(left to right) Beatrice Romanescu, Ella Zeller and Richard Scruton in Hanau (Photo: courtesy of Richard Scruton) by Ian Marshall, Editor Born in Timisoara on Saturday 25th November 1933, recently just after her 84th birthday, Ella Zeller Constantinescu greeted welcome visitors; Beatrice Romanescu, Marketing Manager of the Romanian Table Tennis Federation and Richard Scruton, Secretary-General of the European Table Tennis Union, were the distinguished guests. Lunch followed by a return to her house in the Hanau, Germany, for tea and home made cakes; photographs and newspaper articles of yesteryear proved enchanting reading. Outstanding at ball games, in addition to table tennis she excelled at handball, volleyball and basketball, when 13 years old, playing for the local town table tennis team she attracted considerable attention. She
Year: 2017
Iecava hosts Latvian Veteran Open
The mixed doubles podium (Photo: courtesy of Ina Josepsone ) by Ian Marshall, Editor Staged in the small village of Iecava on the banks of the Baltic Sea, the host nation’s Povilas Baguzis and Juris Silins, alongside their female counterparts Ina Josepsone and Daina Rocane emerged as the most success players at the recent 2017 Latvia Open Veteran Championships. A two day tournament, matters were conducted on the weekend of Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November. Juris Silins won Men’s Singles 50 to 59 years, Povilas Baguzis secured the Men’s Singles 60 to 69 years’ title; impressively, Juris Silins finished ahead of Lithuania’s Arvydas Ganusauskas and colleague Alexandr Nartov, next in line to Povilas Baguzis came the Lithuanian duo of Sergej Barkar and Bronius
Fair Play award for Ben Gould
A proud moment for Ben Gould (Photo: Rémy Gros) by Ian Marshall, Editor Upholding the best interests of sport, an act of fair play; an award is made each year by the Swaythling Club International at the ITTF World Junior Championships to a player who has exemplified those qualities and set an example to all.In the Italian resort of Riva del Garda, at the most recent edition of the now well-established tournament; on Sunday 3rd December, the award was presented to Australia’s Ben Gould. At the commencement of the tournament the referee meets with all umpires and requests them to advise of any act which in their opinion promotes the very best values of sport. Following proposals received, a selection panel comprising the ITTF
Idrottsföreningen Ifo concludes in Gothenburg
All smiles in Gothenburg (left to right) Pia Toelhoj, Anna-Carin Ahlqvist, Jette Vieg, Petra Sörling (Photo: courtesy of Hans Westling) by Ian Marshall, Editor First staged in 1991, the west coast Swedish city of Gothenburg was the recent home for what has become the biggest tournament for veteran players in northern Europe. Held in the Exercishusets Sportshall and known as the Idrottsföreningen Ifo, the tournament was staged over a three day period from Friday 3rd November to Sunday 5th November. Players as in previous year from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany, Norway and the host nation competed as well as for the first time from Estonia, Italy and Wales. Proceedings commenced in the preserved historical building that dates back to 1850 with team events in
Amber Racket tournament, growing in stature
Pavel Platonov, the men's singles winner (Photo: courtesy of Ina Jozepine) by Ina Jozepsone (Tournament Referee) Staged from Thursday to 19th to Sunday 22nd October; Kaliningrad, located in the Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea, hosted the Amber Racket tournament. First organised in 2012 the event is proving increasingly popular, not just attracting entries from the immediate area but from farther afield. An impressive 209 players from 13 countries representing over 25 cities participated in this year’s competition; in addition to men’s singles and women’s singles events, there were competitions in the under 14 years, under 17 years and over 40 years age groups. Not only has the tournament grown in number, it has grown in stature; notably in 2016 Russia’s Vasiliy Lakeev won
Mandurah hosts for biggest tournament of year
Medallist in Women's Singles 40-49 Years (left to right) Ina Jozepsone, Lan Zhai, Sarah Sandley, Joanne Shaw (Photo: courtesy of Ina Jozepsone) by Ian Marshall, Editor Organised by Table Tennis Western Australia, a highly successful 2017 Australian Veteran Championships was staged recently in Mandurah from Saturday 7th to Saturday 14th October. Located some 45 miles south of the state capital, Perth, the coastal resort attracted no less than 416 players; the highest number of competitors witnessed for any tournament on this year’s Table Tennis Australia calendar. Notably in addition players from throughout Australia taking part, competitors travelled from China, Japan, Latvia, New Zealand, the United States, Vietnam and Wales for the week-long event. Impressively, there were no less than 55 events held with the age
A memorable tournament, memories were shared
Meeting at the Liebherr 2017 Men's World Cup (left to right) Ebby Schöler, Frans Lanckman, Diane Schöler, Dominique Lohest, Marie-France Germiat and Pierre Juliens (Photo: courtesy of SCI Belgium) by Ian Marshall, Editor The Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup, which concluded in the Belgian city of Liège on Sunday 22nd October, was a tournament to remember, the defeat of China’s Ma Long, the reigning Olympic Games and World Champion; two European players in the final in the guise of Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Timo Boll, the happenings will be talked about in years to come with great reverence. Memories and there were those present at the three day tournament staged in the Belgian city of Liège, for whom it was time to remember;
Peace the message from Antalya
The organising committee, their efforts appreciated by all (Photos: Dicle Ekinci) by Dr. Savaş Ertufan, Veteran Table Tennis Association (VMTD) Organised by the local Veteran Table Tennis Players’ Association (VMTD), Kemer a resort with a Mediterranean coastline in the Turkish province of Antalya was the home for the recent 23rd Antalya International Veteran Championships. Proceeding commenced on Monday 25th September and concluded on Friday 29th September. The slogan “Table Tennis Delivers Peace” was the theme for an event that attracted no less than 340 players representing many different age groups and nationalities. They came together to compete in a pleasant and peaceful environment. At the end, some players were awarded medals, some were not but without a doubt, the real achievement of the tournament
Ever closer, the 2018 World Veteran Championships
Officials meet in Düsseldorf (left to right) Thomas Weikert, Gloria Wagener, Petra Sörling, Raul Calin, Hans Westling, Diane Schöler, Ebby Schöler, Reto Bazzi (Photo: Swaything Club International) by Ian Marshall, Editor Just over eight months to go; on Monday 3rd October to be precise it is 257 days, that is all before the first ball will be hit in anger at the 19th World Veteran Championships in the splendid surroundings of the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. Proceedings are scheduled to commence in the celebrated United States city on Monday 18th June and will conclude on Saturday 24th June. Time pressing, recently on Sunday 1st October at the German Table Tennis Centre in Düsseldorf, Thomas Weikert, ITTF President and Petra Sörling, ITTF Executive
Members of inaugural organising committee meet
Meeting in Gothenburg Kalle Lindfors (seated) with (standing left to right) Ingemar Adelin, Hans Westling and Roland Andreasson (Photo: courtesy of Hans Westling) by Ian Marshall, Editor The inaugural World Veteran Championships was staged in the Swedish city of Gothenburg in 1982; it attracted some 400 entries. Later a committee was formed which included members of the Gothenburg organising committee and in conjunction with the Swaythling Club International, it was agreed to host the event every two years. Recently, now 35 years after the landmark tournament, four members of the original event met in the Swedish city. Kalle Lindfors, Ingemar Adelin and Hans Westling, all members of the Swaythling Club International, alongside Roland Andreasson met and enjoyed a most convivial occasion; they enjoyed lunch at