A member of the Swaythling Club International, an outstanding servant of Table Tennis Ireland, Alex Thackaberry passed away on Sunday 1st January. He began a period of 35 years of service to the sport at management level in 1976. He served the Association as Treasurer for 10 years, followed by a period of 15 years as Chair. In 2001 he was elected President. He resigned in 2011 being appointed Deputy Life President. He played a major role in the organisation of the 1992 World Veteran Championships in Dublin.
Month: January 2023
Muscat, Living the Dream
Kumaravelu Varadharajan Kumaravelu, an experience to remember n Reflecting on the Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships, Singapore’s Kumaravelu Varadharajan Kumaravelu who competed in men’s singles 45 years and with Jaikumar Janakiram in men’s doubles 45 years, most certainly enjoyed the experience. Professional Table Tennis Player This was the title I dreamt to hold when I was eight years old practising in my school's beautiful table tennis hall. My family's economic situation denied me the opportunity to pursue that dream, I was kicked out of the training hall because my shoes were torn. Fate led me to academic and financial success under extreme conditions. Not even in my wildest dreams that I thought that after 35 years, I would be renewing my dream again and pursue
Six Places Available For Members at European Veteran Championships
A successful Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships concluded in Oman, attention now turns to the 2023 European Veteran Championships to be held in Sandefjord , Norway, from Monday26th June to Saturday 1st July 2023. The Norwegian Table Tennis Association kindly offers six complementary places for members of the Swaythling Club International. Undoubtedly, the tournament will be a huge event with an anticipated record entry; the six guest places will be in high demand. If you would like to be considered contact, Harvey Webb, Secretary Swaythling Club International, who will collate the requests and report to the SCI Executive Committee for selection. Deadline for applications: Wednesday 1st March. Email: harveywebb17@gmail.com.
Swaything Club International Medallists in Muscat
Gizella Zacher, gold in women's singles 75-79 years .... A total of 23 medals - eight gold, eight silver, seven bronze - was the end result for members of the Swaythling Club International when play concluded on Saturday 21st January at the Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships in Oman. Muscat-2023-World-Veteran-Championships-Medallists-Swaythling-Club-International-1-1Download
Titles for Swaythling Club Members in Muscat
Niels Ramberg won men's singles 75-79 years (Photo: Owen Hammond) bbbbbbbbbbbb Play concluded at the Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships in Oman on a high note for members of the Swaythling Club International; Denmark's Niels Ramberg and Germany's Zsolt-Georg Böhm both struck gold as did Hungary's Gisela Zacher. Meanwhile, for Suzanne Pedersen, like Niels Ramberg from Denmark, there was silver. Gold for Zsolt-Georg Böhm in men's singles 60-64 years (Photo: Owen Hammond) h Gold for Gizela Zacher in women's singles 75-79 years (Photo: Owen Hammond) n h Silver was the outcome for Suzanne Pedersen in women's singles 65-69 years; the winner was Estonia's Kai Thornbech (Photo: Owen Hammond). l Muscat-2023-World-Veteran-Championships-MedallistDownload
Silver for Valentin Langehegermann
The podium for men's singles 85 years b The most senior member of the Swaythling Club International on duty at the Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships in Oman; Luxembourg's Valentin Langehegermann emerged the silver medallist in men's singles 85 years. After recording a semi-final success against Germany's Wolfgang Wolter (9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2), he was beaten in the title decider by Japan's Kazuo Masuda (9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2). At the semi-final stage of men's singles 85 years, Valentin Langehegermann beat Wolfgang Wolter b Memorably, in 2004 when in Yokohama, he won men's singles 65-69 years. A silver medal, earlier in the day it had been gold. Alongside Germany's Peter Stolzenburg, facing German opposition the duo recorded a semi-final success against Hans-Dieter Kliem and Wolfgang Wolter (11-5, 11-9, 11-4),
Medals for Hungary in Oman
Hungarian medallists (left to right): Gizella Zacher, Istvan Szalai and Imola Petohazi nnnnnnnnnnnn Winner of women's singles 70-74 years in Las Vegas, Gizella Zacher repeated the feat at the Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships in Oman. Present in women's singles 75-79 years, on Saturday 21st January, following a penultimate round success in opposition to colleague Imola Petohazi (11-6, 11-5, 11-6), she arrested the title at the expense of Japan's Ikuko Nagasawa (11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6). Earlier, in harness with Imola Petohazi, the duo had concluded matters silver medallists in women's doubles 75 years; at the final hurdle they were beaten by the United States combination of Donna Sakai and Connie Sweeris (9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8). Silver in partnership with Imola Petohazi; one day earlier alongside
Recognition in Muscat
b On Friday 20th January at the Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships gifts were presented. Abdullah Mohamed Bamakhalf, President of the Oman Table Tennis Federation, made the presentations; he congratulated Claude Bergeret, the President of the Swaythling Club International. Later he acknowledged the achievements of Finland’s Pentii niukkanen and Germany’s Alfred Ludwig who by competing in Muscat have played in every World Veteran Championships, the first being Gothenburg in 1982. l Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships: List of Entrants Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships: Mixed Doubles Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships: Full Results
Reception Hosted in Muscat
The reception in Muscat , A reception was held by the Swaythling Club International on the evening of Friday 20th January at the Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships in Oman. Notably present was Petra Sörling, ITTF President and member of the Swaythling Club International; she was welcomed by Claude Bergeret, Swaythling Club President. b Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships: List of Entrants Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships: Mixed Doubles Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships: Full Results
Three Decades Later a Different Outcome for Peter Karlsson
In the men's doubles 50 years opening round Vivek Kohli and Peter Karlsson beat Slovenia’s Bojan Maselj and Andrej Potrbin n At the Chiba 1991 World Championships, Sweden’s Peter Karlsson partnered compatriot Thomas von Scheele to men’s doubles gold; at the Muscat 2023 World Veteran Championships, it was not to be the same outcome. Joining forces with India’s Vivek Kohli, a member of the Swaythling Club International and chair of Stag International, on Friday 20th January, it was a third-round exit; competing in men’s doubles 50 years, the pair experienced defeat at the hands of Denmark’s Karsten Hamman and Jan Søndegard (11-6, 11-5, 11-8). Earlier in the opening round the duo had accounted for Slovenia’s Bojan Maselj and Andrej Potrbin (11-7, 7-11, 11-7,