Ulf Thorsell, the prodigy (1956 – 2021)

Ulf Thorsell, a player who set the standard for others to follow (Photo: courtesy of Swedish TTA) Skills developed at the Spårvägen club, Ulf Thorsell died suddenly at his home in Albufeira Portugal on Tuesday 8th June. Born on Sunday 18th March 1956, he was 65 years old. Ulf Thorsell was the golden boy, the prodigy. At the 1973 European Youth Championships staged in Athens, he fell just one step short of a full house. Alongside Thomas Berg, Christer Hafn and Per Sandström, junior boys’ team gold was secured, later he partnered Christer Hafn to junior boys’ doubles success, prior winning the boys’ singles event. Significantly in the final he beat England’s Desmond Douglas, a player against whom he was overcome on more than

Anton Hamran elected President of Slovak Table Tennis Association

Anton Hamran at the conference on Friday 18th June (Photo: Slovak TTA) At the helm of numerous tournaments under the umbrella of both the International Table Tennis Federation and European Table Tennis Union, on Friday 18th June, Anton Hamran was elected President of the Slovak Table Tennis Association In a secret ballot, of the 50 delegates present he gained an overwhelming 45 votes, the term of office being from 2021 to 2025. A member of the ETTU Youth Committee and holder of the ETTU Badge of Honour, he succeeds Zdenko Kriz who held the post for 38 years. Anton Hamran was formerly the Secretary-General of the Slovak Table Tennis Association; moreover, he is the man responsible for the quality printing of the Swaythling Club