The Chinese Men’s Team has sent its full force in the 2016 Asian Olympic Qualifier this week in Hong Kong. Today, the competition started and Zhang Jike faced a difficult match from a familiar opponent named Chen Chien An. Zhang Jike was pushed into the edge but fortunately, he was able to recover and sealed a victory.  Sina Sports. The 2016 Asian Olympic Qualifier has already started and the Grand Slam champion Zhang Jike was immediately faced with a difficult situation.    
Zhang Jike had a critical match in the first day of the competition. His first opponent was Chen Chien An of Chinese Taipei. Based on record, the player from Chinese Taipei has already defeated Zhang Jike in the 2013 World Team Cup.   
However, after that incident, Zhang Jike has already played better. This time, Zhang Jike exposed some of his problems once again. He was down in 2-3 and was behind in 9-10 in the sixth set. Fortunately for him, he was able to save it after winning three straight points.   In the decider, Zhang Jike didn’t give any opportunities to his opponent anymore. He swept Chen Chien An in 11-3. Eventually, Zhang Jike posted a victory 4-3.   In this match, Zhang Jike’s biggest mistake is a slow momentum. This problem has long been determined by the head coach Liu Guoliang and he has also made a lot of measures to address such problem, but once in a while it still resurfaces. Definitely, this will be look into much more detailed in the further preparation. 

Kanak Jha Becomes Youngest Ever Male Table Tennis Olympian

American Kanak JHA has become the youngest ever male athlete to qualify for the table tennis event at the Olympic Games.

15-year-old JHA secured his spot at Rio 2016 by defeating USA's number one Timothy WANG 4-0 at the ITTF-North American Olympic Qualification Tournament which concluded Sunday 10 April in Toronto, Canada.

JHA, who is now the first ever USA athlete born in the 2000's to become an Olympian stated: "It feels unbelievable to have qualified. I thought I had lost my match in the semifinals, but was so relieved when I won. This tournament has been very stressful, but in the end, it's all worth it, as my dream has came true, and I am very excited about going to the Olympic Games."

Joining JHA on the plane to Rio from North America are Canada's Eugene WANG and USA's FENG Yijun. Despite Timothy WANG losing to JHA, he will still head to Rio as USA's third player to play in the teams event, as USA qualified the one team spot available.

America's Lily ZHANG, who qualified for London 2012 Olympic Games, secured her second Olympic appearance without losing a match in Toronto.

ZHANG, who will still just be 20 years old when playing at Rio 2016 stated: "I still can't believe it! It feels like I'm in a cloud, so excited and proud to represent the US at the Olympics. I definitely do think this time around I'll be more prepared and a little less star struck!"

The 2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist ZHANG will be joined by America's WU Yue, who secured her spot by winning last year's Pan American Games, plus Canada's ZHANG Mo, who will be competing in her third Olympic Games.

As USA secured team qualification, ZHENG Jiaqi will also be heading to Rio, as USA's team player.

Full list of North American qualified players for Rio 2016:

Men

• WANG Eugene - Canada
• FENG Yijun - USA
• JHA Kanak - USA
• WANG Timothy USA (team only)

Women

• WU Yue - USA
• ZHANG Lily - USA
• ZHANG Mo - Canada
• ZHENG Jiaqi USA (team only)

Table Tennis for NepALL - Inauguration Ceremony on 6 April 2016

On April 6, Kathmandu has the honour to be the capital of the World Table Tennis Day (WTTD), celebrated by Table Tennis enthusiasts all over the world to show the public a sport able to gather all kind of people having fun while playing Table Tennis.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) chose Nepal to host the WTTD main event as it coincides with the launching of 'Table Tennis for NepALL - Project', a motivating sample project that aims to develop the practice of Table Tennis among people with a disability in Nepal. The same ceremony inaugurates the newly renovated Para Table Tennis Training Centre in Kathmandu (damaged by last year's earthquake) and celebrates the International Day on Sport for Development and Peace.

Table Tennis for NepALL runs for three years and is organized by 'All Nepal Table Tennis Association' (ANTTA), 'Nepalese Disabled Table Tennis Association' (NDTTA) together with International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace and the International Working Group supports the project.

It will run simultaneously in Biratnagar, Pokhara, Nepaljung, Dhangadi and two locations in Kathmandu and will provide opportunities for all persons with disabilities by empowering, strengthening, and integrating them in using Para Table Tennis as vehicle for a positive social change. The undertaking includes the sensitization of local coaches, the improvement of accessibility for players with a disability in local community clubs and the creation of a solid network between Para Table Tennis Clubs and local organizations to develop Para Table Tennis in Nepal and train Role Models.

High ranked guests confirmed their attendance like ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace Wilfried LEMKE,International Working Group Co-chair of the Sport and Person with Disabilities Young Sam MA, and role model Melissa TAPPER, Australian player who has become the first ever Australian player to qualify for both the Olympics and Paralympics at Rio 2016.

The event takes place on 6 April 2016 at 11:00 am at NDA Khagendra New Life Jorpati Training Centre Kathmandu, Nepal and is opened to the public.

ITTF Signs Chinese Digital Deal with SECA

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), brokered by rights holders TMS International, has agreed a partnership deal with SECA for all internet and mobile rights within Mainland China.

The exclusive deal will run for four years, between 2017 and 2020, and is the start of a new era of ITTF's digital rights within China. As part of the deal, both the ITTF and SECA agree to further explore opportunities in overall brand marketing, local activation and new exciting initiatives for the sport.

TMS International Managing Director Anders THUNSTROM stated: "TMS International is very pleased to have concluded this agreement with SECA, that will have a particular emphasis to catering to the youth. I am sure SECA will be an excellent partner for TMS and ITTF in distributing World Title events in table tennis over the Internet, into mobile phones and other devices".

SECA CEO and Founder LI Sheng stated: "Table tennis is known as the national sport of China with 190 million people watching the recent World Team Table Tennis Championships and there being 30 million registered table tennis players across the country. These facts combined confirms the infinite potential in the Chinese table tennis market, which is shared by both SECA and the ITTF"

"It is SECA's great honor to become one of ITTF's Chinese partners to promote table tennis in China by presenting it as fashionable and entertaining to gain value within China. SECA will use new technologies like visual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality within table tennis broadcasts to ensure it becomes more and more attractive and valuable for all stakeholders."

ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT added: "This deal with SECA is the first step of a greater partnership to grow table tennis brand. We are excited to be working with a new, motivated partner and we have seen some great work SECA has been doing in several other sporting properties. We are sure they will help us to lift our sport to greater heights"

Within the new deal, SECA obtains the internet and mobile rights within China for the following ITTF events:

• World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC)
• Men's World Cup
• Women's World Cup
• World Team Cup (held every two years, 2017 and 2019 only)
• World Junior Table Tennis Championships
• World Tour and World Tour Grand Finals

15-Year-old Diaz Secures Historic Olympic Qualification

15-year-old Adriana DIAZ has created history by becoming the first ever Puerto Rican to qualify for the table tennis event at the Olympic Games.

The rising superstar booked her place at Rio 2016, at the 2016 ITTF-Latin America Olympic Qualifications held on 1-3 April 2016 in Santiago, Chile.

Despite being the youngest player at the event, DIAZ was the number one seed, she stated after her emotional victory: "I can't believe I have qualified, by dream of representing my country at the Olympic Games. It was extremely tough to qualify here. I said to myself fight, no surrender, it was very close and my team mates really helped me. Now for Rio and a great experience"ÂÂÂ

Joining DIAZ in Rio will be Columbia's Lady RUANO, who is 19 years DIAZ's senior, as well as the Brazillian pair of Caroline KUMAHARA and GUI Lin, Mexico's Yadira SILVA and Venezuela's Gremlis ARVELO.

After being defeated in the decisive contest to secure a place at Beijing 2008, and four years later to again miss out on a place at London 2012, Mexico's Marcos MADRID finally secured his dream of becoming an Olympian by qualifying for Rio 2016.

"Really I fought like a dog, I left my home over eight years ago with the goal of qualifying for the Olympic Games, now thanks to the support from my family, I have achieved my goal" , said MADRID. "It is the greatest moment of my career, against Gustavo it was an intense struggle, each point was hard fought, now my dream has come true, I can enjoy my dream."

One of the men that MADRID beat on the way to qualification, top seeded Gustavo TSUBOI from Brazil, had to wait until the final match to ensure the final Latin American spot for Rio 2016 was his.

TSUBOI, who was expected to cruise through the qualifications, being the highest ranked player at the qualification event stated: "I am very happy to have eventually overcome many problems here in Santiago, five months ago I injured my playing arm and I only started to practice again one month ago. I have trained really hard for this event, in the past I have qualified on the first day but here it was much harder, however, I had the support of my family and my coach."

Youth Olympian Brian AFANADOR followed in the footsteps of his countrywomen Adriana DIAZ to become the second Puerto Rican to play at the Olympic Games table tennis event. Along with them, the pair of Cubans Jorge CAMPOS and Andy PEREIRA make up the five men to qualify for Rio 2016, along with Hugo CALDERANO (BRA), who secured his position, by winning the Pan American Games last year.

Full list of Qualifiers from the 2016 ITTF-Latin American Olympic Qualification Tournament:

Women

• Adriana DIAZ - Puerto Rico
• Lady RUANO - Columbia
• Caroline KUMAHARA - Brazil
• GUI Lin - Brazil
• Yadira SILVA - Mexico
• Gremlis ARVELO - Venezuela

Men

• Marcos MADRID - Mexico
• Gustavo TSUBOI - Brazil
• Brian AFANADOR - Puerto Rico
• Jorge CAMPOS - Cuba
• Andy PEREIRA - Cuba

Borussia Düsseldorf took the lead in semifinals of the Bundesliga. The defending champion emerged successfully over Fulda-Maberzell in the first leg match. On Friday Ochsenhausen and FC. Saarbrücken will meet in the second semifinals. Borussia Düsseldorf is a step closer to reach the finals of the 2015-16 Bundesliga. The record-breaking club posted a sweeping victory over TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell in the first leg of semifinals. Timo Boll paved the way to victory as he overcame Jonathan Groth by 11-9, 11-6 and 11-5. In the second match Patrick Franziska defeated Wang Xi by 11-5, 11-7 and 11-7. In the third match Sharath Kamal Achanta beat Ruwen Filus by 11-6, 11-6 and 11-4. The second leg match will be held on 24th April. On Friday the second semifinal between TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and FC Saarbrücken TT will be played.

Borussia Düsseldorf took the lead in semifinals of the Bundesliga. The defending champion emerged successfully over Fulda-Maberzell in the first leg match. On Friday Ochsenhausen and FC. Saarbrücken will meet in the second semifinals.

Borussia Düsseldorf is a step closer to reach the finals of the 2015-16 Bundesliga. The record-breaking club posted a sweeping victory over TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell in the first leg of semifinals.  

Timo Boll paved the way to victory as he overcame Jonathan Groth by 11-9, 11-6 and 11-5. In the second match Patrick Franziska defeated Wang Xi by 11-5, 11-7 and 11-7. In the third match Sharath Kamal Achanta beat Ruwen Filus by 11-6, 11-6 and 11-4.   

The second leg match will be held on 24th April.   On Friday the second semifinal between TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and FC Saarbrücken TT will be played. 

Kong Linghui: Bad Luck In The World Championships

Liu Shiwen, Li Xiaoxia and Ding Ning all successfully defended the championship title for the Chinese Women’s Team in this year’s World Team Championships. It was actually a sweep victory for the Chinese Team but the process was not very ideal. Li Xiaoxia was stretched into a decider. According to Kong Linghui, it was not their lucky match but good thing they are dominant.   

Tencent Sports. The Chinese Women’s Team was the winner in the World Team Championships but Kong Linghui thinks that luck wasn’t on their side in the final match.   The Women’s Team event ended with China and Japan in the finals. Liu Shiwen was the first player and swept Ai Fukuhara.   The second match was between Li Xiaoxia and Kasumi Ishikawa. The Chinese Women’s Team head coach Kong Linghui expected Kasumi Ishikawa to have big changes in the competition, after all she would want to have a breakthrough.    

Indeed, Kasumi Ishikawa forced the Grand Slam champion Li Xiaoxia into the decider. “This was the first time that Kasumi Ishikawa gave her a lot of pressure.” Kong Linghui said.    

As the coach, Kong Linghui also had some backup plan incase something will turn out wrong in the second match. “If we lost the second match, we can still play. I arranged Ding Ning for the third match because last year, she was able to win very comfortably against Mima Ito twice.” He added.   But after three matches, China won against Japan. “Actually, luck wasn’t so good to us during the whole match in the finals but our entire team is dominant.” Kong Linghui concluded.