20 Apr 2020

Catch up with the latest from your favourite table tennis stars with Player Watch.

We have another piece of club transfer news to bring you as well as a look at what has been making the rounds on social media.

by Simon Daish

Robin Devos pens deal with TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau

Belgian player Robin Devos will remain in German Bundesliga.1 for the 2020-2021 season of club action after agreeing a move to TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau.

Arriving from TTC indeland Jülich, Devos contributed the most wins for the relegated club in the 2019-2020 campaign and is the second player to sign for Grenzau this month with Romanian teenager Cristian Pletea also moving to the club from 1. FC Saarbrücken.

Reminiscing of brighter days

Strict lock down measures across the world are keeping athletes of all sports away from the action including our table tennis stars, some of whom have been in a reminiscent mood of late.

A man very much in form prior to suspension in play, England’s Liam Pitchford posted a throwback snap of himself and good friend Paul Drinkhall from their gold medal winning display at the 2018 Commonwealth Games:

 

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2 years ago today! 🥇 can’t wait to be back competing again soon 🏓 #cwg2018 #gold #doubles #teamengland

A post shared by Liam Pitchford (@liam_pitchford93) on

 

Bernadette Szocs also took the time to look back on an iconic moment from her career to date with the Romanian sharing a clip of her title celebrations at the 2018 Europe Top 16 Cup:

 

Then there’s USA’s Kanak Jha who admits he is missing the game, even if he still can’t quite believe how crazy Hugo Calderano’s counter is!:

 

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When you’re trying your best, but the game is set to World Class difficulty. #missingthegame🏓 #butterfly #pingpod

A post shared by Kanak Jha (@jhakanak) on

Players keeping busy in quarantine

Apart from reminiscing what have the players been up to during the past week in quarantine?

Georgina Pota has been keeping her skills in check with her makeshift table tennis table in the garden:

 

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#quarantinelife #quarantinetabletennis 🏓#maradjotthon #stayhome #trynewthings

A post shared by Pota Georgina (@ginus13) on

 

As for Dimitrij Ovtcharov, he appears to have found a new practice partner:

 

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Sunny training session today with my neighbour🙌 good job😊

A post shared by Dima Ovtcharov – Table tennis (@dimaovtcharov) on

 

Britt Eerland has been showing off her inner dancing queen:

 

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Omg I did it again. Little bit more flaws, but I will keep improving 💪🏻 for now just enjoy 😁 #dancevideo @butterflyttofficial

A post shared by Britt Eerland (@britteerland) on

 

While Marcos Freitas managed to catch up on some well-earned rest:

 

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Home holidays

A post shared by Marcos Freitas (@marcosfreitaspt) on

Miu Hirano celebrates her 20th

Rounding off this edition of Player Watch we have some celebratory news with Miu Hirano turning 20 on Tuesday 14th April.

The 2016 Women’s World Cup champion has enjoyed plenty of success in her teenage years and will no doubt go on to achieve even greater heights in the years ahead. Happy 20th Miu!

General News Dimitrij Ovtcharov Miu Hirano Liam Pitchford Bernadette Szocs Kanak Jha Georgina Pota Marcos Freitas Britt Eerland Robin Devos