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Adding to success, Marc Ledoux and José Manuel Ramirez, most successful players in Santiago

Published in Table Tennis

Monday, 27 January 2020 05:50

Winner of men’s singles class 8, Marc Ledoux joined forces with Frenchman Thomas Bouvais and Germany’s Jochen Wollmert to secure the top prize in class 6-8.

On a day when all team events were held on a group all-play-all basis, the Europeans, the top seeds, finished ahead of the Chilean trio formed by Ignacio Torres, Claudio Bahamondes and Osvaldo Torres.

Good form maintained by Marc Ledoux, it was the same from José Manuel Ruiz. Partnering colleague Jorge Cardona, the player he had beaten in the class 10 final, the duo secured the men’s team class 9-10 title finishing ahead of the Brazilians Carlos Carbinatti and Lucas dos Santos.

Surprise outcome

Success as expected, it was the same in women’s team class 7-10 but not in men’s team class 1-5.

In the former, Japan’s Nazomi Takeuchi and Lucie Hautière of France finished ahead of the host nation’s Ailyn Espinoza and Francisca del Carmen Morales; in the latter Cristian Gonzalez and Maximiliano Rodriguez, like Ailyn Espinoza and Francisca del Carmen Morales from Chile, caused an upset.

The no.2 seed, they recorded a 2-1 win against the combination of Frenchman, Nicolas Savant-Aira who lined up alongside Brazil’s Ecildo Lopez de Oliveira and Iranildo Espindola, the top seeds, to seal the title.

The only defeat of the day, Nicolas Savant-Aira and Brazil’s Ecildo Lopez de Oliveira finished in second place.

Proceedings concluded in Santiago, attention now turns to Alexandria; the 2020 Egypt Para Open commences on Saturday 1st February.

2020 Chile Para Open: Draw and Results

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The Algarve, idyllic setting marks start of 2020 ITTF World Veteran Tour

Published in Table Tennis

Monday, 27 January 2020 06:55

It is the start of the second year of a very successful initiative; in 2019 over 700 players competed in five tournaments, the destinations being China, Australia, the United States, Qatar and Wales.

The World Veteran Tour is a series of events focused on providing veteran players the opportunity to compete in a globally connected, professionally organized, managed series of events held under the direction of the International Table Tennis Federation.

Open to any player age 40 years and older, the initiative follows the well-established World Veteran Championships system of group play followed by main draw and consolation. Thus all entrants are guaranteed a high volume of matches.

Events

Based on age groups events comprise: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles. Selected tournaments will also feature mixed doubles; competitions without mixed doubles will also include an open singles competition.

An innovative feature of the World Veteran Tour is the “Champion of Champions”; an event in which the men’s singles and women’s singles winners in each age group compete in a single elimination, handicapped tournament to be crowned the “Champion of Champion.”

Entry dates

Entries for the Portugal Open commence on Saturday 1st February and close on Wednesday 1st April; for all other tournaments the entry system will be open beginning Monday, 17 February. The closing date is 30 days prior to the first day of the tournament.

2020 ITTF Veteran World Tour

Lagos, Portugal
Karlskrona, Sweden
Singapore
Istanbul, Turkey
Aalborg, Denmark
Vancouver, Canada

Please note that further tournaments may be added shortly.

For further information

Contact: José Bentes Email [email protected]

2020 ITTF World Veterans Tour: Event Page

ITTF World Veteran Tour: Official Website

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Egypt leads African charge in Magdeburg

Published in Table Tennis

Monday, 27 January 2020 09:07

Prior to the start of proceedings the Egyptian delegation has been in Germany preparing for the tournament under the direction of Maged Ashour, national coach.

Notably, in addition to Omar Assar, compatriots Khalid Assar as well as veteran Ahmed Ali Saleh, are named on the entry list alongside Mohamed Shouman, Karim Elhakem and Mahmoud Helmy.

Also, having now put the disappointment of missing out on team qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last week in Gondomar, Nigeria’s Quadri Quadri and Olajide Omotayo will also be competing in Magdeburg.

Positive

Disappointed with the outcome in the Portuguese town but Olajide Omotayo is a most positive character, notably last year he won the men’s singles title at the African Games, undoubtedly a watershed in his career.

“I hope and believe I can make it to Tokyo 2020, because I know that my winning the African Games means more hard work and that is why I am going to compete in some of the elite tournaments this year. I am starting with the German Open with the hope that playing against the best in the world will toughen me and also help me to be in shape for the African Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Tunisia next month.” Olajide Omotayo

Olajide Omotayo and Omar Assar must start their journey in the preliminary stage, a situation that applies also to Quadri Aruna, a tournament that witnesses the vast majority of the top 16 players in the world listed in the seeding; the Nigerian is the 18th in the order of preference.

Notable names

Significantly, Africa’s most improved player in 2019, Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw will be hoping to repeat the form that saw him rise to no.76 in on the current World rankings. Based in Denmark he starts his quest in the second preliminary round. He partners Olajide Omotayo in the men’s doubles.

Meanwhile African female stars, Egypt’s Dina Meshref and Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou will also be in action in the women’s singles as part of their build up for the 2020 Africa Top 16 Cup to be staged next month in Tunisia.

Sarah Hanffou, who is eager to compete at Tokyo 2020, will also be using the tournament to tune up for the African Olympic Qualifying Tournament. She hopes to seal one of the four slots at stake in Tunis.

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Withdrawals but array of talent quite staggering

Published in Table Tennis

Monday, 27 January 2020 10:12

Originally amongst the seeded players, the absence of Hugo Calderano means that the final seeded position amongst the top 16 names is that of Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik, presently standing at no.13 on the men’s world rankings, having at the time of entries being listed at no.18.

Quite simply that fact alone underlines the quality of the competition that witness the top names in the current order of merit heading the entry. Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong and Ma Long occupy the top three places, already selected for the China at the forthcoming World Team Championships in Busan and undoubtedly the trio that will be on duty at the ensuing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Endorses quality

Furthermore, the qualification event also endorses the high level of the entry; the stand out name is very much that of Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus with 27 ITTF World Tour men’s singles titles to his credit but also note those of Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Frenchman Simon Gauzy.

Likewise, the names of Portugal’s Marcos Freitas, Kanak Jha and Omar Assar appear as do two further players who last year most certainly made an impression.

Korea Republic’s An Jaehyun will be on duty in the preliminary stages, sensationally a semi-finalist at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships, as will China’s Zhao Zihao, a young man who made a major impact towards the end of last year. Notably on the ITTF World Tour he was the runner up in Bulgaria and Austria.

Also add the likes of Fang Bo, also from China, the runner up at the Qoros 2015 World Championships plus that of Chinese Taipei’s venerable Chuang Chih-Yuan, the winner at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in 2002 in Stockholm and there is one conclusion.

A mouth watering tournament awaits and that’s just the qualification!

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Former fly-half Ward questions Sexton's captaincy credentials

Published in Rugby

Monday, 27 January 2020 05:22

Former fly-half Tony Ward believes new Ireland captain Johnny Sexton must be better at adapting during games and improve his demeanour on the field.

Sexton, 34, was named captain for the Six Nations by new coach Andy Farrell.

"I do have concerns over Johnny's temperament on the field. I think he has to question his own personality and how he adapts in games," said Ward.

"I would go with Sexton for now but he has to prove himself suitable for that position over the next few weeks."

Sexton, who has previously captained Leinster, will skipper Ireland in Saturday's Six Nations opener against Scotland in Dublin.

"I've questioned Johnny as captain of Leinster. To me a captain has to be a 'go to' player on the field," added Ward on BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound programme.

"When things aren't going well for you there needs to be somebody you can turn to and give you a little boost of confidence.

"Johnny's demeanour in the past hasn't leant itself to that type of relationship with his fellow players.

"That's where I think he has to be a positive influence on the squad, beginning against the Scots. Captaincy is still about out there on the pitch and also important is the relationship you build with match officials.

"I think in James Ryan Ireland have a captain-in-waiting but he should continue to learn. I've no doubt Ryan will take over in a year or two."

'More adventurous in selection'

Ward says the appointment of Farrell to succeed Joe Schmidt as head coach provides the opportunity for "a level of change, as well as an element of continuity".

"What excites me is we are going along to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday and we don't know what to expect," added the 19-times capped back.

"I've been a believer that an Irish rugby team has to be picked in the here and now and I'd like to see a few changes for next week's team against the Scots.

"Where there is a balance to be struck between in-form players, young players and tried-and-trusted players who there is a question mark over, I think we've got to be a little more adventurous in our selection.

"I'm fascinated by what changes Mike Catt is going to make coming in as attacking coach as he played a very adventurous style of rugby himself.

"I'm hoping that's the philosophy he'll bring to Ireland - but how measured will that be?"

Murray or Cooney at number nine?

Ward has been impressed with the form of Ulster scrum-half John Cooney this season and while he would select the ex-Connacht number nine he believes Farrell will opt for continuity in the form of Munster's Conor Murray.

"For me the bottom line is always current form and watching Cooney over the early part of the season he has been absolutely outstanding.

"Murray had a particularly good game for Munster in their last Champions Cup game, albeit against an Ospreys team with nothing to play for.

"The obvious argument might be for Murray and Sexton to continue playing together but I would like to see a few changes and I do think form should be acknowledged.

"I would bring Cooney in at nine but I don't think Farrell will. I suspect he may stay with the tried-and-trusted combination."

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Sam Moore: Cardiff Blues sign ex-England Under-20s number eight from Sale

Published in Rugby

Monday, 27 January 2020 11:00

Cardiff Blues have signed Wales-qualified number eight Sam Moore from Sale Sharks with immediate effect.

The ex-England Under-20s back-rower is the son of former Swansea and Cardiff lock Steve, who played three times for Wales in 1997.

Moore, 21, was part of England's 2018 Six Nations squad as an apprentice, but returns to Wales after signing a long-term deal in the capital.

"I view myself as a Welshman," said Moore.

Moore, who was born in Cardiff but brought up in England, attended Sedburgh School in Cumbria and represented England at under-16s, 18s and 20s level.

His opportunities at Sale Sharks were limited because of injuries and back-row resources at the English club.

Born in Cardiff

Moore is currently sidelined through injury, but is expected to be fit within a few weeks as he seeks to emulate his father and uncle Andy who also played second-row for Wales.

"I am convinced this is the best place for me to progress my career," said Moore

"I am grateful to Sale, who gave me my first opportunity. I have been in their system since I was 14 and have a huge amount of friends there.

"But I was born in Cardiff and my dad played here in the 1990s so it is a place that is close to my heart and I cannot wait to get started at the Arms Park.

"While I grew up in England and came through the system there it would be great to reach the same heights as my dad and uncle.

"I am well aware that it all starts with the Blues and that is my sole focus."

Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill has been looking for a ball-carrying number eight.

"Sam is a player with enormous potential and it is great to get him here straight away," said Mulvihill.

Pivac's welcome

"The fact England named him in their 2018 Six Nations squad is testament to that potential and we are confident he can realise it at Cardiff Blues.

"Number eight is a position we needed to strengthen and Sam will bring a physical and athletic presence.

"He has all of the attributes necessary and has a huge appetite to succeed."

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac welcomed Moore's arrival in regional rugby.

"It's great to see another Welsh player joining one of the Welsh regions," said Pivac.

"Sam is a big, athletic man with a big future in the game."

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Six Nations 2020: Eddie Jones warns England of curse of World Cup finalists

Published in Rugby

Monday, 27 January 2020 08:25

Eddie Jones has warned his England players of the curse of the World Cup finalists as they prepare for their Six Nations opener against France in Paris.

England fell at the final hurdle at last year's World Cup in Japan, beaten 32-12 by South Africa.

The previous four beaten World Cup finalists all went on to experience a sharp slump in form.

"It's really important we understand what has happened to World Cup finalists," Jones told BBC Sport.

"There has been a decline and in some teams a massive decline in year one."

Since 2003, every team who has finished runners-up in the global showpiece has been dumped out of the following World Cup at the quarter-finals stage.

Speaking from England's warm-weather training camp in Portugal, Jones added: "Some of the reasons we have come up with are: a) they have failed to cope with the expectation of being a top team, or b) they don't have that relentless, forensic search for how to get better because they feel like they have made it."

England gathered in camp last Wednesday evening and travelled to the Algarve on Thursday before holding a series of meetings on Friday and Saturday, addressing both the Saracens situation as well as how to kick on after coming so close in Japan.

"We want to make sure we understand what the potential threats are, and then we can deal with them," Jones explained.

"Maybe sometimes the players can be comfortable and maybe the coaches can be comfortable.

"But that relentless desire to be better is what I'm seeing with this team already. I'm so pleased the way they have come into camp."

Jones admits he is dealing with a group of players in a markedly different place to four years ago, when they were recovering from a chastening World Cup experience on home soil.

"In 2016 we inherited a team with poor confidence, searching for redemption, and now we have a team with an enhanced reputation and players with enhanced reputations," he added.

"But what I'm seeing with the players is an absolute desire to be a much better team. We want to be the greatest team the game of rugby has ever seen. That's a big dream but why not go for it? We are quite capable of getting there."

First up for England is a young French team at the Stade de France, with new boss Fabien Galthie picking a host of rookies as he targets home World Cup glory in 2023.

Jones has turned the heat up on Les Bleus, questioning whether their callow group will be able to cope with the unique pressures of Test rugby.

"Test match rugby requires experience and France have decided not to take experience in, they've gone with youth. And they might be wrong, they might be right," he said.

"We don't know but it is going to test those young players because they will never have played against a brutal physicality and intensity that we are going to play with on Sunday."

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'It was completely separate to rugby' - Ashton did not understand Sarries were breaching salary cap

Published in Rugby

Monday, 27 January 2020 11:05

Former Saracens wing Chris Ashton says he did not understand that the club was breaching the salary cap when owner Nigel Wray invested in a property with him.

The 32-year-old was named in a leaked report into relegated Sarries' misdemeanours on Thursday.

Ashton, a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union Weekly podcast, has spoken to a lawyer about the leak.

"[The investment] was completely separate to the rugby for me," he said.

"Nigel was never involved in any negotiations of contracts or anything like that so I saw Nigel as a businessman outside of rugby that I went to see to get a loan, like I would from the bank.

"It was completely separate to my contract. Nigel likes property, he invests in property. He came along to the house to see it with me, we had a look round and he gave some thoughts on what we could do.

"I can completely understand why people are annoyed about it because it is a benefit that you don't get at other clubs. Now I do understand. I do see it. At the time, I didn't."

'Frustrating' lack of confidentiality

Ashton joined Saracens in 2012 and stayed for five years, moving to French side Toulon in 2017 before signing for Premiership team Sale in 2018.

The wing says he has now paid Wray back, but that at one time the former Saracens chairman owned 20% of his house.

Although confidential information was redacted in the version of the Saracens report published by Premiership Rugby, the identities of some players were in the public domain after the full report was leaked.

"My name got brought up with the Saracens leaks, which I'm not too happy about at all," Ashton added on Rugby Union Weekly.

"Whoever I spoke to about it told me it was going to be completely confidential so I was pretty upset that that was broken. It's pretty frustrating.

"I've spoken to a lawyer who works with us all through the Rugby Players' Association to see how we go about this.

"We did have confidentiality agreements and that has been thrown out the window. We'll see if there is anything in it."

'I asked Nigel if he would help me buy a family home'

Ashton says he was two years into a four-year contract at Saracens when he entered into the co-investment with Wray.

His wife Melissa was pregnant and they "wanted to find a place to stay in forever and make a family home".

"I knew Nigel had done it previously with some players and staff - he invests in a lot of property in and around London," explained Ashton.

"I went along to ask him. We'd found a house we liked that needed some work doing to it. I went along to ask Nigel if he would help me buy it and help do the house up.

"So we'd invest in it together. We'd both put the same deposit in. I got the mortgage and we lived in it, did the house up and I still have it.

"We had a solicitors drawn-up contract to say that Nigel owned his percentage of the house and when the house was sold he would receive all his money back. I've paid that back."

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IMPACT Racing Extends Pact With DSR

Published in Racing

Monday, 27 January 2020 07:06

BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Don Schumacher Racing has announced that IMPACT Racing has extended its agreement with the team through the 2021 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

As the official safety supplier of DSR, IMPACT outfits the Brownsburg, Ind.-based team with firesuits, helmets, gloves, shoes, boots, belts, and parachutes, among other safety-related products.

“Our partnership with IMPACT extends back three owners,” said DSR team owner Don Schumacher, who is heralded as a pioneer in the safety of drag racing. “We started with founder Bill Simpson about 16 years ago, and have grown with the company as it has evolved into the highly-recognized brand that is seen around the dragstrip in both the Sportsman and pro pits today.”

Although Schumacher focuses on winning races and championships, safety has always been his highest priority. When he was driving, he contributed cutting-edge safety innovations for Funny Cars, including a roof-mounted escape hatch that allowed drivers to quickly exit when fires occurred. He was also the first to mount the lever to activate a fire suppression system on his Funny Car’s brake handle so the driver could apply both while keeping one hand on the butterfly steering wheel.

“Safety is of the utmost concern and is the driving force behind several modifications that we’ve made to our cars at DSR over the years, most notably, the Top Fuel canopy,” said Schumacher, referring to the 2011 project he funded and spearheaded to develop a protective, enclosed canopy for Top Fuel dragsters. “Choosing safety equipment for our teams is no different. We’re very selective with who we choose to outfit our drivers. We only want the very best, which is why we’ve trusted IMPACT for so many years.”

“IMPACT is proud to continue the ongoing relationship with DSR,” said Lorenzo Cucia, IMPACT Managing Director. “With Don and everyone at DSR having the trust that we will provide their drivers with the best is a huge honor for everyone at IMPACT. DSR has been a valuable asset. Our priorities are safety and providing drivers with the best-innovated products.”

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Tate Fogleman Joins Young’s Motorsports

Published in Racing

Monday, 27 January 2020 07:19

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Young’s Motorsports has signed Tate Fogleman to drive the team’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado for the upcoming NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season.

The Durham, N.C., native – is a third-generation racer and the son of super late model and former NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, Jay Fogleman. La Grange, N.C., based Solid Rock Carriers has partnered with Fogleman as the primary sponsor of the No. 02.

Fogleman first climbed behind the wheel of a stock car when he was 7 years old and hasn’t looked back. At 15 years old he became the youngest Pro All-Star Series South super late model champion. The High Point University sophomore has previously made three Truck Series starts, his best finish being 15th at Michigan Int’l Speedway in 2018 and has continued to compete in both PASS and CARS Super Late Model Tour events.

“I am looking forward to getting back to work with the Young’s Motorsports guys,” said Fogleman. “I think we will be able to accomplish a lot this year. Chad (Kendrick), my crew chief, knows how driven I am to race and we are ready to tackle this season head-on. Huge thanks to my longtime sponsor Solid Rock Carriers for coming on board the truck this season. They have been supporting me since I started pro late model racing when I was 12, and I’m truly honored to have them on the truck. I am really grateful to Tyler Young and the Young family for their support and this opportunity.”

Entering his fourth season with the organization, Truck Series veteran Chad Kendrick will serve as crew chief.

“We are looking forward to this year, another great opportunity for Young’s Motorsports and myself to team up with one of the up and coming young talents in racing. Tate has driven a few races for us and shown tremendous potential. We are setting realistic, but high goals for the 2020 season. Gateway (World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis, M.O.) being one of the most challenging tracks we race was his first time in a truck – he picked it up very quickly and was very competitive so I am excited to build on that. Tate is a talented super late model racer and seems eager and willing to do what it takes to run well at one of the highest levels of racing. It’s not often you get paired with a driver that shares your energy and drive to compete, I can’t wait to get the season kicked off with him.”

Kendrick has six Truck Series victories to his credit and has previously manned the helm for Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, Tyler Dippel, Austin Hill, Daniel Hemric, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.

“Our organization is thrilled to get Tate back into one of our trucks,” said team principal Tyler Young. “2019 was a huge year for us and we are excited to have such an accomplished young racer behind the wheel of the (No.) 02 truck this season.”

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