, and I had to change the ticket. Then
we won the quarter-finals and changed
it again, then we reached the semi-finals
and had to change again! For sure, so it
was historic for us. We were very happy
that it happened for Argentina. In women’s
events Puerto Rico has recently done well,
it’s a great advance for the region.
Gaston: We couldn’t believe it. As Horacio
comments, he had to change the ticket
several times. We had tough opponents
from the round of 16, they were all very
close matches.
In March 2021 at the World Table
Tennis Contender tournament in Doha,
you reached the final losing to 13-11
in the fifth game to Korea Republic’s
Men’s doubles winners at the 2021 Pan American Championships
Cho Seungmin and Lee Sangsu; what
do recollect about that match?
Horacio: Asian players play at a different
speed than we are used to; their attacking
strokes are much faster, we had a hard
time reacting to their speed, but they made
mistakes, so that motivated us. We had to
play very strong pairs from the start; we
trusted our abilities and played positively.
Gaston: My first thought was hoping we
were not going to be beaten easily. We set
out to take the game slowly and do our
best. They were nervous, they expected
to win; we came closer than anyone
expected. Horacio’s service and receive
was good. Also, our tactics worked well;
simply when it was time to attack, attack,
if it was time to defend, defend. We tried to
fight for each ball until the end.
You are from different generations;
has that proved a problem?
Horacio: There has never been a generation
problem; unfortunately, we don’t get many
times to practise together, only when
preparing for tournaments.
Gaston: No, it’s because I’m quite
immature! No, there has never been a
problem. I was almost always the younger
in doubles, especially when I played with
Pablo and Liu Song.
What aspects of your play do you
think you need to improve to make the
partnership stronger?
Horacio: I need to improve my services.
Gaston: Several things, most important is
improving my defence.
Who is the team captain?
Horacio: Clearly me!
Gaston Alto, no reply, just laughed!
58-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 59

TALENT
A good time to make progress, in that
respect each to their own, but is not one of
the potential pitfalls in sport, whatever the
discipline, the years when competing in
youth events against your own peer group
or younger are over and you have to face
more senior and experienced adversaries?
Some relish the challenge and succeed
at high senior level even before playing
in age group categories is over, others
fall into the chasm and disappear from
view; equally there are those who keep
the faith and progress step by step.
Into this category falls Egypt’s 22-yearold
Mariam Alhodaby, the winner of the
women’s singles event last September at
the 2021 ITTF African Championships in
the Cameroonian city of Yaoundé.
Key dates on the Women’s Table Tennis
World Rankings endorse the fact. In July
2013 she entered at no.1263, in March
2015 she reached no.758, before in
February 2017 being listed no.456. At the
end of her first year outside the junior
age group category, in December 2019
she stood at no.313, two years later to
the month she was at no.204; in the first
week of May earlier this year at no.40.
“Table tennis
has become
more than
just a game
to me, it’s
a lifestyle
now”
Mariam Alhodaby
Date of Birth: 5th April 2000
City of Birth: Cairo
Family: Father Hesham, mother Amal; twin sister Marwa, brother
Mahmoud 25 years old, older sisters Nabila 28 years old and Fatma
30 year old
Racket Blade: Stiga Carbonado 145 (ST)
Rubber (Forehand): Mantra S
Rubber (Backhand): Mantra S
Club: Al-Ahly club
Coaches: Adel Shoman, Ahmed Ayyad & Ezzat Zaghlol
60-ITTF Magazine
“Table tennis has become more than
just a game to me, it’s a lifestyle now”,
stressed Mariam Alhodaby. “It has become
part of my daily habit and routine that I
can’t easily let go of. Sometimes it’s hard
and needs sacrifices but it is worth it.”
Hard work it is the only answer, there
is no substitute. Leading players will
tell you that at junior level you can win
with skill alone, at senior level in order
to succeed you must add downright hard
work. It is the only formula for success.
“In vacation, we train table tennis six
days a week, four to six hours per day,
four days a week physical training for
two to three hours per day”, explained
Mariam Alhodaby. “In college days, we
train five to six days a week, three to four
hours per day.”
Significantly, Mariam has support from
the Arab Academy for Science, Technology
and Maritime Transport University where
she is studying business and marketing.
“My college supports athletes so they’re
helping me a lot in managing the time
between my lectures, exams, practice
and tournaments”, she explained. “It
gives me the opportunity to give it my all
in both education and training. Thankfully
I’ve been able to maintain high grades
while staying consistent with my daily
ping pong training.”
Support from her education institution;
also, she is a member of the Al-Ahly Club
from which over the years the majority of
Egypt’s leading players have emanated,
including Dina Meshref, a player for
whom Mariam Alhodaby has the greatest
respect.
“Dina has been our role model since
we started table tennis”, stressed Marian
Alhodaby. “We’ve always looked up to
her, how she works hard to accomplish
all the great things she’s achieved.”
Undoubtedly Dina Meshref has raised
the bar; in particular her efforts at
the Women’s World Cup setting new
standards for Africa. Also, there is a
similarity, she was advised clearly by her
father, Alaa, junior play was a steppingstone
to higher levels, not an end in
itself. It is the same for Mariam Alhodaby.
However, does Mariam have an
advantage different to most?
She has a twin sister, Marwa; also, a
player of international status.
“There is huge support between me and
my twin Marwa ever since we started”,
said Mariam Alhodaby. “We also take it
as a competition to motivate each other
to be the best.”
Support, it is a fact endorsed by the
most famous twin of all, Diane Schöler
who as Diane Rowe with her late sister,
Rosalind, won the women’s doubles
title at the World Championships in
Vienna in 1951 and three years later in
London regained the crown on their 21st
birthdays!
“It’s not easy to explain, especially when
you are young, from our experiences, as
twins you are virtually only one person,
your individual feeling, thinking and
acting is reduced considerably”, said
Diane Schöler. “On the other hand, you
have somebody who never leaves you
alone and, if necessary, always helps
you; this was the case with Ros and
myself. Even later on, when both of us
started to lead our own lives, this special
relationship remained. It is great to have
a twin sister!”
A special situation and a salient factor in
the formative years, for teenagers there
are plenty of distractions; the dedication
displayed by Mariam Alhodaby is to be
admired, the commitment unwavering.
“I was eight years old when I started
playing table tennis”, reflected Mariam
Alhodaby. “My mother played table
tennis as a hobby, my brother used to
play professionally at the El-Shams club;
we used to go to watch him practise, we
liked it, so we started playing.”
Progress, in April 2012 Mariam and
Marwa made their international debuts,
competing on the ITTF World Junior
Circuit in Tipaza, Algeria.
“I played Marwa in the under 12 girls’
singles final”, recalled Mariam. “It was
the first time we played against each
other; I lost!”
Mariam hugs Marwa after winning the African title
Later at the 2017 ITTF Africa Junior
and Cadet Championships in La Marsa,
Tunisia, Mariam won the under 21
women’s singles title, four years later she
secured the senior version, the success
vivid in the memory.
“There are a lot of great memories,
the moment I hugged Marwa after the
final match, calling my family, the way
my family celebrated my homecoming
at the airport, my friends’ celebrations”,
reminisced Mariam Alhodaby. “Winning
the title was definitely the best for me.”
A major success, now Mariam Alhodaby
looks to the future.
“My goals are to improve my skills,
improve physically and qualify for the
Paris 2024 Olympic Games, improve my
world ranking, participate as much as I
can in WTT tournaments to gain more
experience”, concluded Mariam Alhodaby.
“Finally, to do my best and work harder
to maintain my African champion title.”
Work harder, it is the key phrase, the
ideal attitude, nothing is achieved without
effort and dedication; those qualities are
paramount in the character of Mariam
Alhodaby. Rest assured there is more to
follow, much more.
ITTF Magazine- 61

TALENT
Ask the name of the best ever player
to emerge from Australia, most likely
William Henzell, amongst many accolades
the men’s singles silver medallist at the
2006 Commonwealth Games, will be the
most popular nomination.
Now, is there a young man emerging
who may follow in his footsteps? At the
2021 World Table Tennis Youth Contender
tournaments, Nicholas Lum provided
plenty of evidence.
During a two week period, the last in
October, the first in November, he gained
four podium finishes. In the Italian
resort of Lignano, he won the under 17
boys’ singles; the following week he was
the runner up in the Hungarian city of
Szombathely and the winner in Senec,
Slovakia. Additionally, in Senec he reached
the under 19 boys’ singles semi-final.
“Reaching the final in Lignano, my first
time at an international tournament
was already a great feeling”, explained
Nicholas Lum. “I was so hungry for my
first international title, being able to win
the final against a strong opponent was
unbelievable.”
In the title decider, Nicholas Lum
overcame Nigeria’s Taiwo Mati (7-11,13-
11,9-11, 11-5, 11-5). Success in Lignano,
in Szombathely, he fell just one step short,
he was beaten in the gold medal contest
by the Czech Republic’s Simon Belik (11-8,
12-10, 9-11, 11-2).
“Reaching the final again was a great
feeling”, continued Nicholas Lum. “Although
I lost, I was happy to continue my great
performance from Italy.”
Tough matches
Two tournaments completed, clearly Nicholas
Lum was gaining in confidence and
was reaping benefits from the European
expedition.
“My second international title in Senec
wasn’t expected”, stressed Nicholas Lum.
“I had very tough matches especially in
the semi-final where I won 12-10 in the
fifth and also in the first round where I won
11-9 in the fifth.”
Safely through the group stage, in round
one he beat Colombia’s Federico Otalvaro
(9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9), before
in the semi-final accounting for Austria’s
Liu Zhenlong (11-4, 9-11, 11-13, 11-6,
12-10). In the final he overcame Brazil’s
Leonardo Kenzo (11-4, 11-9, 11-7).
Close calls, it was no different in the most
senior age group; in fact, he lived on the
veritable knife edge.
“In the under 19 event, I was two points
away from being eliminated in the group
stage”, recalled Nicholas Lum. “I was able
to come away second in the group through
a count-back.”
He lost to Peru’s Carlos Fernandez in
straight games (11-9, 14-12, 11-9) but
then by the same margin beat Spain’s
José Guillot (12-10, 11-9, 11-7), who,
in the opening match, had overcome the
Peruvian in a full distance contest (8-11,
7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7). Thus, on games
ratio, it was first place for Carlos Fernandez
(5:3) followed by Nicholas Lum (3:3) and
José Guillot (3:5).
Tense moments, they continued in the
main draw. After beating Slovakia’s Adam
Klajber, the no.2 seed (11-6, 11-5, 11-5),
facing Spain’s Arnau Pons, he trailed 7-10
in the deciding fifth game before winning
five points in a row to secure victory (11-9,
8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10).
Through to the quarter-finals, rather more
comfortably he overcame Brazil’s Diogo
Silva (11-7, 11-9, 11-9), before by the
narrowest of margins, as in Szombathely,
finding Simon Belik his nemesis (11-8,
9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 12-10).
“Overall, the under 19 event was a
rollercoaster, but finishing with a bronze
was very nice”, sighed Nicholas Lum.
Gained experience
A hectic fortnight, two weeks to remember
for the young man who became hooked on
table tennis when seven years old.
“Every Thursday I would follow my dad
to a table tennis club, I would watch him
play table tennis with his friends”, reflected
Nicholas Lum. “Those days ignited my
passion to play and soon I was on the table
learning the basics.”
Step by step, he progressed, gradually
enjoying international success.
He was a bronze medallist at the 2017
ITTF World Hopes Week and Challenge in
Luxembourg, as well as in the mini-cadet
boys’ singles at the 2018 ITTF China Junior
and Cadet Open. Later at the 2020 ITTF
Czech Junior and Cadet Open, partnering
Finn Luu, the duo reached the junior boys’
doubles semi-final.
“I think the biggest qualities in my
game are my forehand, my serve and my
backhand flick”, explained Nicholas Lum. “I
feel I need to improve my backhand and
receive of service.”
Clearly the results gained at World Table
Tennis tournaments has added to the
essential bank of knowledge and made him
aware of what is needed to reach the next
level.
“The quality in the under 19 category
is generally better than in the under 17
category, they are more experienced
players”, added Nicholas Lum. “Asian
players generally play very fast and have
precise placement, because of this, I feel
much more pressured.”
Coached under the auspices of Table
Tennis Australia, advised by Eva Jeler,
Simon Gerada, Berry Hsueh, Liang Hongbo,
John Murphy, Franck Rodriguez, Mark
Smythe and Eric Tan, there is a detailed
schedule in place.
“In a normal week, I will be training 13
to 15 times; from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon
and from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm”, explained
Nicholas Lum. “During the pandemic I was
fortunate enough to have a table tennis
room at home, so I would practise with my
brother.”
Now, that poses an interesting
proposition; are there more players from
the family who may aspire to international
status?
“I have two brothers, Lucas and Mattias,
they both play table tennis. Lucas, 13
years old is currently in the national
team and is ranked fifth in the under 15
category in Australia” explained Nicholas
Lum. “Matthias, who is two years old has
just started picking up the mini racket and
started hitting some balls!
Take note: you now know the name of
the player who will lead Australia at the
2038 ITTF World Youth Championships.
“I think the
biggest qualities
in my game are
my forehand, my
serve and my
backhand flick”
Nicholas Lum
Born: 29th May 2005
Residence: Melbourne
Hand: Right
Racket: Ma Long 5 FL
Forehand Rubber: DHS Hurricane 3 Neo Blue Sponge
Backhand Rubber: Nittaku Fastarc G-1
Support: Nittaku Japan, DHS Shanghai China, Croydon
& District Table Tennis Association, Victorian Institute of
Sport, Australian Institute of Sport, Acme Health, Bay Road
Chiropractic & Sports Therapy Centre
62-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 63

WOMEN
Queen’s Jubilee
Birthday Honour
Celebrating 70 years since Elizabeth II
ascended to the throne, Her Majesty the
Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List
2022, recognising outstanding public
service of individuals in the United
Kingdom, was announced on Wednesday
1st June.
Included was Karen Tonge, acknowledged
for her contribution to para table tennis,
she received the OBE (Order of the British
Empire). Most notably it is her second such
distinction; in 2009, she was bestowed the
MBE (Member of the British Empire) for
promoting table tennis at grassroots level.
“I am delighted to accept the honour,”
said Karen Tonge. “This reflects everything
the organisation has achieved over many
years in transforming lives, it is recognition
for the para table tennis world. I was
amazed to receive the letter; I thought
it was requesting a supporting letter for
someone else, I never dreamt that this
would happen to me again.”
Karen Tonge hails from Bollington, located
in the county of Cheshire in northwest
England; it was in that small town on the
edge of the picturesque Peak District where
initially she encountered table tennis.
“I first played table tennis at Bollington
Fire Station; after watching the firemen
train on the River Bollin, they invited me,
I must have been about 10 years old”,
reminisced Karen Tonge. “During the
summer holidays I played at the Chester
Diocesan Youth Holidays.”
Locally, Karen was Halton League
women’s champion on three occasions and
won the Cheshire Closed women’s doubles.
She played in the Senior, Women’s and
Veteran British Leagues, as well as for
Cheshire, in addition to tournaments when
the over 60 years category was on offer.
A player but it is her roles beyond the court
surrounds for which she is best known,
coach, umpire, referee, administrator et al.
Qualifications
She secured her
first coaching
qualification in
1974, organised
by Cheshire
County Council,
the ETTA Teachers’
Certificate, the
tutor being Peter
Simpson, at the
time England national coach. In 1987 she
gained the Level 4 coaching award, one
year later becoming a Tutor and Assessor
for Coach Education; also, she was
named female coach of the year.
Meanwhile, in the intervening years, in
1977 she became a county umpire, the
first step on the ladder.
“I became an umpire so I could see top
senior players and develop my coaching
Karen at the 2017 Europe Youth Top 10 in Worcester
from the best seat in the hall”, smiled Karen
Tonge. “My practical test involved umpiring
John Hilton versus Nigel Eckersley at the
Cheshire Closed!”
Both John Hilton and Nigel Eckersley
gained international honours but at times,
to describe matters mildly, when they
played each other it could be entertaining.
In 1988 Karen became an international
umpire, a Blue Badge umpire in 2005, at
the time the third in England to gain the
award. Amongst a host of events, she
umpired at the Volkswagen 2005 World
Championships in Shanghai, a great
honour but not quite at the top of her list.
“The London 2012 Paralympics where
we stayed in the Village was a privilege”,
reminisced Karen Tonge. “The most
moving was the World Junior Table Tennis
Championships in Kobe 2004 marking the
anniversary of their big earthquake.”
On Tuesday 17th January 1995, Kobe
had suffered an earthquake measured at
6.9 on the Richter Scale; reports published
recorded 6,425 dead, 25,000 injured,
300,000 displaced, 100,000 buildings
damaged or destroyed. Karen Tonge is
a Soroptimist, part of a global volunteer
organisation for women who work for
peace, in particular improving the lives of
women and girls.
“We had raised money for the disaster
in 1995”, recalled Karen Tonge. “It was
amazing to see the power of the quake and
the regeneration of a city.”
Promoting the female cause is dear to her
heart; moreover, she sets the example.
In 1997 she qualified as an International
Referee, the only woman in the United
Kingdom to hold such a status.
“My thanks to the support and training
I received from Colin Clemett, Tony
Chatwin, Doug Young and Richard Scruton
in particular”, stressed Karen Tonge.
Later in 2002 she was the Competition
Manager for the Manchester 2002
Commonwealth Games, the first time,
table tennis was held in the quadrennial
event.
A high position but true to her character,
Karen has never forgotten her roots in
the sport, the local area is very special
to her; in fact, some nine years after
her introduction to table tennis, she was
the Referee at the World Firefighters
Championships on Merseyside!
Husband, Ken, at the London 2012 Paralympic Games
Karen (front left) with Swaythling Club members at the 2020 English National Championships
Youth work
Consideration for others, giving back to
society, it reflects her education.
She attended Macclesfield County High
School, where in the 1960s she organised
her first tournament, she studied at
Chester Teacher Training College, taught
on the Wirral, before becoming a youth
worker; in 1970 she married Ken Tonge,
a boys’ club leader in Birkenhead. They
moved to Runcorn New Town in 1971
where they worked at Castlefield Youth
Centre in Halton, located on the outskirts
of Liverpool on the banks of the River
Mersey.
“Ken’s main sport is football in which he
has been involved for over 60 years; he
has been President of the Runcorn District
Football Association” explained Karen
Tonge. “However, he has been involved
at Halton Table Tennis Club since it was
founded in 1999 and has worked at major
English Table Tennis Association events
since 1997 including Worlds, Paralympics,
Commonwealth Games; he was made Vice
President of Table Tennis England in 2015.”
Quite simply for Karen Tonge, the role
at the Castlefield Youth Centre is the
perfect fit. It combines her interest in table
tennis with that of helping young people.
The Halton Junior Open, commencing in
1979 under her direction, the most recent
edition being earlier this year in March,
illustrates the fact clearly.
“It is an opportunity to influence the
lives of young people, to help them
believe in themselves and achieve, gaining
confidence and social skills along their
journey in life”, stressed Karen Tonge. “It
is a chance to make a difference.”
Consistently, helping others, her efforts
at Castlefield Youth Centre not only
resulted in the MBE award but also the
Duke of Edinburgh’s National Certificate
of Recognition. Most worthy accolades but
perhaps a recent message from a former
club member is even more rewarding.
“I would like to add my congratulations
to Karen Tonge MBE for her well-deserved
recognition and OBE in the Queens honours
list” wrote Brian Cummings on LinkenIn.
“Karen’s commitment and dedication
helped many kids from the estate where
I grew up. She coached me over 30 years
ago and I’ve never forgotten the advice and
time she gave to all of us at the local youth
centre. Thanks Karen and congratulations
on your achievements.”
A range of posts at the Castlefield Youth
Centre, where throughout she has been
a major driving force, a person who has
earned the utmost respect of all.
Commitment
Over the years, the accolades bestowed
fill an encyclopedia, as do the positions
she has commanded. She is proud to
have been accepted as a member of
the Swaythling Club International; most
significantly she is a Life Member of Table
Tennis England, the third woman to gain
such status, the first being the Lady
Dowager Swaythling, the second Doreen
Stannard.
However, there is no chance whatsoever
that Karen Tonge will rest on her laurels.
Just as she gives total commitment to
helping young people, so in most recent
times she has to para table tennis; the
players just have to look in her direction
and they know they have the supreme
supporter.
At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Rob
Davies and Will Bayley both struck gold,
on each occasion following their success,
as she climbed the tiered seating to leave
the arena, her face reflected a great sense
of satisfaction mixed with unbridled relief.
She had lived every point, willed the ball
over the net, immense pride was palpable,
a word thanks to the English skills of
Matthew Syed, she appreciates!
Rio de Janeiro was a pinnacle, her first
encounter with disability sport being
when she met Trixie Hill, a wheelchair
user, at a Chester Diocesan Youth Holiday.
They became friends, later in 1984 she
coached Tony Edge to a silver medal at
the seventh Paralympic Games held at
Stoke Mandeville. In March 2015, she was
elected Chair of the British Table Tennis
Association for People with Disabilities
(BTTAD); one year later the organisation
became British Para Table Tennis (BPTT).
More recently Jack Hunter-Spivey, a
member of Halton Table Tennis Club, was
a bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020
Paralympic Games, an event Karen was not
able to attend owing to restrictions imposed
by the pandemic. Make no mistake, the
body may have been in Runcorn, the heart
was in Japan’s capital city.
“BPTT has been on a journey from not
winning any medals in Beijing 2008 to
seven in Tokyo. It is thanks to the support
from UK Sport, The National Lottery and
the hard work of a great Performance
Director in Gorazd Vecko with his team
of fantastic coaches and support staff”,
enthused Karen Tonge. “Our World Class
Performance athletes are inspiring the
next generation of young athletes in the
Pathway squad. We also have developed
a great Board and volunteers who support
our programme.”
Immense satisfaction in the achievements
of the British Para team but she is not
blinkered in her outlook; always she
looks for new challenges, a fact endorsed
in an impending venture, she has been
appointed Referee for the table tennis and
Para table tennis events at the Birmingham
2022 Commonwealth Games.
Karen Tonge, OBE, MBE; the accolades
are well merited but are they the most
important sources of satisfaction in her
life?
Her greatest rewards are seeing others
believe, succeed, achieve, reach their
potential; those are the most precious
prizes of all.
Jack Hunter-Spivey, Tokyo men’s singles class 5 bronze
medallist
62-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 65

COLLECTOR
Mannequin parade,
in memory of
Josep Francesch
A collection par excellence, unique; sadly,
it is now the legacy of Josep Francesch.
Resident in Vimbodi i Poblet, Tarragona
Province, located on the east coast of
Spain, driving home from the Borges
Blanques club on Monday 25th April, where
he coached, he suffered an accident as a
result of trying to avoid a wild boar. He was
hospitalised and passed away on Tuesday
3rd May. He was 34 years old.
Colleagues are determined to continue
and develop the museum he established in
the attic of his house.
The exhibition comprises 340 table tennis
shirts representing in excess of 100 ITTF
member associations, many displayed
on mannequins. Additionally, 1,500 table
tennis balls stamped with a variety of logos
are on view, everything perfectly arranged
so any visitor could enjoy guided tours at
their leisure.
Notably, the collection became an ever
increasing local attraction; a village of less
than 900 inhabitants, in September 2020
TV3, a Catalan television station arrived
to feature his compilation, before in 2021
both Esport3 and Antena3 visited.
66-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 67

DEVELOPING NATION
“the goal to
produce a
well-conditioned
national team”
Jeff Onyango
A scientific approach for Kenya
Brian Mutua, Kenya’s leading player.
Making conscious efforts to improve
playing standards, under the leadership
of Andrew Mudibo, President of the Kenya
Table Tennis Association, the East African
nation has found its voice among the
comity of nations in Africa.
Having hosted several ITTF events in
the last four years, most notably the
2018 Africa Cup alongside media training
for upcoming journalists, the Kenya
Table Tennis Association has been at the
forefront of innovation.
On Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th
May, they embarked on a further project;
the organisation of an ambitious strength
and conditioning campaign to improve
athlete performance, power and mental
strength.
They enlisted the support of Trailblazers
Sports Performance, founded in 2021 by
Richard Joseph. He formed a group of
professional coaches and managers with
over 10 years’ experience in physical
training.
Dedicated to developing athletes of
character, coaching life-long skills, and
instilling a passion for the game by creating
a positive environment, Trailblazers
understood there was a gap to be filled.
They realised they needed to be involved
in creating a focus on athletes’ strength
and conditioning, as well as on nutrition
and mental health.
Alongside, Richard Joseph, colleagues Jeff
Onyango, an instructor and Kate Abilla, a
physiotherapist, they were present to take
the Kenya national team players through
their paces at the Nairobi Goan Institute.
It proved a unique table tennis experience.
Andrew Mudibo was most positive as to
the value of the initiative.
“The Kenya Table Tennis Association
has been undergoing a transformative
stage in the sense that we invited the
team of professionals from Trailblazers to
come and help us, they are our partners
in terms of strength and conditioning to
our athletes”, explained Andrew Mudibo.
“Trailblazers have come together with
sports physiotherapists and nutritionists,
for us, we are looking at our young players’
programme and not just the senior team.”
Focus on young players but there are
immediate goals as Kenya aims to the
climb the international ladder.
“Next year, we have the 13th All African
Games in Ghana which will also serve as an
Olympic qualifier for Paris 2024, so through
similar partnerships, we can only hope for
the best”, stressed Andrew Mudibo.
A positive outlook from Andrew Mudibo,
it was the very same from Richard Joseph.
“We want to offer specialised and
tailormade strength and conditioning
support to various disciplines; the team
is happy to be a part of the table tennis
family”, said Richard Joseph. “For us, the
programme with table tennis isn’t about
skills, we are looking at mental strength,
physical strength, and fitness flexibility.
The essence, for now, is: how can the
athlete repeat their skill with the same
strength, power, and stamina?”
Enthusiasm from Richard Joseph, it
was the same from Jeff Onyango; the
goal being to produce a well-conditioned
national team.
“One of our key objectives is to help the
table tennis player achieve agility in play”,
he stressed. “Strengthen their shoulders,
enjoy mobility, and among other aspects,
be energy efficient.”
Everything monitored to check the
players’ response, many exercises being
new; somewhat different but well received
by all, another step forward for Kenya.
Group exercise
68-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 69

ITTF FOUNDATION
World Table Tennis Day
Creating friendships, building bridges,
promoting harmony, having fun, it has
been the theme ever since the idea
of World Table Tennis Day was first
considered. Sport is competitive by
nature but most importantly it brings
people together. First held in 2015 when
the focal point was Buenos Aires, very
much in mind that the Argentine capital
city was set to stage the 2018 Youth
Olympic Games; this year a landmark
tournament was also in focus. Ping Pong
Diplomacy was the topic, being now just
over 50 years since the events following
the Nagoya 1971 World Championships
promoted understanding and made
headline news throughout the world.
In Numbers
310 events were held in 89 countries
25 promoters worked across 5 continents
3 new countries registered:
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Madagascar, Eswatini
4,336 livestream viewers
16,379 views on Facebook
2,250 visits on YouTube
24 hours live stream highlights
3 players - Lin Gaoyuan, Kanak Jha, Wang
Manyu – conducted meet and greet sessions
2 live broadcasts: Teenage Spirit: Table
Tennis and Cultural Coexistence with the
European Table Tennis Union; Two countries
and One Table: North Macedonia and Kosovo
5 member associations organised own events
5 Ping Pong Diplomacy historical matches
4 panel discussions and talks by experts on
peace related topics
Promoters:
Africa: Zanemvula Daymani (South Africa), Birungi
Lloyd (Uganda), Offiong Edem (Nigeria), Misraëls
Rakotondrabe (Madagascar), Angelus Runji
(Tanzania), Israel Smith (Nigeria), Nelly Mutuma
(Kenya), Kenneth Arthur (Ghana), Maximilian
Chanda (Zambia)
Americas: Allison Quintanilla/USFQ (Ecuador),
James Budenholzer (USA), Mabel Ho (Canada),
Nicolas Montes (Colombia), Yamali Blanco (Ecuador)
Asia: Naresh Rawal (Nepal), Lokesh Singh Bagri/
PSIUS (India), Bayarsaikhan (Mongolia), Mayssa
Bsaibes (Lebanon), Khadija Moin (India)
Europe: Nikolaos Grammenos (Greece)Argjend
Ferati & Kastriot Orana (Kosovo),Ferati (Kosovo),
Kastriot Orana (Kosovo), Zurabi Berukashvili
(Georgia), Fosco Perinti (France)
Oceania: Dhirish Kumar (Fiji Islands)
70-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 71

HITTING THE HEADLINES
Fri 1st Apr: Yasiris Ortiz
Published in December, written by the
Dominican Republic’s Yasiris Ortiz, “Yasi
the Champion: A Table Tennis Tale” is now
available on Amazon.
Sun 1st May: France
Set to run until the end of September, the
five month “Ping Tour” programme aims to
promote table tennis in 30 French cities.
Sun 8th May: Ormesby
Nicky Jarvis and Denis Neale were present
at a celebration on to mark 50 years since
Ormesby won the Europe Club Cup of
Champions on Thursday 11th May 1972;
the further member of the team was
Trevor Taylor.
Thu 19th May: Niger
The Niger team comprising Bashir
Mamoudou, Mahamadu Hadi, Boukar
Toukoujou, Saadatau Mammame Hamidou,
Soumaila Abdulrahaman and Ibrahima
Ouseeini, not able to afford the airfare to
the Western Africa World Championships
Finals Qualification in Lagos, took the
long route. They completed the 1,171
kilometres (728 miles) road journey in 23
hours actual travel time.
Saturday 28th May: Omar Assar
At the ITTF-Africa Cup in Lagos, Omar
Assar won the men’s singles title for the
third time (2015, 2019, 2022); the only
other player to win three times is El-Sayed
Lashin. He prevailed on four occasions
(1998, 1999, 2002, 2013). Add the Africa
Top 16 Cup (2018), Omar Assar joins the
four club. At the Africa Cup Ahmed Ali Saleh
won three times (1997, 2005, 2011), the
Top 16 once (2020); Quadri Aruna won the
Africa Cup twice (2009, 2017), the Top 16
twice (2014, 2016).
Sun 8th May: Yadira Silva
Yadira Silva completed a clean sweep
of titles at the 2022 Central American
Championships. A member of Mexico’s
successful women’s team, she added the
women’s singles, women’s doubles and
mixed doubles titles.
Mon 4th Apr: Jing Jun Hong
Jing Jun Hong has been appointed
Singapore national women’s team head
coach.
Thu 5th May: Tonga
After a meeting with members of the
Tonga Sports Association and National
Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, IOC
President, played table tennis against
Melekaufusi Fungavai, the island’s leading
female player.
Sun 15th May: Priping
Priping won the Kosovo Cup; the team
comprised Yll Dragidella, Aulon Bivolaku,
Kastriot Orana and Elvedin Collakoviq
alongside England’s Chris Doran.
Wed 11th May: Jabdiel Torres
Puerto Rico’s Jabdiel Torres departed Santo
Domingo with four titles - boys’ team,
boys’ singles, boys’ doubles and mixed
doubles - in the under 19 age group at the
2022 Caribbean Youth Championships.
Thu 28th April: Heming Hu
Heming Hu announced his retirement. He
represented Australia at the Rio 2016 and
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as well as at
the Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018
Commonwealth Games.
Sun 5th June: Singapore
A record 350 primary school children
attended the six day Crocodile Challenge
Cup.
Sunday 15th May: Thailand
Jinnipa Sawettabut beat Wong Xin Ru to
secure victory for Thailand in the final of
the women’s team event at the South-East
Asia Games. It is first time since 1997, the
title had not been won by Singapore.
Saturday 28th May: Hana Goda
At 14 years and 167 days old, Egypt’s Hana
Goda became the youngest ever winner of
a Continental Cup tournament when she
won the women’s singles title at the ITTF-
Africa Cup in Lagos. Earlier in April, she had
won both the under 19 and under 15 girls’
singles titles at the WTT Youth Contender
Otocec tournament. On Wednesday 14th
May, she had been appointed by the United
Nations an ambassador for Shabab Balad,
the Egyptian version of the global initiative,
Generation Unlimited.
Tue 3rd May: Lee Seungeun
At the WTT Youth Contender Linz
tournament Korea Republic’s Lee Seungeun
won both the under 17 and under 15 girls’
singles titles.
Sun 22nd May: Oh Junsung
Korea Republic’s Oh Junsung won both
the under 17 and under 19 boys’ singles
titles at the WTT Contender Wladyslawowo
tournament; earlier in Linz he had also
been crowned under 17 boys’ singles
champion.
72-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 73

HITTING THE HEADLINES
Sat 14th May: Maryna Lytovchenko
At the Slovenia Para Open, Ukraine’s
Maryna Lytovchenko became the first
player to win three titles at such a
tournament since doubles events were
introduced at the start of the year. Later
in June she repeated the feat in the Czech
Republic.
Wed 8th Jun: Jenson van Emburgh
In Cancun at the Copa Cristina Hoffmann,
Jenson van Emburgh of the United States
won three titles to emulate the earlier
achievement of Maryna Lytovchenko.
Colombia’s Alvaro Puerto and Korea
Republic’s Kang Seohyeon followed suit.
Sun 26th Jun: Cédric Nuytinck
Staged in Knokke-Heist, Cédric Nuytinck
clinched the men’s singles title at the
Belgian National Championships for the
fifth consecutive time. Nathalie Marchetti
emerged the women’s singles and women’s
doubles winner; Louis Laffineur and Adrien
Rassenfosse secured men’s doubles gold,
the mixed finished in the hands of Alessi
Massart and Cécile Ozer.
Sun 22nd May: Miwa Harimoto
At the WTT Youth Contender Berlin
tournament, Japan’s Miwa Harimoto won
the under 19 and under 17 girls’ singles
titles. She repeated the feat the following
week in Plaja d’Aro.
Sat 25th Jun: Antoine Zhao
At the Czech Para Open, Frenchman
Antoine Zhao joined the three club, he
completed the clean sweep.
Sun 29th May: Arantxa Cossio
At the 2022 Central American Youth
Championships in San José, Costa Rica,
Arantxa Cossio collected a full house of
titles. In the under 19 age group, she
struck gold in girls’ team, girls’ singles,
girls’ doubles and mixed doubles events.
Sun 26th Jun: Qiu Dang
On Tuesday 21st June, on week 25 of the
2022 Table Tennis World Rankings, Qiu
Dang gained a career high of no.10 on the
men’s list; five days later he won the men’s
singles and men’s doubles titles at the 90th
German Championships in Saarbrücken.
Sabine Winter won the counterpart
women’s singles event, Annett Kaufmann
and Franziska Schreiner secured women’s
doubles gold, the mixed was claimed by
Cedric Meissner and Wan Yuan.
Tue 28th June: Clarence Chew
Clarence Chew completed proceedings
at the South East Asia Championships
in Bangkok unbeaten; he won the men’s
singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles
titles.
74 -ITTF Magazine

WE REMEMBER
Ina Wiekert-Jager (1947-2022)
Ina Wiekert-Jager passed away on Thursday 31st March. She died
less than three weeks short of her 75th birthday. A member of the
Netherlands Table Tennis Association (NTTB), she became a National
Umpire in 1978, an International Umpire in 1988 before in 2004 gaining
Blue Badge status. She was on duty at over 80 international events,
the pinnacle being the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Acknowledged
by the NTTB, in 2008, she received the Insigna accolade, in 2018
she was named as a Member of Merit. Most notably in 2004, she was
appointed to the Knights of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Peter Bakker (1950-2022)
Peter Bakker died on Tuesday 12th
April; he was 71 years old. Born in
Rotterdam, he spent his working life
principally in the area of Information
Technology being employed as a civil
servant in the national government’s
financial department. He retired in
April 2015 and focused his attentions
on writing and music, being a tour
guide for the celebrated Feyenoord
Football Club. In the table tennis
world, his career started as a player;
later he became a Council member
of the Netherlands Table Tennis
Association. Most notably in 2019
he was elected President of the
International Veterans Table Tennis
Society.
Vishwa Deenadayalan (2003–2022)
Vishwa Deenadayalan, a talented young Indian player, died as
a result of a road accident on Sunday 17th April. Only 18 years
old, he was en route from Guwahati to Shillong to compete
in the Senior National and Inter-State Championships. At
Shangbangla, a lorry travelling in the facing direction, hit the
car which plunged into a gorge. The driver died instantly,
Deenadayalan was pronounced dead by doctors on arrival
at Nongpoh Civil Hospital; the three further players in the
car survived. Earlier this year in January, he won the under
19 boys’ singles title at the Dehra Dun National Ranking
Tournament.
76-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 77

RESULTS
Podium Places
April - June 2022
WTT Youth Star Contender Otocec, Slovenia
Tue 29th Mar – Sat 2nd Apr
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2543
U19BS W: Alexis Lebrun (FRA) RU: Maciej Kubik (POL)
U19GS W: Hana Goda (EGY) RU: Charlotte Lutz (FRA)
U19BD W: Alexis Lebrun/Felix Lebrun (FRA) RU: Ivor Ban/Payas
Jain (CRO/IND)
U19GD W: Hana Arapovic/Linda Zaderova (CRO/CZE) RU: Ines
Matos/Matilde Pinto (POR)
U15BS W: Nathan Lam (FRA) RU: Balazs Lei (HUN)
U15GS W: Hana Goda (EGY) RU: Bianca Mei Rosu (ROU)
U15BD W: Balazs Lei/Adam Cseri (HUN) RU: Manuel Prohanska/
Noah Hersel (GER)
U15GD W: Koharu Itagaki/Josephina Neuman (GER) RU: Nina
Darovcova/Lilou Massart (SVK/BEL)
ITTF Egypt Para Open 2022, Ismailia
Wed 30th Mar – Sat 2nd Apr
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5346/results.html#/entries
MS1-2 W: Rafal Czuper (POL) RU: Fabien Lamirault (FRA)
MS3 W: Florian Merrien (FRA) RU: Petr Svatos (CZE)
MS4 W: Boris Travnicek (CZE) RU: Mohamed Eid Saleh (EGY)
MS5 W: Jack Hunter-Spivey (GBR) RU: Bart Brands (GER)
MS6 W: Esteban Herrault (FRA) RU: Georgios Mouchthis (GRE)
MS7 W: Sayed Youssef (EGY) RU: Stéphane Messi (FRA)
MS8 W: Clément Berthier (FRA) RU: Andras Csonka (HUN)
MS9 W: Laurens Devos (BEL) RU: Joshua Stacey (GBR)
MS10 W: Abdel Abdelwahab (EGY) RU: Alexandros Diakoumakos
(GRE)
MS11 W: Peter Palos (HUN) RU: Fahad Alotaibi (KUW)
WS3 W: Sonalben Patel (IND) RU: Hadeel Al Waeli (EGY)
WS4-5 W: Bhavina Patel (IND) RU: Rusul Al Waeli (EGY)
WS6 W: Najlah Al Dayyeni (EGY) RU: Camelia Ciripan (ROU)
WS7-8 W: Lucie Hautière (FRA) RU: Samah Abdelaziz (EGY)
WS9-10 W: Alexa Svitacs (HUN) RU: Ioana-Monica Tepelea (ROU)
MD4 W: Yorick Adjal/Alan Papirer (FRA) RU: Aly Nasr/Eslam Raslan
(EGY)
MD8 W: Emeric Martin/Florian Merrien (FRA) RU: Mohamed Eid
Salah/Raafat Toghiian (EGY)
MD14 W: Clément Berthier/Esteban Herrault (FRA) RU: Kevin
Dourbecker/Stéphane Messi (FRA)
MD18 W: Ben Despineux/Laurens Devos (BEL) RU: Andras Csonka/
Dezso Bereczki (HUN)
WD5-10 W: Rusul Al Waeli/Hadell Al Waeli (EGY) RU: Sonalben
Patel/Malak Ali (IND/KUW)
WD14 W: Camelia Ciripan/Gabriela Constantin (ROU) RU: Samah
Abdelaziz/Hanna Hammad (EGY)
WD20 W: Ioana Monica Tepelea/Alexa Svitacs (ROU/HUN) RU:
Reda Abdelaal/Hagar El-Sayed (EGY)
XD4-7 W: Ramesh Chaudhary/Sonalben Patel (IND) RU: Mohamed
Eid Saleh/Fatma Hussein (EGY)
XD10 W: Jashavantbhai Chaudhary/Bhavina Patel (IND) RU:
Hassan Tolba/Faiza Mahmoud (EGY)
XD14 W: Clément Berthier/Gabriela Constantin (FRA/ROU) RU:
Saeed Al-Adilee/Zainab Farttoosi (EGY)
XD17 W: Lucas Didier/Lucie Hautière (FRA) RU: Joshua Stacey/
Grace Williams (GBR)
South American Veteran Championships, Salta, Argentina
Tue 12th – Sun 17th Apr
https://www.yumpu.com/es/document/read/66909782/south-american-masters-2022
MT35-39 W: Chile ‘A’ (Guillermo Campusano, Fernando Concha, Camilo
Dittus, Sebastian Sanhueza) RU: Chile ‘B’ (Felipe Cerda, Gerardo Diaz, Carlos
Escalante, Luis Vega)
78-ITTF Magazine
MT40-44 W: Argentina ‘A’ (Matias Alto, Gustavo Kierzkowski, Nicolas Morsino,
Damian Rajmil) RU: Argentina ‘B’ (Octavio Casal, Ariel Sanchez)
MT45-49 W: Chile ‘B’ (Juan Aceiton, Alejandro Moncada, Christian Soto) RU:
Chile ‘A’ (Rodrigo Concha, Cristian Flores, Ignacio Marquez)
MT50-54 W: Chile ‘A’ (Mauricio Acevedo, Arturo Lopez, Juan Papic, Luis
Villavicencio) RU: Brazil ‘A’ (Neder Alves das Neves, Charley Suzuki)
MT55-59 W: Argentina ‘A’ (Aldo Mamani, Jorge Roldan) RU: Chile (Erasmo
Guiñez, Patricio Pinto)
MT60-64 W: Argentina ‘A’ (Fernando Ovejero, Ariel Waitzel) RU: Uruguay
(Alejandro Ampuero, Pablo Lago, Daniel Schnaiderman)
MT65-69 W: Chile ‘A’ (Guillermo Leon, Danor Quinteros) RU: Colombia (Jairo
Gonzalez, Alvaro Medina)
MT70+ W: Peru (Armando Galeno, Amador Nuñez, José Viacava) RU: Chile
(Gustavo Becerra, Carlos Erebitis)
WT35-44 W: Chile ‘A’ (Yasna Santibañez, Monica Schiaffino) RU: Chile ‘B’
(Ximena Bustamente, Carla Castillo, Paola Goncalvez)
WT45-59 W: Chile ‘B’ (Jacqueline Diaz, Ximena Goncalvez) RU: Argentina
(Myriam Muro, Sofia Rocha Patricia Sanchez)
WT60+ W: Argentina ‘B’ (Maria Gonzalez, Kim Haeja, Anabel Vitullo) RU: Chile
(Julia Bobadilla, Rossana Yazigi, Sara Villagran)
MS35-39 W: Cristian Fuenzalida (CHI) RU: Luis Vega (CHI)
MS40-44 W: Matias Alto (ARG) RU: Gabriel Sanchez (CHI)
MS45-49 W: Pablo Tabachnik (ARG) RU: Alejandro Moncada (CHI)
MS50-54 W: Danir Balbas (VEN) RU: Juan Papic (CHI)
MS55-59 W: Oscar Gonzalez (ARG) RU: Daniel Pichot (ARG)
MS60-64 W: Charley Suzuki (BRA) RU: Francisco Mendoza (CHI)
MS65-69 W: Guillermo Leon (CHI) RU: Danor Quinteros (CHI)
MS70-74 W: Gustavo Becerra (CHI) RU: Jose Viacava (PER)
MS75+ W: Carlos Larsson (ARG) RU: Segundo Diaz (ARG)
WS35-39 W: Jorgelina Doino (ARG) RU: Yasna Satibañez (CHI)
WS40-49 W: Monica Schiaffino (CHI) RU: Adriana Hormeche (ARG)
WS50-54 W: Paola Goncalvez (CHI) RU: Ximena Bustamente (CHI)
WS55-59 W: Jacqueline Diaz (CHI) RU: Myriam Muro (ARG)
WS60-64 W: Kim Haeja (KOR) RU: Sara Villagran (CHI)
WS65-69 W: Maria Vargas (COL) RU: Maria Gonzalez (ARG)
WS70+ W: Elisa Lascano (ARG) RU: Evelina Weber (ARG)
MD35-39 W: Sebastian Sanhueza/Fernando Concha (CHI) RU: Gerardo
Diaz/Luis Vega (CHI)
MD40-44 W: Pablo Tabachnik/Oscar Gonzalez (ARG) RU: Octavio
Casal/Ariel Sanchez (ARG)
MD45-49 W: Javier Aguaysol/Juan Carlos Guzman (ARG) RU: Leandro
Bronstein/Ramon Beloqui (ARG)
MD50-54 W: Charley Suzuki/Neder Alvas das Neves (BRA) RU: Juan
Papic/Arturo Lopez (CHI)
MD55-59 W: Erasmo Guiñez/Alejandro Ampuero (CHI) RU: Juan Carlos
Greco/Alejandro Vigolo (ARG)
MD60-64 W: Ariel Waitzel/Fernando Ovejero (ARG) RU: Pablo Lago/
Daniel Schnaiderman (URU)
MD65-69 W: Guillermo Leon/Danor Quinteros (CHI) RU: Alvaro Medina/
Jairo Gonzalez (COL)
MD70+ W: Amador Nuñez/José Viacava (PER) RU: Carlos Erebitis/
Gustavo Becerra (CHI)
WD35-44 W: Yasna Santibañez/Monica Schiaffino (CHI) RU: Vanessa
Piuma/Jorgelina Doino (ARG)
WD45-59 W: Jacqueline Diaz/Julia Bobadilla (CHI) RU: Ximena
Goncalvez/Paola Goncalvez (CHI)
WD60-64 W: Sara Villagran/Rossana Yazigi (CHI) RU: Nelly Acosta/
Maria Vargas (COL)
WD65+ W: Luciana Arredondo/Norma Uncos (ARG) RU: Elisa Lascano/
Viviana Laje (ARG)
XD35-44 W: Luis Obando/Monica Schiaffino (CHI) RU: Fabian Vera/
Ximena Bustamente (CHI)
XD50-64 W: Arturo Lopez/Jacqueline Diaz (CHI) RU: Omar Oyarzo/
Claudia Erebitis (CHI)
XD65+ W: Carlos Concha/Julia Bobadilla (CHI) RU: Eduardo Cuello/
Elisa Lascano (ARG)
WTT Youth Contender Linz, Austria
Wed 27th Apr – Tue 3rd May
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2545
U19BS W: Lee Hoyun (KOR) RU: Hayate Suzuki (JPN)
U19BS W: Kim Seongjin (KOR) RU: Elena Zaharia (ROU)
U17BS W: Oh Junsung (KOR) RU: Nicholas Lum (AUS)
U17GS W: Lee Seungeun (KOR) RU: Bianca Mei Rosu (ROU)
U17BS W: Sora Matsushima (JPN) RU: Kazuki Yoshiyama (JPN)
U15GS W: Lee Seungeun (KOR) RU: Yoo Yerin (KOR)
U13BS W: Jan Skalda (CZE) RU: Enrique Rios (PUR)
U13GS W: Hansini Mathan (IND) RU: Andreea Baiasu (ROU)
U11BS W: Tien Nghia Phong (GER) RU: Ondrej Moravek (CZE)
U11GS W: Miriam Meier (AUT) RU: Iryna Yachmienova (UKR)
South American Youth Games, Rosario, Argentina
Thu 28th April – Sun 1st May
https://results.rosario2022.bornan.net/#/rosario2022/discipline/TTE/schedule
MS W: Leonardo Kenzo (BRA) RU: Henrique Noguti (BRA)
WS W: Giulia Takahashi (BRA) RU: Laura Watanabe (BRA)
XT W: Brazil (Leonardo Kenzo, Henrique Noguti, Giulia Takahashi,
Laura Watanabe) RU: Chile (Josthyn Miranda, Jaime Lama, Sofia
Vega, Ana Isaza)
Central American Championships, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Tue 3rd – Sun 8th May
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5399/results.html#/results
MS W: Marcos Madrid (MEX) RU: Dario Arce (MEX)
WS W: Yadira Silva (MEX) RU: Arantxa Cossio (MEX)
MD W: Dario Arce/Juan Jesus Gomez (MEX) RU: Hector Gatica/Heber
Moscoso (GUA)
WD W: Arantxa Cossio Aceves/Yadira Silva (MEX) RU: Lucia Cordero/
Hidalynn Zapata (GUA)
XD W: Marcos Madrid/Yadira Silva (MEX) RU: Dario Arce/Clio Barcenas
(MEX)
MT W: Mexico (Dario Arce, Pablo Castellum, Juan Jesus Gomez) RU:
Guatemala (Sergio Carrillo, Hector Gatica, Heber Moscoso)
WT W: Mexico (Clio Barcenas, Arantxa Cossio, Ixchel Reyes, Yadira
Silva) RU: Guatemala (Lucia Cordero, Jenny Cux, Mabelyn Enriquez,
Hidalynn Zapata)
ITTF SQY French Para Open 2022, Saint Quentin en Yvelines
Thu 5th – Sun 8th May
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5347/results.html#/entries
MS1 W: Kim Hyeonuk (KOR) RU: Kim Hakjin (KOR) 2,9,8
MS2 W: Thirayu Chueawong (THA) RU: Fabien Lamirault (FRA)
MS3 W: Thomas Schmidberger (GER) RU: Florian Merrien (FRA)
MS4 W: Abdullah Ozturk (TUR) RU: Nesim Turan (TUR)
MS5 W: Valentin Baus (GER) RU: Tommy Urhaug (NOR)
MS6 W: Peter Rosenmeier (DEN) RU: Rungroj Thainiyom (THA)
MS7 W: Stéphane Messi (FRA) RU: Charlermpong Punpoo (THA)
MS8 W: Thomas Bouvais (FRA) RU: Clément Berthier (FRA)
MS9 W: Ander Cepas (ESP) RU: Koyo Iwabuchi (JPN)
MS10 W: Filip Radovic (MNE) RU: Luka Bakic (MNE)
MS11 W: Lucas Creange (FRA) RU: Florian van Acker (BEL)
WS1-2 W: Catia Oliveira (BRA) RU: Aino Tapola (FIN)
WS3 W: Yoon Jiyu (KOR) RU: Dararat Asayut (THA)
WS4 W: Wassana Sringam (THA) RU: Wijittra Jaion (THA)
WS5 W: Alexandra Saint-Pierre (FRA) RU: Jung Younga (KOR)
WS6 W: Moon Sungkeum (KOR) RU: Cajsa Stadler (SWE)
WS7 W: Kubrat Korkut (THA) RU: Nora Korneliussen (NOR)
WS8 W: Aida Dahlen (NOR) RU: Sophia Kelmer (BRA)
WS9 W: Neslihan Kavas (TUR) RU: Jennyfer Parinos (BRA)
WS10 W: Nozomi Nakamura (JPN) RU: Merve Demir (TUR)
WS11 W: Lea Ferney (FRA) RU: Sayura Mio (JPN)
MD4 W: Iker Sastre/Miguel Angel Toledo (ESP) RU: Thirayu
Chueawong/Natthawut Thinathet (THA)
MD8 W: Abdullah Ozturk/Nesim Turan (TUR) RU: Park Jaehyeon/Jang
Yeongjin (KOR)
MD14 W: Rungroj Thainiyom/Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri (THA) RU:
Clément Berthier/Esteban Herrault (FRA)
MD18 W: Mateo Boheas/Thomas Bouvais (FRA) RU: Dezso Bereczki/
Andras Csonka (HUN)
MD22 W: Kim Gitae/Jeoung Kyuyoung (KOR) RU: Eduardo Cuesta/
Timothe Ivaldi (ESP/FRA)
WD5 W: Catia Oliveira/Marliane Santos (BRA) RU: Chilchitraryak
Bootwansirina/Pattaravadee Wararitdamrongul (THA)
WD10 W: Jung Younga/Lee Migyu (KOR) RU: Dararat Asuyat/Wijittra
Jaion (TUR)
WD14 W: Rebecca Julian/Sophia Kelmer (AUS/BRA) RU: Kubra Korkut/
Tiziana Oliv (TUR)
WD20 W: Marleen Reeg/Nozomi Nakamura (GER/JPN) RU: Neslihan
Kavas/Merve Demir (TUR)
WD22 W: Ebru Acer/Sumeyra Turk (TUR) RU: Anne Divet/Andrea
Divkovic (FRA/GER)
XD4 W: Kim Hyeonuk/Lee Migyu (KOR) RU: Luis Bustamente/Catia
Oliveira (CHI/BRA)
XD7 W: Yuttajak Glinbanchuen/Wassana Sringam (THA) RU: Jang
Yeongjin/Yoon Jiyu (KOR)
XD10 W: Wanchai Chaiwut/Wijittra Jaion (THA) RU: Nesim Turan/Irem
Oluk (TUR)
XD14 W: Clément Berthier/Morgen Caillaud (FRA) RU: Rungroj
Thainiyom/Kaniaya Chaiwut-Kriabklang (THA)
XD20 W: Andras Csonka/Neslihan Kavas (HUN/TUR) RU: Lorenzo
Cordua/Merve Demir (ITA/TUR)
XD22 W: Lucas Creange/Lea Ferney (FRA) RU: Koya Kato/Maki Ito
(JPN)
WTT Feeder Freemont, USA
Thu 5th – Sun 8th May
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2569
MS W: Horoto Shinozuka (JPN) RU: Tom Jarvis (ENG)
WS W: Asuka Sasao (JPN) RU: Haruna Ojio (JPN)
MD W: Shunsuke Togami/Yukiya Uda (JPN) RU: Hiroto Shinozuka/
Yuta Tanaka (JPN)
WD W: Sakura Mori/Asuka Sasao (JPN) RU: Cheng I-Ching/Li Yu-
Jhun (TPE)
XD W: Chuang Chih-Yuan/Chen Szu-Yu (TPE) RU: Dan Liu/Rachel
Sung (USA)
Eastern Africa WTTC Finals Qualification, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
Thu 5th – Sun 8th May
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/66854915/north-africa-wttc-finals-qualification
MS W: Darara Dufera (ETH) RU: Brian Chan Yook Fo (MRI)
WS W: Ruqayyah Kinoo (MRI) RU: Marta Gulti (ETH)
MT W: Mauritius (Muhammad Baboolall, Brian Chan Yook Fo, Ryan
Descann, Jason Pointoise) RU: Ethiopia (Eyob Abej, Darara Dufera,
Aden Faris, Melese Habteyes, Amanuel Hadoh)
MT W: Ethiopia (Gidey Abeha, Sentayehu Gillo, Marta Gulti,
Saba Habte, Meron Mekuria) RU: Mauritius (Sandhana Descann,
Ruqayyah Kinoo, Zaynah Sadoolah, Karen Yee Kin Sien)
Northern Africa WTTC Finals Qualification, Tipaza, Algeria
Fri 6th – Sun 8th May
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/66854915/north-africa-wttc-finals-qualification
MS W: Mohamed Shouman (EGY) RU: Shady Magdy (EGY)
WS W: Alaa Yehia (EGY) RU: Rouaa Elnaghi (EGY)
MT W: Algeria (Abderrahmane Azzala, Aissa Belkadi, Abdelbasset
Chaichi, Islam Tifoura) RU: Tunisia (Youssef Abid, Habib Ameur,
Youssef Ben Attia, Aboubaker Bourass)
WT W: Algeria (Katia Kessaci, Lynda Loghraibi, Widad Nouari) RU:
Morocco (Noha Arangay, Meryem Berrede, Sofia Regagui)
ITTF Magazine- 79

RESULTS
Caribbean Youth Championships, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Fri 6th – Wed 11th May
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5387/results.html#/results
U19BT W: Puerto Rico (Oscar Birriel, Jabdiel Torres, Derek Valentin)
RU: Dominican Republic (Yoel Mendoza, Cristopher Rodriguez, Abit Tejada)
U19GT W: Puerto Rico (Brianna Burgos, Daymar Castro, Edmarie
Leon, Alondra Rodriguez) RU: Dominican Republic (Dahyana Rojas,
Rosa Torres, Calemny Ventura)
U19BS W: Jabdiel Torres (PUR) RU: Oscar Birriel (PUR)
U19GS W: Edmarie Leon (PUR) RU: Alondra Rodriguez (PUR)
U19BD W: Oscar Birriel/Jabdiel Torres (PUR) RU: José Nieves/
Derek Valentin (PUR)
U19GD W: Brianna Burgos/Alondra Rodriguez (PUR) RU: Dahyana
Rojas/Rosa Torres (DOM)
U19XD W: Jabdiel Torres/Alondra Rodriguez (PUR) RU: Oscar
Birriel/Brianna Burgos (PUR)
U15BT W: Puerto Rico (Ryan Cuadro, Eliam Davila, Yadier Lopez)
RU: Dominican Republic (Daniel Del Rosario, Alexander Perez,
Alexander Tejada)
U15GT W: Dominican Republic (Arianna Estrella, Shary Muñoz,
Dafne Sosa) RU: Puerto Rico (Kailyn Cruz, Valentina Davila, Yahia
Rivera)
U15BS W: Yadier Lopez (PUR) RU: Eliam Davila (PUR)
U15GS W: Arianna Estrella (DOM) RU: Shary Muñoz (DOM)
U15BD W: Eliam Davila/Yadier Lopez (PUR) RU: Sebastian Cruz/
Ryan Cuadro (PUR)
U15GD W: Shary Muñoz/Dafne Sosa (DOM) RU: Kailyn Cruz/
Valentina Davila (PUR)
U15XD W: Alexander Tejada/Shary Muñoz (DOM) RU: Alexander
Perez/Dafne Sosa (DOM)
WTT Youth Contender Lima, Peru
Sat 7th – Mon 9th May (Boys) / Tue 17th – Thu 19th May (Girls)
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2566
U19BS W: Carlos Fernandez (PER) RU: Felipe Arado (BRA)
U19GS W: Diya Parag Chitale (IND) RU: Juliana Lozada (COL)
U17BS W: Diego Piguave (ECU) RU: Cesar Castillo (VEN)
U17GS W: Beatriz Kanashiro (BRA) RU: Karina Shiray (BRA)
U15BS W: Rafael Cabrera (DOM) RU: Felipe de Lara (BRA)
U15GS W: Beatriz Fiore (BRA) RU: Lana Ozeki (BRA)
U13BS W: Benjamin Archua (ARG) RU: Agustin Asmu (ARG)
U13GS W: Natzumi Aquile (PER) RU: Gabrielle Pincerato (BRA)
U11BS W: Flavio de Sousa (BRA) RU: Lucca Lobo (CRC)
U11GS W: Maria Luna (PER) RU: Alicia Zamora (PER)
South Asian Junior & Cadet Championships, Male, Maldives
Mon 9th – Wed 11th May
U19BT W: Bangladesh RU: Sri Lanka
U19GT W: India RU: Sri Lanka
U19BS W: Payas Jain (IND) RU: Malik Yashansh (IND)
U19GS W: Suhana Saini (IND) RU: Yashwini Ghorpade (IND)
U19BD W: Ankur Bhattacharjee/Deepit Patil (IND) RU: Chanul
Kulappuwawadu/Gedara Egoda (SRI)
U19GD W: Sandika Bhattacharjee/Jennifer Varghese (IND) RU:
Bimandee Swarna, Ayla Chitty (SRI)
U15BT W: India RU: Pakistan
U15GT W: India RU: Nepal
U15BS W: Pradhivadhi Abhinandh (IND) RU: Rajasekaran
Balamurugan (IND)
U15GS W: Jennifer Varghese (IND) RU: Dheema Fathimath (MDV)
U15BD W: Rajasekaran Balamurugan/Abhinandh Pradhivadhi
(IND) RU: Ahmed Muhammad/Abbas Khan (PAK)
U15GD W: Sandika Bhattacharjee/Jennifer Varghese (IND) RU:
Hoor Fawad/Haiqa Hassan (PAK)
South American Youth Championships, Lima, Peru
Tue 10th – Mon 16th May
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5396/results.html#/results
U19BT W: Brazil (Kenzo Carmo, Shim Joon, Leonardo Kenzo,
Henrique Noguti) RU: Chile (Jermias Paredes, Jean Parra, Benjamin
Suarez, Eusebio Vos)
U19GT W: Brazil (Beatriz Kanashiro, Sabrina Miyabara, Laura
Watanabe) RU: Chile (Fernanda Araneda, Macarena Reyes, Sofia
Vega)
U19BS W: Leonardo Kenzo (BRA) RU: Carlos Fernandez (PER)
U19GS W: Laura Watanabe (BRA) RU: Beatriz Kanashiro (BRA)
U19BD W: Jeremias Paredes/Eusebio Vos (CHI) RU: Nicolas
Cabrera/Lautaro Sato (ARG)
U19GD W: Beatriz Kanashiro/Sabrina Miyabara (BRA) RU: Fernanda
Araneda/Sofia Vega (CHI)
U19XD W: Carlos Fernandez/Maria Maldonado (PER) RU: Diego
Piguave/Kimberly Barros (ECU)
U15BT W: Venezuela (Francisco Lopez, Ludwing Perozo, Carlos
Rios, Jesus Tovar) RU: Peru (Carlos Blanco, Diogo Takeda, Gonzalo
Vera)
U15GT W: Brazil (Beatriz Fiore, Lana Kano, Mahayla Sarda, Karina
Shiray) RU: Ecuador (Angelica Arellano, Maybelline Menendez,
Nohelia Ortiz, Ane Rubio)
U15BS W: Carlos Rios (VEN) RU: Felipe de Lara (BRA)
U15GS W: Beatriz Fiore (BRA) RU: Mahayla Sarda (BRA)
U15BD W: Juan Gonzalez/Boris Villavicencio (ECU) RU: David Fujii/
Vicenzo Sakashima (BRA)
U15GD W: Beatriz Fiore/Mahayla Sarda (BRA) RU: Lana Ozeki/
Karina Shiray (BRA)
U15XD W: David Fujii/Lana Ozeki (BRA) RU: Vicenzo Nakashima/
Karina Shiray (BRA)
ITTF Slovenia Para Open 2022, Lasko
Wed 11th – Sat 14th May
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5348/results.html#/entries
MS1 W: Kim Hyeonuk (KOR) RU: Park Sungjoo (KOR)
MS2 W: Fabien Lamirault (FRA) RU: Rafal Czuper (POL)
MS3 W: Thomas Schmidberger (GER) RU: Maciej Nalepka (POL)
MS4 W: Kim Younggun (KOR) RU: Wanchai Chaiwut (THA)
MS5 W: Valentin Baus (GER) RU: Tommy Urhaug (NOR)
MS6 W: Matteo Parenzan (ITA) RU: Rungroj Thainiyom (THA)
MS7 W: Will Bayley (GBR) RU: Chalermpong Punpoo (THA)
MS8 W: Viktor Didukh (UKR) RU: Clément Berthier (FRA)
MS9 W: Ivan Mai (UKR) RU: Lev Kats (UKR)
MS10 W: Patryk Chojnowski (POL) RU: Filip Radovic (MNE)
MS11 W: Florian van Acker (BEL) RU: Takeshi Takemori (JPN)
WS1-2 W: Seo Suyeon (KOR) RU: Giada Rossi (ITA)
WS3 W: Yoon Jiyu (KOR) RU: Andela Muzinic (CRO)
WS4 W: Wijittra Jaion (THA) RU: Joyce Oliveira (BRA)
WS5 W: Alexandra Saint-Pierre (FRA) RU: Ingela Lundback (SWE)
WS6 W: Maryna Lytovchenko (UKR) RU: Stephanie Grebe (GER)
WS7 W: Kelly van Zon (NED) RU: Kubra Korkut (TUR)
WS8 W: Juliane Wolf (GER) RU: Frederique van Hoof (NED)
WS9 W: Alexa Szvitacs (HUN) RU: Neslihan Kavas (TUR)
WS10 W: Bruna Alexandre (BRA) RU: Ioana-Monica Tepelea (ROU)
WS11 W: Natalya Kosmina (UKR) RU: Lea Ferney (FRA)
MD4 W: Martin Ludrovsky/Jan Riapos (SVK) RU: Fabien Lamirault/
Julien Michaud (FRA)
MD8 W: Wanchai Chaiwut/Yuttajak Glinbanchuen (BRA) RU: Mladen
Ciric/Mitar Palikuca (SRB)
MD14 W: Rungroj Thainiyom/Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri (THA) RU:
Paulo Salmin/Israel Stroh (BRA)
MD18 W: Lev Kats/Ivan Mai (UKR) RU: Mateo Boheas/Thomas Bouvais
(FRA)
MD22 W: Eduardo Cuesta/Timothe Ivaldi (ESP/FRA) RU: Koya Kato/
Takeshi Takemori (JPN)
WD5 W: Lee Migyu/Seo Suyeon (KOR) RU: Michela Brunelli/Giada
Rossi (ITA)
WD10 W: Sandra Mikolaschek/Alexandra Saint Pierre (GER/FRA) RU:
Nada Matic/Borislava Peric-Rankovic (SRB)
WD14 W: Zsofia Arloy/Maryna Lytovchenko (HUN/UKR) RU: Stephanie
Grebe/Juliane Wolf (GER)
WD20 W: Merve Demir/Neslihan Kavas (TUR) RU: Danielle Rauen/
Jennyfer Parinos (BRA)
WD22 W: Natalya Kosmina/Denisa Macurova (UKR/CZE) RU: Krystyna
Lysiak/Dorota Nowacka (POL)
XD4 W: Thirayu Chueawong/Chilchitraryak Bootwansirina (THA) RU:
Park Jincheol/Seo Suyeon (KOR)
XD7 W: Kim Junggil/Yoon Jiyu (KOR) RU: Thomas Brüchle/Sandra
Mikolaschek (GER)
XD10 W: Wanchai Chaiwut/Wijittra Jaion (THA) RU: Nicolas Savant-
Aira/Andela Muzinic (FRA/CRO)
XD14 W: Viktor Didukh/Maryna Lytovchenko (UKR) RU: Jean-Paul
Montanus/Kelly van Zon (NED)
XD17 W: Deszo Bereczki/Zsofia Arloy (HUN) RU: Bart van der Zanden/
Frederique van Hoof (NED)
XD20 W: Lorenzo Cordua/Merve Demir (ITA/TUR) RU: Laurens Devos/
Alexa Svitacs (BEL/HUN)
XD22 W: Eduardo Cuesta/Ebru Acer (ESP/TUR) RU: Takeshi Takemori/
Nanako Hazeyama (JPN)
WTT Feeder Westchester, USA
Wed 11th – Sun 15th May
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2570
MS W: Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) RU: Benedikt Duda (GER)
WS W: Haruna Ojio (JPN) RU: Lily Zhang (USA)
MD W: Shunsuke Togami/Yukiya Uda (JPN) RU: Mizuki Oikawa/Jo
Yokotani (JPN)
WD W: Sakura Mori/Asuka Sasao (JPN) RU: Guo Jiangshan/Amy Wang (USA)
XD W: Chuang Chih-Yuan/Chen Szu-Yu (TPE) RU: Jordi Piccolin/Jamila
Laurenti (ITA)
2021 South East Asian Games, Hai Durong, Vietnam
Fri 13th – Fri 20th May
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis_at_the_2021_Southeast_Asian_Games
MT W: Thailand (Phakpoom Sanguansin, Sarayut Tancharoen, Padasak
Tanviriyavechakul) RU: Malaysia (Javen Choong, Leong Che Feng, Wong
Qi Shen)
WT W: Thailand (Orawan Paranang, Jinnipa Sawettabut, Suthasini
Sawettabut) RU: Singapore (Wong Xin Ru, Zeng Jian, Zhou Jingyi)
MS W: Nguyen Duc Tuan (VIE) RU: Phakpoom Sanguansin (THA)
WS W: Orawan Paranang (THA) RU: Suthasini Sawettabut (THA)
MD W: Clarence Chew/Ethan Poh Shao Feng (SGP) RU: Richard
Gonzales/John Russel Misal (PHI)
WD W: Orawan Paranang/Suthasini Sawettabut (THA) RU: Zeng Jian/
Zhou Jingyi (SGP)
XD W: Pang Yew En Koen/Wong Xin Ru (SGP) RU: Clarence Chew/Zeng
Jian (SGP)
WTT Youth Contender Berlin, Germany
Mon 16th – Sun 22 May
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2547
U19BS W: Oh Junsung (KOR) RU: Sora Matsushima (JPN)
U19GS W: Miwa Harimoto (JPN) RU: Lee Daeun (KOR)
U17BS W: Sora Matsushima (JPN) RU: Kazuki Yoshiyama (JPN)
U17GS W: Miwa Harimoto (JPN) RU: Sachi Aoki (JPN)
U15BS W: Kazuki Yoshiyama (JPN) RU: Jindrich Moravek (CZE)
U15GS W: Yoo Yerin (KOR) RU: Sachi Aoki (JPN)
U13BS W: Lee Seungsoo (KOR) RU: Ryuusei Kawakami (JPN)
U13GS W: Josephina Neumann (GER) RU: Koharu Itagaki (GER)
U11BS W: Lucas Wang (GER) RU: Tien Nghia Phong (GER)
U11GS W: Amelie Jia (GER) RU: Anna Walter (GER)
WTT Youth Contender Wladyslawowo, Poland
Mon 16th – Sun 22nd May
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2546
U19BS W: Oh Junsung (KOR) RU: Lin Yen-Chun (TPE)
U19GS W: Cheng Pu-Syuan (TPE) RU: Kim Seongjin (KOR)
U17BS W: Oh Junsung (KOR) RU: Alan Kurmangaliyev (KAZ)
U17GS W: Cheng Pu-Syuan (TPE) RU: Wiktoria Wrobel (POL)
U15BS W: Alan Kurmangaliev (KAZ) RU: Antoine Noirault (FRA)
U15GS W: Park Gahyeon (KOR) RU: Choi Yeseo (KOR)
U13BS W: Lee Seungsoo (KOR) RU: Steven Moreno (PUR)
U13GS W: Asel Erkebaeva (UZB) RU: Katarzyna Rajkowska (POL)
U11BS W: Onur Guluzade (AZE) RU: Volodymyr Nevizhyn (UKR)
ITTF Al-Watani Para Championships 2022, Amman, Jordan
Thu 19th – Sat 21st May
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5349/results.html#/entries
MS1 W: Alan Papirer (FRA) RU: Gregorios Chryssikos (EGY)
MS2-3 W: Osama Abu Jame (JOR) RU: Jan Guertler (GER)
MS4 W: Muntadher Al-Sarraji (EGY) RU: Mohamed Eid Saleh (EGY)
MS5 W: Ehab Fetir (EGY) RU: Hassan Tolba (EGY)
MS6 W: Benedikt Müller (GER) RU: Eleftherios Mavris (GRE)
MS7 W: Sayed Youssef (EGY) RU: Björn Schnake (GER)
MS8-9 W: Chee Chao Ming (MAS) RU: Chin Zi Rong (MAS)
MS10 W: Mio Wagner (GER) RU: Abdulrahman Shafeeq (IRQ)
WS1 W: Jana Spegel (GER) RU: Evanthia Bournia (GRE)
WS3 W: Sonalben Patel (IND) RU: Hadeel Al-Waeli (IRQ)
WS4 W: Bhavina Patel (IND) RU: Irem Oluk (TUR)
WS6 W: Najlah Al-Dayyeni (IRQ) RU: Hanna Hammad (EGY)
WS7-9 W: Pruthvi Barve (IND) RU: Tiziana Oliv (GER)
WS10 W: Umran Ertis (TUR) RU: Marlene Reeg (GER)
MD4 W: Gregorios Chryssikos/Khaled Ramadan Ibrahim (GRE/
EGY) RU: Yaqoub Al-Qasem/Alan Papirer (KUW/FRA)
MD8 W: Mohamed Eid Saleh/Suleyman Vural (EGY/TUR) RU:
Jashvant Chaudhary/Rameshbhai Chaudhary (IND)
MD14 W: Benedikt Müller/Björn Schnake (GER) RU: Jazaa Al-
Shammari/Sayed Youssef (KSA/EGY)
MD18 W: Hasan Al-Majidi/Abdulrahman Shafeeq (IRQ) RU: Chee
Chao Ming/Chin Zi Rong (MAS)
WD5 W: Sandra Mikolaschek/Joana Spegel (GER) RU: Evanthia
Bournia/Fawzia El-Shamy (EGY/GRE)
WD10 W: Bhavina Patel/Sonalben Patel (IND) RU: Hadeel Al-Waeli/
Rusul Al-Waeli (IRQ)
WD20 W: Marlene Reeg/Tiziana Oliv (GER) RU: Bhavikaben
Kikadiya/Umran Ertis (IND/TUR)
XD7 W: Jan Guertler/Sandra Mikolaschek (GER) RU: Rameshbhai
Chaudhary/Sonalben Patel (IND)
XD10 W: Suleman Vural/Irem Oluk (TUR) RU: Jashvant Chaudhary/
Bhavina Patel (IND)
XD14 W: Sayed Youssef/Hanna Hammad (EGY) RU: Benedikt
Müller/Tiziana Oliv (GER)
XD20 W: Mio Wagner/Marlene Reeg (GER) RU: Chin Zi Rong/Gloria
Wong Sze (MAS)
Western Africa WTTC Finals Qualification, Lagos, Nigeria
Thu 19th – Sat 21st May
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/66941529/west-africa-qualification-results
MS W: Taiwo Mati (NGR) RU: Azeez Solanke (NGR)
WS W: Fatimo Bello (NGR) RU: Abosede Odusanya (NGR)
MT W: Nigeria (Rilwan Akanabi, Taiwo Mati, Amadi Omeh, Azeez
Solanke) RU: Ivory Coast (Kanate Ali, Don Oba, Oba Oba)
WT W: Nigeria (Fatimo Bello, Aminat Fashola, Abosede Odusanya,
Esther Oribamese, Ajoke Ojomu) RU: Ghana (Eva Adom-
Amankwaa, Celia Baah-Danso, Cynthia Kawabi
Africa Club Championships, Lagos, Nigeria
Mon 23rd – Wed 25th May
https://www.yumpu.com/nl/document/read/66943293/2022-african-club-championships
MT W: ENEPPI (Aly Ghallab, Antoine Hachard, Momen Hussein,
Ahmed Nadim, Islam Sonbol) RU: Remo Stars (Muiz Adegoke,
Orok Etim, Taiwo Mati, Amadi Omeh, Aziz Solanke)
WT W: NSCDC (Mojisola Ajibika, Fatimo Bello, Aminat Fashola,
Halimat Hussein, Esther Oribamise) RU: Ocean Front (Sukurat
Aiyelabegan, Abosede Odusanya, Ajoke Ojomu, Hope Udoaka)
80-ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 81

RESULTS
WTT Youth Contender Platja d’Aro, Spain
Tue 24th – Mon 30th May
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2548
U19BS W: Kao Cheng-Jui (TPE) RU: Baldwin Chan Ho Wah (HKG)
U19GS W: Miwa Harimoto (JPN) RU: Chen Chi-Shiuan (TPE)
U17BS W: Sora Matsushima (JPN) RU: Darius Movileanu (ROU)
U17GS W: Miwa Harimoto (JPN) RU: Yuna Ojio (JPN)
U16BS W: Kazuki Yoshiyama (JPN) RU: Alan Kurmangaliyev (KAZ)
U15GS W: Pang Yu-Han (TPE) RU: Mao Takamori (JPN)
U13BS W: Ryuusei Kawakami (JPN) RU: Steven Moreno (PUR)
U13GS W: Yumiko Katori (JPN) RU: Alexia Nodin (FRA)
U11BS W: Abdulrahman Al Taher (KSA) RU: Rodrigo Andrade (POR)
U11GS W: Lisa Zhao (FRA) RU: Eloisa Barreda (ESP)
Central American Youth Championships, San José, Costa Rica
Wed 25th – Sun 29th May
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5403/results.html#/results
U19BT W: Guatemala (Sergio Carrillo, Diego de la Cruz, Ricardo
Gatica) RU: Mexico (Jorge Buenrostro, Juan Jesus Gomez, Bogdan
Olivos)
U19GT W: Mexico (Arantxa Cossio, Tamara Martin, Ximena Pena,
Ixchel Reyes) RU: Guatemala (Jenny Cux, Dulce Lopez, Monica
Mejia, Stefanie Orellana)
U19BS W: Jacobo Vahnish (PAN) RU: Juan Jesus Gomez (MEX)
U19GS W: Arantxa Cossio (MEX) RU: Jenny Cux (GUA)
U19BD W: Sergio Carrillo/Diego de la Cruz (GUA) RU: Jorge
Chacon/Ricardo Gatica (GUA)
U19GD W: Arantxa Cossio/Ximena Pena (MEX) RU: Jenny Cux/
Monica Mejia (GUA)
U19XD W: Juan Jesus Gomez/Arantxa Cossio (MEX) RU: Bogdan
Olivos/Ixchel Reyes
U15BT W: Guatemala (Marcos Chevez, Ian Morales, Enrique Veliz
Archila) RU: Costa Rica (Sebastian Aviles, Alejandro Montoya,
Andres Vega)
U15GT W: Costa Rica (Maria Araya, Amanda Padilla, Sofia Perez,
Lucia Zavaleta) RU: Guatemala (Gaby Chiroy, Daniela Linares,
Andrea Moscoso, Katerine Ruiz)
U15BS W: Sebastian Aviles (CRC) RU: Alejandro Montoya (CRC)
U15GS W: Katerine Ruiz (GUA) RU: Gaby Chiroy (GUA)
U15BD W: Sebastian Aviles/Alejandro Montoya (CRC) RU:
Sebastian Aviles/Alejandro Montoya (CRC)
U15GD W: Daniela Linares/Katerine Ruiz (GUA) RU: Gaby Chiroy/
Andrea Moscoso (GUA)
U15XD W: Ian Morales/Katerine Ruiz (GUA) RU: Enrique Veliz
Archila/Daniela Linares (GUA)
2022 ITTF-Africa Cup, Lagos, Nigeria
Thu 26th – Sat 28th May
https://eventresults.ittf.com/eventInfo?selectedTab=Overview&eventId=2576
MS W: Omar Assar (EGY) RU: Quadri Aruna (NGR)
WS W: Hana Goda (EGY) RU: Fatimo Bello (NGR)
Central Asia Junior Championships, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Thu 2nd – Fri 3rd Jun
U19BT W: Iran (Mobin Alipourghalehjough, Amirmahdi Kehsavarzi,
Mohammad Mousavitaher, Navid Shams) RU: Kazakhstan
(Iskender Kharki, Sagantai Kurmambayev, Alan Kurmangaliyev,
Sanzhar Zhubanov)
U19GT W: Kazakhstan (Anel Bakhyt, Sarvinoz Mirkadirova, Angelna
Romanovskaya, Alissa Tsvigun) RU: Uzbekistan (Asel Erkebaeva,
Norjon Giyazova, Markhabo Magdieva, Mekhrinisio Norkulova)
U19BS W: Mohammad Mousavitaher (IRI) RU: Navid Shams (IRI)
U19GS W: Elina Rahimi (IRI) RU: Sarvinoz Mirkadirova (KAZ)
ITTF Montenegro Para Championships 2022, Podgorica
Thu 2nd – Sat 4th Jun
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5350/results.html#/results
MS1 W: Rafal Czuper (POL) RU: Martin Ludrovsky (SVK)
MS3 W: Thomas Brüchle (GER) RU: Mladen Ciric (SRB)
MS4 W: Rafal Lis (POL) RU: Andrej Meszaros (SVK)
MS5 W: Tommy Urhaug (NOR) RU: Mitar Palikuca (SRB)
MS6 W: Alvaro Valera (ESP) RU: Bobi Simion (ROU)
MS7 W: Jordi Morales (ESP) RU: Michal Deigsler (POL)
MS8 W: Marc Ledoux (BEL) RU: Borna Zohil (CRO)
MS9 W: Aviv Gordon (ISR) RU: Marcin Zielinski (POL)
MS10 W: Luka Bakic (MNE) RU: Filip Radovic (MNE)
WS1-2 W: Ana Prvulovic (SRB) RU: Evanthia Bournia (GRE)
WS3 W: Carlotta Ragazzini (ITA) RU: Andela Muzinic (CRO)
WS4-5 W: Borislava Peric-Rankovic (SRB) RU: Sandra Mikolaschek
(GER)
WS6 W: Stephanie Grebe (GER) RU: Barbara Jablonka (POL)
WS 7-9 Aida Dahlen (POL) RU: Juliane Wolf (GER)
MD4 W: Rafal Czuper/Tomasz Jakimczuk (POL) RU: Martin
Ludrovsky/Jan Riapos (SVK)
MD8 W: Rafal Lis/Krszysztof Zylka (POL) RU: Mladen Ciric/Mitar
Palikuca (SRB)
MD14 W: Thomas Rau/Bobi Simion (GER/ROU) RU: Daniel Horhut/
Zbynek Lambert (CZE)
MD18 W: Krisztian Gardos/Christian Scheiber (AUT) RU: Marc
Ledoux/Aleksej Radukic (BEL/SRB)
WD10 W: Borislava Peric-Rankovic/Nada Matic (SRB) RU: Sandra
Mikolaschek/Andela Muzinic (GER/CRO)
WD 20 W: Aida Dahlen/Nora Korneliussen (NOR) RU: Stephanie
Grebe/Juliane Wolf (GER)
XD10 W: Tomislav Spalj/Andela Muzinic (CRO) RU: Thomas
Brüchle/Sandra Mikolaschek (GER)
XD14 W: Thomas Rau/Juliane Wolf (GER) RU: Piotr Manturz/
Magdalena Sutkowska Pawlasek (POL)
XD20 W: Pavao Jozic/Mirjana Lucic (CRO) RU: Pablo Jacobsen/Aida
Dahlen (NOR)
WTT Youth Contender Salta, Argentina
Fri 3rd – Sun 5th Jun (Boys), Mon 13th – Wed 15th Jun (Girls)
https://worldtabletennis.com/results?selectedTab=DRAWS&eventId=2567
U19BS W: Angel Naranjo (ARG) RU: Cesar Castillo (VEN)
U19GS W: Sofia Vega (CHI) RU: Manuela Pereyra (ARG)
U17BS W: Cesar Castillo (VEN) RU: Hamilton Hato (BRA)
U17GS W: Noella Colque (PER) RU: Candela Sanchi (ITA)
U15BS W: Carlos Rios (VEN) RU: Vitor Seii (BRA)
U15GS W: Nathacha Mata (COL) RU: Ana Gomez (COL)
U13BS W: Felipe Okano (BRA) RU: Jonathan Vasquez (VEN)
U13GS W: Dakota Ferrer (COL) RU: Paola Zerpa (COL)
U11BS W: Flavio de Sousa (BRA) RU: Boris Villavicencio (ECU)
U11GS W: Maria Abril (ECU) RU: Valentina Nabhan (BRA)
ITTF Copa Cristina Hoffmann Para Championships 2022,
Cancun, Mexico
Mon 6th – Wed 8th Jun
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5351/results.html#/entries
MS2-3 W: Jenson van Emburgh (USA) RU: Luis Valencia (COL)
MS4 W: Jesusn Sanchez (MEX) RU: Francisco Gonzalez (MEX)
MS5 W: Ahad Sarand (USA) RU: Simon Heaps (GBR)
MS6 W: Rungroj Thainiyom (THA) RU: Samuel Altshuler (USA)
MS7 W: Jean-Paul Montanus (NED) RU: Jochen Wollmert (GER)
MS8 W: Phisit Wongphonphathanasiri (THA) RU: Steven Roman
(CRC)
MS9 W: Tahl Leibovitz (USA) RU: Julian Chinchilla (COL)
MS10 W: Alvaro Puerto (COL) RU: Melvin Muñoz (ESA)
MS11 W: Denisos Martinez (VEN) RU: Master Techo (THA)
WS2-3 W: Manuela Guapi (COL) RU: Pamela Fontaine (USA)
WS4-5 W: Tamara Leonelli (CHI) RU: Valerie Rolph (USA)
WS7-8 W: Kelly van Zon (NED) RU: Florencia Perez (CHI)
WS9-10 W: Jessica Alzate (COL) RU: Brisia Hernandez (MEX)
WS11 W: Kang Seohyeon (KOR) RU: Sin Nahea (KOR)
MD8 W: Jenson van Emburgh/Ahad Sarand (USA) RU: Francisco
Gonzalez/Victor Reyes (MEX)
MD14 W: Rungroj Thainiyom/Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri (THA)
RU: Jean-Paul Montanus/Jochen Wollmert (NED/GER)
MD18 W: Alvaro Puerto/José Vargas (COL) RU: Tahl Leibovitz/
Marco Makkar (USA)
MD22 W: Elias Murillo/Josué Vazquez (MEX) RU: Jesus Perez/
Hector Hernandez (MEX)
WD10 W: Lucie Bouron/Tamara Leonelli (GBR/NZL) RU: Pamela
Fontaine/Tamara Profitt (USA)
WD20 W: Florencia Perez/Joseline Yevenes (CHI) RU: Aneth Araya/
Claudia Perez (CRC/MEX)
WD22 W: Kang Seohyeon/Sin Nahea (KOR) RU: Wanna Sayeyang/
Pronwimol Wangprachum (THA)
XD7 W: Jenson van Emburgh/Pamela Fontaine (USA) RU: Ahad
Sarand/Tara Profitt (USA)
XD10 W: Simon Heaps/Lucie Bouron (GBR) RU: Gerardus van
Grunsven/Tamara Leonelli (NED/CHI)
XD14 W: Jean-Paul Montanus/Kelly van Zon (NED) RU: Angel
Castro/Claudia Perez (MEX)
XD20 W: Alvaro Puerto/Jessica Alzate (COL) RU: David Letelier/
Florencia Perez (CHI)
XD22 W: Narongsak Paengjai/Kang Seohyeon (THA/KOR) RU:
Josué Vazquez/Karla Ruiz (MEX)
WTT Youth Contender Havirov, Czech Republic
Mon 6th – Sun 12th Jun
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2549
U19BS W: Zeng Beixun (CHN) RU: Wang Chen Ce (CHN)
U19GS W: Chen Yi (CHN) RU: Qin Yuxuan (CHN)
U17BS W: Darius Movileanu (ROU) RU: Andrei Istrate (ROU)
U17GS W: Zong Geman (CHN) RU: Qin Yuxuan (CHN)
U15BS W: Alan Kurmangaliyev (KAZ) RU: Kazuki Yoshiyama (JPN)
U15GS W: Jennifer Varghese (IND) RU: Bianca Mei Rosu (ROU)
U13BS W: Shunto Iwaida (JPN) RU: Mark Gergely (HUN)
U13GS W: Riana Bhoota (IND) RU: Syndrela Das (IND)
U11BS W: Oliver Olejnik (CZE) RU: Ondrej Moravek (CZE)
U11GS W: Laura Marsickova (CZE) RU: Iryna Yachmienova (UKR)
South American Under 11 & Under 13 Championships 2022,
Salta, Argentina
Tue 7th – Sun 12th Jun
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE5398/results.html#/results
U13BT W: Venezuela (Liudwing Perozo, Jonathan Vegas) RU: Brazil
‘A’ (Felipe Okano, Vinicius Rech)
U13GT W: Venezuela (Dakota Ferrer, Natacha Mata) RU: Brazil ‘A’
(Mahayla Sarda, Maria Fokubara)
U13BS W: Jonathan Vasquez (VEN) RU: Felipe Okano (BRA)
U13GS W: Mahayla Sarda (BRA) RU: Karolayn Maldonado (ECU)
U13BD W: Liudwing Perozo/Jonathan Vegas (VEN) RU: Ricardo
Bernal/Cesar Revelo (ECU)
U13GD W: Maria Fokubara/Mahayla Sarda (BRA) RU: Dakota
Ferrer/Nathacha Mata (VEN)
U13XD W: Jonathan Vegas/Dakota Ferrer (VEN) RU: Felipe Okano/
Mahayla Sarda (BRA)
U11BT W: Ecuador ‘A’ (Joaquin, Velez, Boris Villavicencio) RU:
Brazil ‘A’ (Flavio de Sousa, Igor Higa)
U11GT W: Ecuador ‘A’ (Maria Abril, Emily Macay) RU: Brazil
(Tainara Heidrich, Valentina Nabhan)
U11BS W: Flavio de Sousa (BRA) RU: Luciano Medrano (PER)
U11GS W: Maria Abril (ECU) RU: Juliana Velasquez (COL)
U11BD W: Alejandro Cordero/Josué Perez (ECU) RU: Joaquin
Velez/Boris Villavicencio (ECU)
U11GD W: Maria Abril/Emily Macay (ECU) RU: Maria Luna/Alicia
Zamora (PER)
U11XD W: Flavio de Sousa/Tainara Heidrich (BRA) RU: Boris
Villavicencio/Emily Macay (ECU)
WTT Contender Zagreb, Croatia
Mon 13th – Sun 19th Jun
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2539
MS W: Lin Yun-Ju (TPE) RU: Xiang Peng (CHN)
WS W: Mima Ito (JPN) RU: Miu Hirano (JPN)
MD W: Cho Daeseong/Jang Woojin (KOR) RU: Shunsuke Togami/
Yukiya Uda (JPN)
WD W: Hina Hayata/Mima Ito (JPN) RU: Shan Xiaona/Sabine
Winter (GER)
XD W: Tomokazu Harimoto/Hina Hayata (JPN) RU: Wong Chun
Ting/Doo Hoi Kem (HKG)
WTT Contender Lima, Peru
Tue 14th – Sun 19th Jun
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2574
MS W: Qiu Dang (GER) RU: Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER)
WS W: Nina Mittelham (GER) RU: Miyu Nagasaki (JPN)
MD W: Mattias Falck/Anton Källberg (SWE) RU: Gaston Alto/
Horacio Cifuentes (ARG)
WD W: Sakura Mori/Asuka Sako (JPN) RU: Cheng Hsien-Tzu/
Huang Yu-Wen (TPE)
XD W: Qui Dang/Nina Mittelham (GER) RU: Eric Glod/Sarah de
Nutte (LUX)
Europe Under 13 Challenge, Podgorica, Montenegro
Thu 16th – Sun 19th June
https://www.ettu.org/en/events/europe-under-13-challenge/draws---results/
U13XT W: Czech Republic (Jakub Kabelka, Jan Skalda, Hanka
Kodetova, Tereza Kovarickova) RU: Poland (Samuel Michina, Aleks
Pakula, Katarzyna Rajkowska, Ana Ulatowska)
U13BS W: Benjamin Girlinger (AUT) RU: Samuel Michina (POL)
U13GS W: Elisa Nguyen (GER) RU: Julia Leal (POR)
South East Asia Junior Championships, Bangkok, Thailand
Tue 17th – Wed 22nd Jun
https://www.seatta.org/seajttc2022
JBT W: Thailand RU: Singapore
JGT W: Thailand RU: Singapore
JBS W: Sitisak Nuchchart (THA) RU: Napat Thanmathikom (THA)
JGS W: Tan Zhao Yun (SGP) RU: Wanwisa Aueawiriyayothin (THA)
JBD W: Sitisak Nuchchart/Napat Thanmathikom (THA) RU: Tan Yi
Heng/Wong Qi Shen (MAS)
JGD W: Wanwisa Aueawiriyayo/Phantita Pinyopisan (THA) RU:
Thananathan Choosattaya/Wikararn Chantana (THA)
JXD W: Napat Thanmathikom/ Wanwisa Aueawiriyayothin (THA)
RU: Sitisak Nuchchart/Wirakarn Tayapitak (THA)
CBT W: Singapore RU: Malaysia
CGT W: Singapore RU: Thailand
CBS W: Lai Yong Han (MAS) RU: Ellsworth Le (SGP)
CGS W: Phatsaraphon Wonglakhon (THA) RU: Loy Ming Ying (SGP)
CBD W: Nicholas Tan/Yang Ze Yi (SGP) RU: Ellsworth Le/Loy Xing
Yao (SGP)
CGD W: Pacharaphorn Chanvanitborikan/Chisa Cachamit (THA)
RU: Josyasa Cabrido/J-Ann Sanchez (PHI)
WTT Feeder Slovenia, Otocec, Slovenia
Mon 20th – Sun 26th Jun
https://worldtabletennis.com/eventInfo?eventId=2540
MS W: Jang Woojin (KOR) RU: Xiang Peng (CHN)
WS W: Miu Hirano (JPN) RU: Haruna Ojio (JPN)
MD W: Cho Daeseong/Jang Woojin (KOR) RU: Lin Shidong/Xiang
Peng (CHN)
WD W: Doo Hoi Kem/Zhu Chengzhu (HKG) RU: Ayhika Mukherjee/
Prapti Sen (IND)
XD W: Lin Shidong/Kuai Man (CHN) RU: Cho Daeseong/Kim
Nayeong (KOR)
82-ITTF Magazine

RESULTS
World Youth Festival, Györ, Hungary
Tue 21st – Sun 26th Jun
https://worldfestival2022.ponger.hu/event
U11BT W: Romania (Mark Bardas, Akos Paizs, David Toro) RU:
Hungary (Adam Tokai, Benjamin Vamosi, Peter Zubor)
U11BS W: Volodymyr Nevishzin (UKR) RU: Peter Zubor (HUN)
U11GS W: Lizett Fazekas (HUN) RU: Szofia Fegyver (HUN)
U13BS W: Amr Yahia (TUN) RU: Samuel Kuhl (GER)
U13GS W: Arjun Kamalova (UZB) RU: Asel Erkbaeva (UZB)
U15BT W: Tunisia (Youssef Aidli, Wassim Essid, Mohamed Khaloufi,)
RU: Hungary (Zsombor Kasa, Balazs Poor, Zeteny Lindner)
U15GT W: Hungary (Sophie Barcsai, Nora Dohoczki, Kendra
Molnar, Nora Polonyi) RU: Ecuador (Angelica Arellano, Maybelline
Menendez, Camila Rubio)
U15BS W: Wassim Essid (TUN) RU: Georgiosz Kizakisz (HUN)
U15GS W: Asel Erkebaeva (UZB) RU: Arujan Kamalova (UZB)
U15BD W: Zsombor Kasa/Akos Kokai (HUN) RU: Lukas Gjörling/
Olle Ståhl (SWE)
U15GD W: Kendra Molnar/Nora Polonyi (HUN) RU: Asel Erkebaeva/
Arujan Kamalova (UZB)
U17BS W: Kowa Nakamura (JPN) RU: Keishi Hagihara (JPN)
U17GS W: Veronika Matiunina (UKR) RU: Anna Volentics (HUN)
U19BT W: Japan (Keishi Hagihara, Kowa Nakamura, Hayate Suzuki,
Ryoichi Yoshiyama) RU: Sweden (Isak Edwardsson, Elias Sjögren,
Olle Ståhl)
U19GT W: Ukraine (Ana Khachaturova, Veronika Matiunina, Olha
Ponko) RU: Hungary (Dorina Hudak, Anna Khachaturova, Anna
Volentics)
U19BS W: Kowa Nakamura (JPN) RU: Ryoichi Yoshiyama (JPN)
U19GS W: Veronika Matiunina (UKR) RU: Agnes Balogh (HUN)
U19BD W: Keishi Hagihara/Hayate Suzuki (JPN) RU: Akos Szabo/
Balazs Voros (HUN)
U19GD W: Veronika Matiunina/Iolanta Yevtodi (UKR) RU: Dorka
Czegledi/Linda Kemecsei (HUN)
ITTF Czech Para Open 2022, Ostrava
Thu 23rd – Sat 25th Jun
https://www.ittf.com/tournament/5352/ITTF-Czech-Para-Open-2022/
MD22 W: Timothe Ivaldi/Antoine Zhao (FRA) RU: Marek Chybinski/
Damian Fira (POL)
WD5 W: Carla Ragazzini/Giada Rossi (ITA) RU: Maria Boers/Kim
Hanna (NED/KOR)
WD10 W: Sue Bailey/Alexandra Saint Pierre (GBR/FRA) RU: Helena
Dretar Karic/Jung Younga (CRO/KOR)
WD14 W: Sophia Kelmer/Felicity Pickard (BRA/GBR) RU: Morgen
Caillaud/Lucie Hautière (FRA)
WD20 W: Maryna Lytovchenko/Marharyta Saltanovska (UKR) RU:
Hana Resti/Suwarti Suwarti (INA)
WD22 W: Natalya Kosmina/Denisa Macurova (UKR/CZE) RU:
Krystyna Lysiak/Dorota Nowacka (POL)
XD4 W: Federico Crosara/Giada Rossi (ITA) RU: Vasyl Petruniv/
Jana Spegel (UKR/GER)
XD7 W: Boris Travincek/Alena Kanova (SVK) RU: François Geulians/
Sue Bailey (FRA/GBR)
XD10 W: Peter Mihalik/Jung Younga (SVK/KOR) RU: Nemamja
Curic/Biljana Ubovic (SRB)
XD14 W: Maksym Nikolenko/Maryna Lytovchenko (UKR) RU: Emil
Anderson/Cajsa Stadler (SWE)
XD17 W: Ander Cepas/Olaia Martinez (ESP) RU: Lucas Carvalho/
Sophia Kelmer (BRA)
XD20 W: David Jacobs/Hana Resti (INA) RU: Ivan Mai/Maharyta
Saltanovska (UKR)
XD22 W: Antoine Zhao/Magali Rousset (FRA) RU: Timothe Ivaldi/
Anne Divet (FRA)
South East Asian Championships, Bangkok, Thailand
Thu 23rd – Tue 28th Jun
https://www.seatta.org/seattc2022
MT W: Thailand RU: Malaysia
WT W: Thailand RU: Singapore
MS W: Clarence Chew (SGP) RU: Nguyen Ang Tu (VIE)
WS W: Suthasini Sawettabut (THA) RU: Orawan Paranang (THA)
MD W: Clarence Chew/Ethan Poh Shao Feng (SGP) RU: Pang Yew
En Koen/Izaac Quek Yong (SGP)
XD W: Clarence Chew/Zeng Jian (SGP) RU: Phakpoom Sanguansin/
Orawan Paranang (THA)
MS1 W: Federico Falco (ITA) RU: Kim Hakjin (KOR)
MS2 W: Fabien Lamirault (FRA) RU: Oleksandr Yezyk (UKR)
MS3 W: Vasyl Petruniv (UKR) RU: Sylvain Noel (FRA)
MS4 W: Filip Nachazel (CZE) RU: Peter Mihalik (SVK)
MS5 W: David Olsson (SWE) RU: Sem Roelofs (NED)
MS6 W: Peter Rosenmeier (DEN) RU: Raimondo Alecci (ITA)
MS7 W: Will Bayley (GBR) RU: Björn Schnake (GER)
MS8 W: Viktor Didukh (UKR) RU: Billy Shilton (GBR)
MS9 W: Joshua Stacey (GBR) RU: Ander Cepas (ESP)
MS10 W: Patryk Chojnowski (POL) RU: David Jacobs (INA)
MS11 W: Antoine Zhao (FRA) RU: Timothe Ivaldi (FRA)
2022 Mediterranean Games, Oran, Algeria
Sun 26th – Thu 30th Jun
https://results.oran2022.dz/#/h2h-sports-schedule/TTE/*
MT W: Slovenia (Peter Hribar, Darko Jorgic, Deni Kozul) RU:
Portugal (Diogo Chen, João Geraldo, João Selgas)
WT W: Egypt (Mariam Alhodaby, Hana Goda, Dina Meshref) RU:
Italy (Nicole Arlia, Giorgia Piccolin, Nikoleta Stefanova)
MS W: Alvaro Robles (ESP) RU: Omar Assar (EGY)
WS W: Yang Xiaoxin (MON) RU: Shao Jieni (POR)
WS1 W: Aino Tapola (FIN) RU: Jana Spegel (GER)
WS2-3 W: Carlotta Ragazzini (ITA) RU: Alena Kanova (SVK)
WS4 W: Sue Bailey (GBR) RU: Zorica Popadic (SRB)
WS5 W: Alexandra Saint Pierre (FRA) RU: Kimie Bessho (JPN)
WS6 W: Maryna Lytovchenko (UKR) RU: Cajsa Stadler (SWE)
WS7 W: Nora Korneliussen (NOR) RU: Smilla Sand (SWE)
WS8 W: Yuri Tomono (JPN) RU: Sophia Kelmer (BRA)
WS9 W: Karolina Pek (POL) RU: Mirjana Lucic (CRO)
WS10 W: Natalia Partyka (POL) RU: Anja Handen (SWE)
WS11 W: Ebru Acer (TUR) RU: Krystyna Lysiak (POL)
MD4 W: Iker Sastre/Miguel Angel Toledo (ESP) RU: Teddy Gaudry/
Fabien Lamirault (FRA)
MD8 W: Adyos Astan/Yayang Gunaya (INA) RU: Peter Mihalik/Boris
Travincek (SVK)
MD14 W: Paul Karabardak/Billy Shilton (GBR) RU: Henrik Brammer/
Peter Rosenmeier (DEN)
MD18 W: Lev Kats/Ivan Mai (UKR) RU: Komet Akbar/Banyu Mulyo
(INA)
84-ITTF Magazine
ITTF Magazine- 85

86 -ITTF Magazine