Players Archives - JOOLA Global https://joola.com/category/blog/table-tennis/table-tennis-team-joola/table-tennis-players/ - Table Tennis & Pickleball Tue, 23 Aug 2022 15:52:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2 https://i0.wp.com/joola.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-JOOLA2020_logo-stacked_FINAL-black.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Players Archives - JOOLA Global https://joola.com/category/blog/table-tennis/table-tennis-team-joola/table-tennis-players/ 32 32 168410641 Pistej and Habesohn Medal at European Championships https://joola.com/pistej-and-habesohn-medal-at-european-championships%ef%bf%bc/ Tue, 23 Aug 2022 15:52:33 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=6959 It was a successful week for Team JOOLA at the European Championships in Munich, Germany with two bronze medals in the Mixed and Men’s Doubles, and a record broken. Pistej Takes Bronze in the Mixed Doubles Lubomir Pistej was first to land on the podium with partner Barbora Balazova. The iconic mixed doubles pair medaled […]

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It was a successful week for Team JOOLA at the European Championships in Munich, Germany with two bronze medals in the Mixed and Men’s Doubles, and a record broken.

Pistej Takes Bronze in the Mixed Doubles

Lubomir Pistej was first to land on the podium with partner Barbora Balazova. The iconic mixed doubles pair medaled in the event for the third time, having won silver in both 2013 and 2020. In Munich they bowed out in the semifinals, but the road to bronze was an exciting one.

In the round of 32 the pair narrowly survived a big challenge from the mixed pairing of Martin Andersen and Ines Matos. Pistej and Balazova clutched out the deciding 5th game by the tightest of margins, 17-15.

In the last 16 it was a clean 3-0 sweep over the German duo of Sabine Winter and Benedict Duda, a strong performance to lead them into the quarterfinals.

In the last 8 teams it was another incredibly close match against Spain’s Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao. This time the Slovakian pair trailed 2-1, just managing to close out the fourth game 13-11. The first four games were all won by just 2 point margins. In the fifth they were able to push the limits and earn a guaranteed medal spot in the semifinal.

In the semifinal they would be stopped by the French pair of Emmanuel Lebesson and Wan Jianan.

A well earned bronze medal and an exceptional result to add a third medal to an impressive partnerships career.

Pistej also posted an exceptional win in the Men’s Doubles rounds with Aleksandr Karakasevic. The two trailed 9-3 in the deciding game to the partnership of Liam Pitchford and Jonathan Groth, before launching an incredible comeback to take the match.

Habesohn Breaks Record to win Men’s Doubles Silver In the Men’s doubles it was a nailbiting road right from the beginning. Daniel Habesohn, paired with long-time partner Robert Gardos, were put under pressure by the young guns from the first match. Top European youth players Iulian Chirita and Daniel Berzosa were the challengers, and held a 2-1 lead in the match. The two-time European Champions were not about to be ejected in the first round and found their resolve, winning the last two games convincingly to advance.

They would have to survive two further 5 game duels in the round of 16 and quarterfinal, the first against Czech Republic’s Sirucek and Martinko, the second against the strong German pairing of Dang Qiu and Benedict Duda. Against the Czech pair it was 16-14 in the final game, while with the German’s they led 2-0 and survived a comeback effort.

A 3-1 victory against the Lebrun brothers of France in the semifinal would take them into their 5th European Championships final, a new record for any doubles pairing. In the gold medal match they would lose out in four games to the reigning World Champions from Sweden – Mattias Falk and Kristian Karlsson.

A brilliant fight to survive many close encounters and reach a 5th final together. Habesohn now holds 3 silver and 2 gold medals in the European Championship men’s doubles event.

Surjan Upsets European Games Champion

One of the most outstanding results in the singles field was that of Sabina Surjan, who created one of the upsets of the tournament by ousting Portugal’s Fu Yu from the draw. Surjan had to win two matches in the group stage, and a further 2 matches in the preliminary singles draw to setup the Round of 64 showdown with Yu.

7th seeded Yu is the reigning 2019 European Games champion, and a three time European Championships singles medalist. The first four games were won by 2 point margins with Yu holding a 2-1 lead after the first three.

In the best of 7 contest, Surjan made her mark by winning the 4th to draw the match at 2-2 and then proceeding to dominate the remainder of the match. The 5th and 6th games would both fall 11-4 for Surjan, sending her into the round of 32.

The 22 year old Serbian doubled down on the result by winning her next match 4-0 against Karoline Mischek, eventually losing in the round of 16 to Shao Jieni.

Tatiana Kukulkova also reached the Women’s Singles last 16, with an excellent victory over Ukraine’s Tetiana Bilenko, a world class defensive player. The round of 32 match ended with a 4-1 win for Kukulkova.


Congratulations to all our JOOLA players and teams on their exceptional results at the pinnacle competition on the European Continent!



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Team JOOLA Thrilled to Sign Chinese National Team Star Zhou Qihao https://joola.com/team-joola-thrilled-to-sign-chinese-national-team-star-zhou-qihao/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 05:00:00 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=4416 The World Table Tennis Championships in Houston, USA concluded with JOOLA ushering in an exciting new member of Team JOOLA: Rising star of the Chinese National Team, Zhou Qihao (周启豪). An emerging name in the world of table tennis, Zhou signed an equipment sponsorship contract with JOOLA and has chosen to use a JOOLA Vyzaryz Freeze blade […]

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The World Table Tennis Championships in Houston, USA concluded with JOOLA ushering in an exciting new member of Team JOOLA: Rising star of the Chinese National Team, Zhou Qihao (周启豪). An emerging name in the world of table tennis, Zhou signed an equipment sponsorship contract with JOOLA and has chosen to use a JOOLA Vyzaryz Freeze blade and JOOLA Dynaryz ZGR rubber combination.

“We are delighted to welcome such a high-caliber player to Team JOOLA and to have him put his trust in our products as he continues his journey to becoming one of the world’s best table tennis players,” said JOOLA President Richard Lee. “Zhou Qihao is on the path to accomplishing great things. We strongly believe in him and are humbled to be by his side, supporting him as he builds his legacy.”

Zhou was most notably the 2021 Champion of the All-Star Chinese WTT and Olympic Simulation Trials, where he defeated Grand Slam Champion Ma Long in the semifinals and went on to defeat current World Champion Fan Zhendong in the finals match. Zhou has been able to go toe-to-toe with the absolute best Chinese players in the world and is now venturing into the international table tennis scene.

“I am incredibly happy to join Team JOOLA. After trying JOOLA’s products and meeting their team, I believe this partnership will help me take the next step in pursuing my goals to win the highest-level tournaments in the world,” said Zhou, after the signing in Houston.

As JOOLA continues to innovate and further establish itself in the table tennis community, the team is ecstatic to be collaborating with an athlete from the Chinese National Team and looks forward to seeing Zhou Qihao’s progress on the world stage. The JOOLA team hopes the new partnership and support will have a positive impact on Zhou’s career and help him advance in his goals.

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Zhang Wins Historic First WTTC Medal for USA Since 1959 https://joola.com/zhang-wins-historic-first-wttc-medal-for-usa-since-1959/ Fri, 03 Dec 2021 19:09:40 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=4405 Lily Zhang became the first US medalist at the World Table Tennis Championships, since 1959 when Dick Miles won a bronze in the Men’s Singles. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy, Zhang joined forces with China’s Lin Gaoyuan to compete in the Mixed Doubles event. “It was a huge honor for me to […]

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Lily Zhang became the first US medalist at the World Table Tennis Championships, since 1959 when Dick Miles won a bronze in the Men’s Singles. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy, Zhang joined forces with China’s Lin Gaoyuan to compete in the Mixed Doubles event.

“It was a huge honor for me to have this opportunity to pair with Lin for the Mixed Doubles, not only to create a formidable team – but also to celebrate the anniversary of 50 years since Ping Pong Diplomacy,” says Zhang.

Zhang and Lin paired together to reach the semifinals of the Mixed Doubles in Houston, taking home a bronze medal, but narrowly missing out on going even further.

The pair opened with a convincing win over Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia and Shao Jieni in three straight games. The Chinese fans were already thrilled to see the pair in action.

The next match in the round of 32 cemented the international pair as serious contenders in the event. The pressure was on for Zhang and Lin, as they took on the reigning European Champions – Dang Qiu and Nina Mittelham. The Germans sealed out the first game in deuce, before the diplomatic duo swept the next three games.

“It was a real confidence boost to win over the European Champions, after this match it started to sink in that if we played well then there was a possibility of winning a medal,” Lily says, reflecting on the match.

The pair took down Skachkov and Vorobeva in the next round, with Zhang’s quick pace up at the table backed up by the sensational technical ability of Lin Gaoyuan.

The pressure was on as they entered the quarterfinals, just one round away from a guaranteed medal. They faced off with Jia Nan and Emmanuel Lebesson of France, the latter a player renowned for being a skillful doubles player.

Zhang and Lin paired together immaculately, the left and right hand combinations capturing the right angles, while Zhang continued to hold the table and play early in the bounce.

The first two games were tight and split, but the US-China pairing quickly took the high ground in the match and brought it home 3-1.

It was a moment of elation, not just for the players, but for the many US fans who were there to witness a moment in history on US soil.

“I can’t really describe the moment that final point was won, to be guaranteed a medal here on home turf. It was a really special moment, but also I felt some pressure off my shoulders to be guaranteed a place on the podium,” Zhang reflects.

The pair would eventually lose out on a place in the final, with Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata surpassing them in the 5th game.

It was a rough start, with the Japanese pair taking both the first 2 games, but Zhang and Lin knuckled down to push the match the full distance.

Unfortunately it was not to be on this occasion.

A moment forever to be remembered, as US and China mixed doubles combo, standing upon the podium and celebrating the unity and friendships built across a small table.

Certainly the fans were delighted with the performance, both US and Chinese alike, perhaps we will be fortunate enough to see these stars play together again one day.

“To stand on that podium was a mixture of a lot of emotions, I think really just pride. I felt like me and Lin were a good team and we both enjoyed the experience. To win a bronze medal at the World Championships is something that any player would dream of, so to have achieved such a milestone in my career is really a great honor for me,” Lily recalls.

We are so proud of Lily for this monumental achievement, to see her making another impact on the history of US Table Tennis with a smile on her face is a privilege for all of us at Team JOOLA. Congratulations, Lily!

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Desai Clinches Doubles Crown at WTT Tunis https://joola.com/desai-clinches-doubles-crown-at-wtt-tunis/ Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:00:02 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=3914 The WTT Contender Tunis 2021 was another step on the road to the comeback of international table tennis events. Staged from the 27th – 30th of October in Tunisia, the competition marked a spotlight moment for Team JOOLA’s Harmeet Desai as he took the highest honors in the Men’s Doubles contest with fellow countryman Sathiyan […]

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The WTT Contender Tunis 2021 was another step on the road to the comeback of international table tennis events. Staged from the 27th – 30th of October in Tunisia, the competition marked a spotlight moment for Team JOOLA’s Harmeet Desai as he took the highest honors in the Men’s Doubles contest with fellow countryman Sathiyan Gnanasekaran.

The road to victory was not without its bumps, starting right from the opening match in the Round of 16. Facing off against Germany’s Killian Ort and Tobias Hippler, the Indian duo had to give every ounce to bring home the match. Where Ort and Hippler won their two games 11 to 6 and 11 to 5, the games won by Desai and Gnanasekaran were much tighter.

The fifth and final game set the stage for what would be a thrilling Men’s Doubles competition, with the spirited Indian pair closing it 12-10.

The quarterfinals proved smoother sailing with a 3-1 win over Majoros and Juhasz. The semifinal match would prove to be the biggest challenge of all.

Facing a 2-0 deficit in games, Desai and Gnanasekaran clawed their way back into the match. They won 3 consecutive games and closed out the match 11-9 in the fifth over Hungary’s Ecseki and Szudi.

A gold medal and a prestigious WTT Contender title on the line, Desai and Gnanasekaran gave their all in the Final. The opposition was tough, with the combination of France’s left handed former European Champion Emmanuel Lebesson and partner Alexandre Cassin.

Again Desai and Gnanasekaran proved to handle themselves under pressure the best, sealing games 1 and 3 both by 11-9 margins. The two looked comfortable throughout the match, clearly displaying great teamwork and drawing on their years of being close teammates.

After a host of challenging matches, the Indian duo earned the top place on the podium.

Congratulations, Harmeet! We look forward to seeing more superb results from you in the near future!

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Life After Tokyo – What’s Next? https://joola.com/life-after-tokyo-whats-next/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:29:56 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=2543 I’ve started, trashed, and restarted this post too many times to count by now. It’s been almost 3 full weeks since the flame flickered out in Tokyo and as I sit down to write this, I feel a bit at loss for words. There’s a multitude of feelings snaking, swirling their way around and through […]

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I’ve started, trashed, and restarted this post too many times to count by now. It’s been almost 3 full weeks since the flame flickered out in Tokyo and as I sit down to write this, I feel a bit at loss for words. There’s a multitude of feelings snaking, swirling their way around and through me, feelings of gratefulness, heartbreak, even numbness, each clambering to claim their solitary throne in my head. A jumbled mess.

This probably won’t be like my usual blog posts that are often peppered with positivity and words of encouragement. An easily digestible lesson you can take away at the end. I could write that despite the pandemic and postponement of the games, I bounced back to train with ferocious intensity and motivation. I could tell you that I had the time of my life in Tokyo. I could even say that I’m itching to get back on the table, to resume a mentally and physically demanding training schedule. Everyone loves a success story. Unfortunately, that’s not often the truth. I mean, you would never be able to tell by my Instagram, but that’s social media for you, isn’t it? We’re all fine online. No, not just fine. Thriving. We post the best parts of our life, subtly boasting to the world. Look at all the wonderful places I get to travel to! Check out this aesthetically pleasing plate of avocado toast! How terribly easy it is to pretend. The shimmering rays of sunshine we beam proudly on the surface, the icebergs we bury so deeply beneath.

My feed is no different. The truth is, this year has been one of the toughest years of my life. I’ve struggled with bouts of depression and anxiety in the past, but it’s never been worse than the past year. Yes, there have been some incidents in the year that have deeply exacerbated my mental health decline and perhaps one day, I will feel ready to share, but for now, please bear with me as I try and articulate my experience as best I can.

The months that led up to Tokyo felt like a blur. All the days bleeding into one. Every time someone asked how I was doing, I’d clench my fists and desperately try to hold in the tears that would bubble up, threatening to spill over. The words that came out told a different story. I’m doing great!, I’d say. I wasn’t great. But how could I tell them the truth? That it’s been sleeping all day but feeling constantly tired. Crying into the pillow until my eyelids swelled in grotesque size. Scrambling to cover the red puffy splotches with makeup the next day. Being overcome with violent waves of nausea without explanation. Feeling impossibly overwhelmed by even the smallest of tasks. And it’s not that I didn’t want to dispel this suffocating weight. Many times I have come close to opening up, but was afraid to put a damper on the mood or cause any discomfort. The last thing anyone wants to be is a burden. So instead, I’d put on a smile and lie through my teeth, feeling like the biggest fraud on the planet.

I tried to ignore the signs, to focus the little energy I could muster on this singular goal. The Games. It was the only thing that mattered. I refused therapy, neglected self-care, pushed away loved ones, and isolated myself, all the while convincing myself that it was simply unrelenting dedication to my craft. The more I withdrew, the more this aching tiredness sunk its unforgiving teeth into my bones, building a comfortable home for itself there. Without even realizing it, I had become a shell of a human, a stranger to myself. The eyes that stared back at me in the mirror were sunken, empty, broken. No, they were not my own.

By the time Tokyo rolled around, I was in complete disarray on the inside. The stress and adrenaline from the Games propelled me through my matches, but they were unremarkably average. I reached the third round in Women’s Singles, the same round as my 2016 Rio run. At the time, I attributed this devastating, yet strangely peaceful feeling eating at me directly after the match in part due to the fact that I wasn’t able to improve my result from the last Games. But I only now understand it was relief. Relief that it was all finally just over.

Only a day later, news broke out that Simone Biles had withdrawn from the gymnastics team finals. I was stunned. What’s crazier is that my immediate reaction to the large headline plastered across my phone wasn’t hey is she okay?, but rather, how is the team going to win gold without her now? Process that for a second. In my warped, twisted mind, winning meant more than health.

You know, I always thought I could handle everything by myself. Asking for help was a sign of weakness. Athletes push and push themselves to the limit, to the brink of exhaustion. No pain, no gain. But what happens when the pain becomes too much? Well, if it’s a physical injury, we take a break. We go to numerous doctor’s appointments, assess the point of injury, and put in the necessary time and effort to rehabilitate. There are no questions, no comments, no doubts about why we treat the hurt.

What about the other side of the spectrum? While there have been efforts to create safe spaces for athletes to seek help, there are still significantly fewer resources allocated towards mental health. Most of all, it’s the stigma that dissuades many athletes from taking the first step. There’s shame, guilt, humiliation. Because it’s not a broken arm or a strained hamstring, because the pain isn’t visible to the naked eye, then there must be something deeply wrong with you. You, as a person.

I’ve talked to people, even other athletes, who criticize Simone Biles or Naomi Osaka for “quitting.” She just can’t handle the pressure, she signed up for this, it’s her job to push all the way till the end, they’d say. That’s not how I see it. For an athlete, it’s one of the hardest things to shove away your ego and recognize when you need to step aside. Simone and Naomi said hey, maybe you don’t need to sacrifice your well-being for a medal or a title. Call them weak, but to me, they’re trailblazers, paving a path that allows athletes to finally feel seen, valid, and most of all, human.

I may not have nearly as large of a platform as Simone or Naomi, but I want to do my part in being more transparent, honest. To let others know that they’re not alone by finally exposing this vulnerable side of my underbelly I’ve kept shamefully hidden for so long. We might feel crushingly isolated in our struggle but there is always someone out there who feels the same way you do. The more people that speak out, the easier it will be in the future. Let’s normalize nourishing our minds just as much as we do our bodies.

Slowly, painstakingly so, I am beginning to learn how to unpack the toxic mindset I’ve internalized over the years. Realizing that it’s okay to reach out for help. And it’s okay to not be okay. The healing process isn’t linear. Growth isn’t linear. It’s a continuous cycle of ebb and flow. There will be days where you will feel seemingly okay and then be engulfed by a helpless wave of grief the very next. Sometimes you just need to sit in all that grief and sadness and anguish and allow it to wash over you.

I won’t say that it’s easy. It still hurts like hell. But through all the pain and suffering, I’ve unearthed a resilience I never even knew I had. I welcome the first slivers of self-compassion into my soul. The voice in my head is gradually becoming gentler, kinder. Seven-year-old Lily who first picked up a table tennis racket that one fated day wouldn’t have even dreamed about playing in the Olympics, let alone in three. I look to her, someone who once saw the beauty in this sport, in this life.

So now you ask, what’s next?

Pausing. Taking a minute to breathe deeply. Reveling in how far I’ve come. And giving myself permission to just be.

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Solja Achieves 2 European Crowns, Pistej Takes Mixed Silver https://joola.com/solja-achieves-2-european-crowns-pistej-takes-mixed-silver/ Mon, 28 Jun 2021 14:10:28 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=2308 It was a long-awaited fulfillment for many of Europe’s best players, as the pandemic-postponed 2020 European Championships took place in Warsaw, Poland last week. The event featured the individual events and a gathering of the highest caliber players in the European Continent. Team JOOLA was well-represented and we were pleased to see our athletes returning […]

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It was a long-awaited fulfillment for many of Europe’s best players, as the pandemic-postponed 2020 European Championships took place in Warsaw, Poland last week. The event featured the individual events and a gathering of the highest caliber players in the European Continent.

Team JOOLA was well-represented and we were pleased to see our athletes returning to the highest levels of competition and giving it their best on the table.

The first medal was won by Lubomir Pistej in the mixed doubles, with long-time partner Barbora Balazova. The two reached the final of the event, taking home a silver medal – a positive result for the World Ranked 6 pairing as they prepare for the biggest event of their careers in just a month’s time.

Pistej fought boldly through injury to push the team through to the final, with an exciting victory over the French pairing of Gauzy/Pavade in the semifinals. The Slovakian pairing faced a 2-1 deficit in the match before beating the pressure to win the fourth game a closely-contended 13-11. From there the momentum was in their favor, sealing out the match 11-4 in the deciding 5th game.

The final would prove a challenging task and the German pair of Dang and Mittelham were crowned champions. A great showing and an impressive medal to add to the career accolades of Lubomir Pistej, congratulations.

The star of the show was Team JOOLA’s Petrissa Solja, who took home two gold medals at the event.

In the Women’s Doubles event she paired with German compatriot Shan Xiaona to earn her second title in the event – having first won in 2013 with Sabine Winter.

The pair survived a scare in the quarterfinal stages against Luxembourg’s pairing of Sarah de Nutte and European veteran Ni Xia Lian. Trailing 2-1, they closed out two games at 11-5 to secure a place in the semifinal and guarantee a medal.

That same determination in the face of a losing scoreline would certainly come back to help them in the final, where they also fought back from 2-1 down against teammates Mittelham and Winter.

The fighting spirit and the combination of Shan’s short pips penhold and Solja’s left handed offensive game made for a highly entertaining final showdown, one which could have easily gone either way.

With the doubles gold in hand, it was on to the prestigious singles event, and Solja wasted no time in beginning her battle towards the podium.

By the finest of margins she overcame Poland’s Natalia Bajor, going the full 7-game distance and clutching tight games 13-11 and 11-9 to bounce back from 3-2 behind to close out a very nerve-wracking encounter.

The next round would give her no rest either, as she faced yet another enduring 7-game match, this time against Portugal’s Fu Yu – the 2019 European Games champion.

It was a strong start for Solja, who soared to an early lead, winning the first 3 games and asserting a strong position in the match. Fu was far from done, knuckling down to level at 3-3, but a strong refocus and adjustments from Solja allowed her to halt the momentum and take the final game 11-4, ending Fu’s comeback hopes and advancing into the semifinal stage.

With a medal guaranteed, the matches were only getting tougher. In the semifinal Solja overcame a spirited and in-form Elizabeta Samara in 6 games, setting up a finals showdown with her own doubles partner and teammate Shan Xiaona.

It was an awkward start for both players, very familiar with each other’s game styles, in one of the most important matches of their careers.

Solja capitalized early off her heavy topspin rotation and exceptional fifth ball attack placements, locking up Shan on her traditional penhold backhand side in the corner, before unleashing devastating down the line forehands.

While the tactfulness and steady offense from Solja was proving pivotal in her gaining control of the match, she was also able to match the formidable speed of Shan’s attacking game in the rallies, returning even some of the fastest forehand attacks her opponent could offer.

It certainly looked like Solja was quickly gaining the upper hand, sealing the first three games in her favor, and just one away from a gold medal, in what would be her first ever Women’s Singles crown at the European Champs.

In the 4th, Shan changed her approach up, opting to play a more passive control game. She steadied the pace in the rallies and looked for placements over all-out speed.

Knowing there was no room to allow for any further moves from Shan, a focused and determined Petrissa Solja returned to the table for the 5th game, and she executed her game plan with perfection.

In the blink of an eye she held an 8-0 lead, looking confident as ever. A quick towel break and a deep breath as she held match point at 10-2, and Solja finished the job.

Europe Cup Champion in both 2018 and 2019, and now the 2020 European Champion in Women’s Singles. The gold medals continue to pile up for Petrissa Solja, we couldn’t be more proud of her – an outstanding role model for all young women in sport, and we know there are more amazing career titles to come!

Heartiest congratulations to Peti from Team JOOLA!

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Table Tennis Tactics for Lefties https://joola.com/table-tennis-tactics-for-lefties-by-rajko-gommers/ Tue, 16 Feb 2021 07:52:45 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=1945 Hi everyone, in this article I will share my view on the basic tactics when coaching a left handed player. After years of playing (as a lefty) myself and coaching fellow teammates, I have developed a certain general view on tactics which I would like to share first. Tactics in table tennis is a complex […]

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Hi everyone, in this article I will share my view on the basic tactics when coaching a left handed player. After years of playing (as a lefty) myself and coaching fellow teammates, I have developed a certain general view on tactics which I would like to share first.

Tactics in table tennis is a complex thing, I find, since we are always facing an opponent who has their own tactics and stronger and weaker aspects to their game. In my opinion when two players of similar level meet each other, the match changes into a match of who can adapt their game the best and sometimes who can do this the quickest.

A close-contested table tennis match is a good example of “moves and counter moves”. A part of our task as a coach is to predict what ‘moves’ the opponent will try and what our player’s response should be.

My conclusion to this very specific part is that for each and every opponent a new tactic can be necessary and that tactics are fluid, but we can find certain general aspects to it.

Below, I will focus on 2 main points which I find crucial when coaching lefty’s: Service and certain useful angles.

Service

In the present day, table tennis service and receive have become a crucial part of the game. With the rise of the aggressive BH-flip (banana-flip), having a bad service or not having the ability to neutralize the threat is a huge weakness.

A very fast BH-flip of the opponent, for example, can be deadly for the outcome of the match if you don’t find a way to neutralize it.

As a left handed player you can neutralize a player with strong BH-flip quite well. I find there is a combination of two serves that can neutralize the BH-flip:

  • A long fast service to the body/BH 
  • A short/semi long (second bounce on the white line) on the wide FH part of the table

I have experienced that this works well against left and right handed players who prefer to start the rally with a BH-flip. By executing this combination of serves you keep the opponent hesitating and as a result they are not able to choose to flip certain serves automatically and this results in lower quality flips or maybe even a different stroke selection.

I think the ratio of long and short serves should be around 35:65 to really keep them hesitating. Again this is a basic strategy and as a coach you have to see where or when to adapt this general strategy and make it more suitable for the specific opponent you face at that time.

Angles of Play

In general the left handed players are a minority in table tennis, which is in my opinion the reason that left handed players have a slight advantage over right handed players when they play each other, because left handed players face that specific gameplay more often than vice-versa.

The general right-left gameplay consists of one very important aspect: who is able to make the first wide angle from the BH-side off the table towards the FH side to get the opponent off-balance and often away from the table?

Because left handed players are more used to this gameplay they often have a better advantage in this aspect. Of course, there are right handed players who are very well practiced and conditioned to play against lefties, but in general I think the lefties have a slight advantage because of them being a minority and should consciously look for opportunities to exploit this advantage.

At the same time, when you are a right handed player you as well can look for the same opportunities: This tactic works equally well for both sort of players.

Above I have tried to give you an insight into the very fluid aspect of table tennis called tactics and then in specific to the general tactics for a left handed player.

I acknowledge that there are more advantages to talk about, and also disadvantages of course but I find these 2 to be essential.

This is because the importance of service and efficient use of placement (angles) is growing in modern table tennis. I hope this in itself can help you in coaching left handed players or encourage you in creating a better understanding of the fact that the game changes when you coach/play against left handed players. 

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Catching Up with Petrissa Solja https://joola.com/catching-up-with-petrissa-solja/ Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:00:00 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=1899 We caught up with Team JOOLA’s Petrissa Solja to see how she spent the last year and to learn more about her experience at the ITTF bubble events in Weihai, China and Macau. Check out our interview with her below! Tell us what you were up to during the first half of 2020. When the […]

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We caught up with Team JOOLA’s Petrissa Solja to see how she spent the last year and to learn more about her experience at the ITTF bubble events in Weihai, China and Macau. Check out our interview with her below!

Tell us what you were up to during the first half of 2020.

When the Coronavirus first started and during Germany’s lockdown, I got the news that the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics was postponed. I had been training hard and was very much looking forward to it, so I decided to take some time off to recover and to rearrange my thoughts.

Because the facilities were closed during the lockdown, I often went to my parents’ house to practice with my dad in their basement and it felt just like when my career first started.

When the Coronavirus restrictions eased, I went to Düsseldorf for several weeks to practice with the German National Team. It was so nice to see all my friends again!

After 6 months without competition, the German league started back up in September. Even though I was so happy and really enjoyed the competitions, it was a strange feeling to finally be back. Normally, I’m used to competitions every week or at least every month because during the season – when I’m not practicing with the National Team – I practice at Grünwettersbach.

How did you feel when you learned that you would be participating in the ITTF #Restart bubble events in China?

When I heard that I qualified for all 3 events in China and Macau, I was very happy and proud. I was proud because only the world’s best players were invited by ITTF to play in these tournaments and I was one of them.

How was your experience traveling and dealing with all the new safety precautions and regulations surrounding COVID-19?

It was really hard work to get permission to travel to China. Without the German Federation, it would not have been possible. There were so many regulations, documents and tests. I got the confirmation that I was cleared to travel to China only one day before my flight.

In total I stayed almost 6 weeks in Asia, and I knew it will be very tough. It was a great experience, but the two weeks of quarantine, additional COVID measures and isolation, 14 PCR tests, daily health reporting, and time difference made it an exhausting trip. 

What was it like competing at the 3 bubble events?

I had tonsillitis at the World Cup, so I really had no power during my matches. Luckily, between the Women’s World Cup and the Finals, I had many days to recover and to practice. It was a great experience getting to practice with the best players all over the world. I even got the chance to practice with Sun Yingsha, which I was very excited about.

I am very satisfied with my performance at the ITTF Finals. I had a great victory against Feng Tianwei and was even leading 2:0 against the world-ranked number one.

I was not so satisified with my performance at WTT Macau. I wished I had done better and won some more matches there. Looking back, I think I couldn’t play my best in Macau because I couldn’t keep up the intensity for so many weeks at a time. I hope to learn from this experience, be able to cope better, and perform better next time. However, the players presentations at the tournaments were awesome. I have never seen such a big screen before. I enjoyed the new orange and black theme, and the light shows. It really felt like a special event.

How do you feel about ITTF’s recent format changes?

I don’t know what to think about the format changes. In the past there had been so many changes in attempts to make it more interesting for the spectators, but I don’t those efforts made more people pay attention to table tennis because there was a lack of accessibility. It really was a great show in Macau. So many people wrote to me saying that they woke up early and wanted to follow my match, but the matches were not streamed in Germany. This was very disappointing. I don’t believe German spectators will care about any of changes ITTF made because they can’t watch many of the matches anyways.

What did you enjoy most about your bubble experience?

The people. In the past at the competitions, there was rarely time to speak with each other. 
This time in China, we all stayed together in one place for many weeks. I’m happy for the time we spent together, getting to know each other better. I think this was the most special part for me. 

Petrissa Solja's Equipment

Forehand Rubber

JOOLA Dynaryz ACC

Backhand Rubber

JOOLA Dynaryz ACC

Blade

JOOLA Nobilis PBO-C

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Grateful for My Bubble Experience by Melanie Diaz https://joola.com/grateful-for-my-bubble-experience-by-melanie-diaz/ Thu, 24 Dec 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=1817 What made that competition special was the energy there. While we came from different backgrounds, a love for table tennis united us all and that love was felt everywhere.

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Grateful for My Bubble Experience

When my dad was notified that ITTF would be holding bubble events and that my sister was one of the participants, we were very happy. Good news in times when fear and uncertainty reign – this made us smile. That night before going to sleep, I was able to feel something that I hadn’t felt for months – hope.

Preparations began to go to the bubble where I would go as a sparring partner of my sister Adriana. When we began to see all the requirements, we worried a little because any detail could alter everything. The day before we went to China, we still didn’t have our visas. We decided to try our luck. We took the first flight to Miami with our driver’s licenses, hoping that by the time we arrived, the visas would be ready and we could meet with the person in charge of them at the airport. Luckily for us, this risky plan worked out and with our visas finally in hand, we embarked on the rest of our trip to China.

When we first arrived in Shanghai, we were quarantined for 3 days. After 2 negative tests (one at the airport and one at the hotel), we took a 13-hour bus ride to Weihai. There, we stayed for 3 more days without leaving the room. Upon completing those 3 days, we were strictly only allowed out to train with our respective group (Adriana, Mo Zhang, Lily Zhang, and I formed group #1.)

After completing the 14 day quarantine in China and with 8 negative COVID tests, we were transferred to the tournament hotel, officially entering the bubble. At this point, we had more freedom. We no longer ate in our rooms, but in a dining room with the other players, coaches and sparring partners.

No one was talking about quarantine or COVID testing anymore. You could only feel the excitement of seeing all the other athletes and the desire to compete again. Minutes before the World Cup started, I became nervous. After 8 months out of the competitive environment, being in a tournament again creates emotions that you did not imagine feeling, even if you are not competing.

2020_12_24-Womens-World-Cup

Once the tournament started – unlike my past self – I did not want to miss a single game. After the pandemic, I began to value everything and not take anything for granted, not even watching games. I knew how lucky I was to be there and I wanted to make the most of it. At the end of each training session, I returned to the hall to watch games and above all, to learn something about each player. It was surprising to see such a perfectly prepared hall and not have spectators. It was strange to experience silence after an incredible point or a great victory.

The next tournament was held in Zhengzhou. It was incredible to enter the hall on the first day of competition and see the full stands. It was a drastic change that everyone welcomed. The joy of the fans seeing their favorite players arrive and the excitement with which they celebrated each point, even when China was not playing, was something I had never seen before. I suppose that like myself, they also felt grateful to be able to witness a competition again and enjoy all the games regardless of the origin of the players. What made that competition special was the energy there. While we came from different backgrounds, a love for table tennis united us all and that love was felt everywhere.

Next, was the WTT event held in Macau. It was the tournament I felt the most excited about because of the format and the setting, which was so different from what we are used to. I had already seen exact videos of what the stage would be like, but it was a totally different experience seeing it in person. As was in Zhengzhou, there was only one table and there was also audience in the stands. It was table tennis with a completely new and exciting system – from the players choosing their opponents, to the light show in the middle of each set.

What the 3 tournaments in China had in common was the great planning done by the ITTF and WTT. It was really impossible to have done better. With Macau marking the end of the bubble, I reflected on my past few weeks in China and became even more motivated to continue training, so that one day I can also play these tournaments with my sister. I am grateful to life and to God for having had this great experience. Now, the only thing left to do is prepare. There are some new and not so new goals to meet. I cannot wait!

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Lily Zhang Makes Debut in the Chinese Super League https://joola.com/lily-zhang-makes-debut-in-the-chinese-super-league/ Mon, 21 Dec 2020 16:37:23 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=1787 Team JOOLA’s Lily Zhang became a member of team ITTF World Professionals – the first ever foreign team to compete together in the Chinese Super League.

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Lily Zhang Makes Debut in the Chinese Super League

It’s an honor that few foreign players will have in their careers, to compete among the best table tennis athletes in the world, in the heart of the greatest table tennis nation.

For Team JOOLA’s Lily Zhang, it has become a reality. She is a member of team ITTF World Professionals – the first ever foreign team to compete together in the Chinese Super League.

Zhang recently competed in the China bubble, at the ITTF Women’s World Cup, where she reached the quarterfinals, then in the new WTT Macau test event. Instead of departing China, she was offered an amazing career opportunity.

Zhang headed to Chengdu to join the Chinese National Team, alongside her new teammates – Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei, Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico, Doi Hoi Kem of Hong Kong and Jeon Ji Hee of South Korea.

“Being able to train with the Chinese National Team and participate in the Chinese Super League is such a unique and incredible opportunity that I still can’t fully wrap my mind around. This is truly a historic moment that I will treasure forever,” says Lily, as she is boarding a flight to Guangzhou where the team will compete in their first match.

The team will take on China’s top female players, and experience a level of competition that not many have the privilege of partaking in.

“I know each match in the Super League will be insanely difficult, but I’m just trying to soak up every moment and learn as much as I can from the best players in the world,” she says.

“I’m truly grateful to ITTF and CTTA for making this happen, as well as JOOLA for fully supporting me on this journey.”

It is a journey we are proud to see Lily on, as she continues to strive towards her highest potential in the sport.

The team faced off in their first tough match last night against Shenzhen University, which features reigning World Cup Champion and World Number 1 Chen Meng, and recent World Tour Grand Finals Champion Sun Yingsha, alongside Wang Yidi.

Zhang and Diaz took the stage in the singles, with Diaz and Cheng forming for the opening doubles. It certainly looked like an overwhelming experience for the newcomers, with the Shenzhen team leaving no room for error.

Zhang again faced off against Chen Meng, this time not able to find enough solutions to make a strong impact against the current top player in the world.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Lily Zhang (@lilyyz)

In the evening match against Heilongjiang, the team were able to capture a win with Jeon, Doo and Cheng rotating onto the team.

The Super League will run from December 21-29, and we will continue to follow Lily’s matches with great interest. Best of luck!

Lily Zhang's Equipment

Blade

JOOLA Nobilis PBO-C

Forehand Rubber

JOOLA Rhyzer Pro 50

Backhand Rubber

JOOLA Rhyzer Pro 50

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