FEI European Championships Aachen 2015: Record Team Entry For Jumping Championships

Riders from a bigger spread of nations than ever before will line out when the FEI European Jumping Championships 2015 get underway in Aachen, Germany next week. A new high was reached when the list of definite Jumping entries was confirmed today, and a massive 28 nations will be represented, while 23 countries will field teams and five will send individuals.

The full list of nations is Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.

This is the 32nd edition of the FEI European Jumping Championships, and the fifth time for the event to take place at Aachen. The inaugural FEI European Jumping Championship was held in Rotterdam (NED) in 1957 when German legend, Hans Gunther Winkler, claimed the title. Only individuals competed in the early editions, but as soon as the team event was introduced at Munich (GER) in 1975, Germany laid claim to that too. The German record in these championships is second to none, with 14 individual and seven team titles to their credit.

Defending the team title

However it is the British who will be defending the team title they won in Herning, Denmark two years ago when the action gets underway on Wednesday 19 August, while Frenchman Roger Yves Bost returns as defending individual champion. The British have a strong record at the Europeans, with six individual and five team titles already on the record books. Their 2013 victory came hot on the heels of their gold-medal-winning performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games, but this time around they will be without their world no 1 rider Scott Brash who was a critical member of that successful side. Michael Whitaker steps up to the challenge once again however as does Ben Maher, while the veteran Guy Williams, Joe Clee and the relative newcomer Jessica Mendoza complete the pack. The British broke a 60-year drought when winning Olympic team gold in 2012, yet they still haven’t managed to qualify for Rio 2016. So, along with many others, they will really be feeling the heat next week when the final team qualification is up for grabs.

Despite fielding a typically formidable side, Germany had to settle for silver last time around, so Christian Ahlmann, Ludger Beerbaum, Daniel Deusser, Janne Friederike Meyer and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum will be hoping to restore normal order, especially on home ground. Sweden took bronze in 2013, and Malin Baryard-Johnsson, Douglas Lindelow, Helena Persson, Henrik von Eckermann and Charlotte Mordanini will be hoping to put their country back on that podium. The Irish are in fighting form and completely focused on claiming one of the three Olympic qualifying spots available, but with so many others including the Belgians and the Swiss chasing the same goal it will be no easy feat.

There will be no place to hide from the moment the first individual qualifier begins, because every single jump will count in the battle for both the FEI European Jumping Championships 2015 titles and one of those coveted tickets for Rio.

Individual honours

Roger Yves Bost was only the fifth French rider ever to claim the individual European honours two years ago. Great Britain’s Ben Maher went into the final competition with the narrowest of leads, but a fence down saw him having to settle for silver ahead of team-mate Scott Brash who rose from overnight 10th place to take bronze when producing the only double-clear performance of the day.

Bost was following in famous footsteps, as the list of previous French champions included Pierre Durand and the legendary Jappeloup who first topped the podium at St Gallen (SUI) in 1987, Eric Navet who reigned supreme on home turf at La Baule (FRA) in 1991, Alexandra Ledermann and Rochet M – the first woman ever to take the title – who headed the line-up in Hickstead (GBR) in 1999 and Kevin Staut and Kraque Boom who were winners in Windsor (GBR) in 2009. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum is the only other female champion, pipping Belgium’s Jos Lansink in a thriller at Mannheim (GER) in 2007 during the peak of her partnership with the great Shutterfly. And in the fabulous grey Fibonacci, the American-born German rider has found an extraordinarily talented replacement, so she cannot be overlooked once the action kicks off.

However 96 riders will be carrying all their hopes and dreams onto the hallowed turf of the Soers arena at Aachen in seven days’ time, and these Championships, which have turned up some of the most memorable moments of this great sport down the years, promise plenty of drama and excitement before the 2015 champions are crowned.

Rules and Competition Format

Wednesday 19th August – First qualifying competition, individuals and teams. Table C (penalties turned into seconds added), fence height 1.50m, open to all athletes and horses declared as starters in the team and individual championship. Starting order decided by a draw.

Following this first competition the scores obtained by each athlete will be converted into points. The athlete with the lowest number of points will be given zero penalties.

Thursday 20th August – Round 1 of team competition, second individual competition. Table A, 1.60, open to all athletes who took part in the first competition. Individuals go first.

Friday 21st August – Team competition final and third individual competition. Table A, not against the clock, 1.60m. Open to the top 50 individuals who carry penalties forward from first individual qualifier and round 1 of the team event. Open to the top 10 teams following the previous day’s competition, including those tied for 10th place. In case of equality of points there will be a jump-off for the team medal positions.

Sunday 23rd August – Individual final open to 25 best-places athletes and horses including ties for 25th place. Two different 1.60m courses will be jumped, with 10-12 obstacles in round A and 8-10 obstacles in round B. Competitors will start in reverse order of merit in both rounds. Individual medals will be determined by adding together penalties from the first competition, the two rounds of the team competition and the two rounds of the final competition.

The British topped the team podium for the first time in 24 years when coming out on top at the PSI FEI European Team Jumping Championship in Herning, Denmark two years ago. This time around they will be chasing not only a back-to-back double, but also one of the three Olympic qualifying spots on offer at the FEI European Championships in Aachen, Germany. (L to R) The 2013 gold medal winning team of Scott Brash, Will Funnell, Chef d’Equipe Rob Hoekstra, Michael Whitaker and Ben Maher. (FEI/Kit Houghton)

Facts and Figures:

The FEI European Jumping Championships begin on Wednesday 19 August and run through to the individual final on Sunday 23 August.

Competitors from 28 nations will participate.

23 countries have entered teams.

5 nations will be represented by individual riders.

A total of 96 horse-and-rider combinations are listed in the definite entries (11 August 2015).

This is the 32nd edition of the FEI European Jumping Championships, and the fifth time for the event to take place in Aachen.

The inaugural FEI European Jumping Championship took place in Rotterdam (NED) in 1957.

Only individuals competed in the early Championships. The team event was first introduced at Munich (GER) in 1975.

Back-to-back individual champions – Great Britain’s David Broome with Mr Softee at Rotterdam (NED) in 1967 and Hickstead (GBR) in 1969.

Back-to-back triple champions – Germany’s Paul Schockemohle and Deister at Munich (GER) in 1981, Hickstead (GBR) in 1983 and Dinard (FRA) in 1985.

Germany holds the record for the biggest number of individual victories with 14 in total over the last 58 years.

Germany also holds the record for the greatest number of wins in the team event, with seven to date.

Only one horse has ever won the individual European Jumping title with two different riders – the Irish-bred Mr Softee who claimed gold for David Barker in 1962 and then produced back-to-back victories for fellow-Briton David Broome in 1967 and 1969.

Defending champions are the British who produced their fifth win at the last Championships staged in Herning, Denmark in 2013.

For more information on the FEI European Championships 2015 in Aachen visit http://www.aachen2015.de.

Classy Czechs Cruise To Victory At Europe Division 2 Opener In Linz

On an day of ever-changing fortunes for many of the other sides, a crack foursome from the Czech Republic took the lead at the halfway stage and held on to secure a convincing victory in the opening leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 Europe Division 2 League at Linz in Austria. Zuzana Zelinkova, Emma Augier de Moussac, Ondrej Zvara and Ales Opatrny finished on a final tally of just two faults to leave them well ahead of the runners-up from Ukraine who completed with eight. Team Germany lined up third ahead of Poland in fourth, while the exciting young side from Luxembourg slotted into fifth ahead of Finland in sixth place.

The was great joy in the Czech camp in the aftermath, and a sense that they have really arrived. Success in Europe Division 2 of the Furusiyya series is not entirely new to them as they also came out on top in Budapest, Hungary last season. But today’s result, which earned them the maximum 100 points towards qualification for the Furusiyya 2015 Final, suggests a significant strengthening of their position, backed up by a brilliant performance from their second-line partnership of 23-year-old Augier de Moussac and her 10-year-old gelding, Charly Brown, who produced the only double-clear of the competition.

The right level

Franz Madl’s 12-fence track was pitched at just the right level, with less-experienced riders gaining valuable experience while the more seasoned campaigners were still well-tested. A double – vertical to oxer – preceded the big 4-metre-wide open water which claimed a large number of victims in both rounds and that was followed off a wide right-handed sweeping turn to a 1.60m wall that represented the Austrian national flag and crest. The early drama of the day included a spectacular display of naughtiness from Finland’s path-finding 11-year-old grey, Lennox Luis, who threw a temper tantrum when asked to turn away from the out-gate and go down to the wall, and who wasn’t satisfied until he threw himself on the ground and unseated his rider, Henri Kovacs.

Meanwhile the end of the course presented plenty of questions, with the penultimate triple combination taking a heavy toll. Augier de Moussac commented afterwards, “it was partly difficult because it was at the end of the track and the time was short. If you over-rode to the triple bar going in, then it was easy to have the vertical down or meet the last oxer on a bad stride” she explained. And talking about the open water she added, “I’m lucky I have such a good jumper because I hate water, I always add a stride going in and Charly was brilliant in both rounds!”

Reduced to eight

The maximum permitted quota of 13 teams was reduced to eight for the second round which began with another spectacular display from Kovacs’ Lennox Luis, but this time of the very best kind as the horse jumped brilliantly from start to finish, collecting just a single time-fault when over the 77 seconds time-allowed. This boosted Finnish morale, but despite a much-improved second effort they would only succeed in moving up two places, from eighth to sixth. The Turkish team carried 14 faults into the second round and didn’t improve from seventh spot when hampered by elimination for their opening rider Derin Demirsoy who parted company with his 12-year-old Holsteiner, Colino, after a mistake at fence five.

Luxembourg carried 12 faults after impressive four-fault efforts from Christian Weier (Global) Victor Bettendorf (Sorbier Blanc) and Noemie Goergen (Smint 2), and, adding only nine more they moved up one place to finish fifth. But the real battle was played out between the Ukrainians who carried eight into round two, the Germans, Poles and Hungarians carrying just four faults each and the Czechs out in front on a zero score.

Chances were dashed

Hungarian chances were dashed by the addition of 28 to see them plummet down the order, and Poland moved on to a 16-fault scoreline despite a last-to-go clear from Marek Lewicki and Abigej. Jorne Sprehe’s clear with Luna, that included a breath-taking leap over the water, ensured Germany only had to add nine to their tally, but three clears from the Ukraine pinned the Germans back to third spot, Katharina Offel (Quebracho Semilly), Cassio Rivetti (Forlap) and Rene Tebbel (Cooper 75) never putting a foot wrong.

The Czechs however had it in the bag after third-line rider, Zvara, returned with five faults when his grey stallion, Cento Lano, hit the oxer at fence six and was a little late through the timers. Zusana Zelinkova and her fabulous and flashy stallion Caleri ll, whose only mistake first time out was at the wall, returned with just a single time penalty and when Augier de Moussac posted a second clear then Zvara’s error only moved their running total onto an unbeatable six faults. So when Ales Opatrny and Acovardo set off it was cosmetic, his single time fault in another brilliant tour of the track negating Zvara’s five and increasing the winning margin by a full six faults.

The team from the Czech Republic won the first leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 Europe Division 2 League at Linz, Austria today: (L to R) Ales Opatrny, Emma Augier de Moussac, Chef d’Equipe Martin Ohnheiser, Zuzana Zelinkova and Ondrej Zvara. (FEI/Herve Bonnaud)

Great team spirit

“We have great team spirit, we support each other a lot” said Augier de Moussac who competed on last year’s winning Czech team at Budapest and at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy with her other top ride, Danthe. “Charly Brown is a new horse for me, my sister broke her wrist last year and he was only jumping up to 1.35m until last summer with her. He’s come a long way in a very short time!” explained the talented French-born rider who has been based with her trainer, Vincent Voorn, in Eindhoven, Holland for the last 18 months.

“I believed we could hold on!” she said, when asked about her team being in the lead at the halfway stage. “Our horses all jumped grand, but it’s only my second time in a Nations Cup and I didn’t know what to expect exactly. My horse stayed very calm in both rounds though.”

And Martin Ohnheiser, who made his debut as Czech Chef d’Equipe today, could hardly believe how things worked out. “I’m absolutely over the moon; what a great feeling!” he said.

Next Friday, 15 May, two legs of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping series will take place. La Baule, France hosts the second round of Europe Division 1, and for all details on the French fixture go to http://www.labaule-cheval.com or contact Press Officer Veronique Gauthier, Email veronique-gauthier@club-internet.fr

The second leg of Europe Division 2 will be held on the same afternoon at Odense in Denmark, and for further information on the Danish fixture check out website http://www.firsthorsegrandprix.dk

Result:

1. Czech Republic 2 faults: Caleri ll (Zuzanna Zelinkova) 4/1, Charly Brown (Emma Augier de Moussac) 0/0, Cento Lano (Ondrej Zvara) 0/5, Acovardo (Ales Opatrny) 0/1.

2. Ukraine 8 faults: Quebracho Semilly (Katharina Offel) 4/0, Forlap (Cassio Rivetti) 5/0, Chadino (Ferenc Sxzentirmai) 0/4, Cooper 75 (Rene Tebbel) 4/0.

3. Germany 13 faults: Che Guevara (Joerg Oppermann) 4/8, Luna (Jorne Sprehe) 4/0, La Luna (Andreas Kreuzer) 0/4, Cashmoaker (Denis Nielsen) 0/5.

4. Poland 16 faults: Wavantos vd Renvillehoeve (Lukasz Wasilewski) 4/9, Osadkowski van Halen (Piotr Morsztyn) 0/4, Emperio van’t Roosakker (Zuzanna Gowin) 0/8, Abigej (Marek Lewicki) 16/0.

5. Luxembourg 21 faults: Global (Christian Weier) 4/1, Sorbier Blanc (Victor Bettendorf) 4/4, Smint 2 (Noemle Goergen) 4/13, Kiwi du Gibet (Charlotte Bettendorf) 8/4.

6. Finland 23 faults: Lennox Luis (Henri Kovacs) Elim/1, Cue Channa (Sebastian Numminen) 4/4, Celestine (Satu Liukkonen) 8/1, Vincente (Maiji Mallet) 5/4.

7. Turkey 27 faults: Colino (Derin Demirsoy) 5/Elim, Chaccomo (Cagri Basel) 1/5, Chiara (Husnu Dinc) 8/4, Dadjak ter Puttenen) Omer Karaevli) 8/4.

8. Hungary 32 faults: Esprit (Emil Orban) 0/12, Zordon (Balazs Horvath) 0/8, Chacco Boy (Mariann Hugyecz) 4/8, Casinger (Gyula Szuhai) Ret/23.

Facts and Figures:

Linz in Austria presented the first leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping European Division 2 League today, with the team from the Czech Republic coming out on top.

A total of 13 nations started in the first round, with nine chasing points towards the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 Final which will take place in Barcelona, Spain in September.

8 teams went through to the second round.

Course designer was Austria’s Franz Madl.

10 horse-and-rider combinations jumped clear in the first round including 3 from the Czech Republic who led the way at the halfway stage.

Only four jumped clear in the second round.

Just one double-clear performance on the day, from Czech Republic’s second-line horse-and-rider partnership Charly Brown ridden by Emma Augier de Moussac.

Quotes:

Emma Augier de Moussac: “I was born in France, but I’ve been meeting all of the other team riders through the years and we are always there for each other”

Zuzana Zelinkova: “Today was an absolutely super day of sport, and getting first place is just amazing. This is our second Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ win following our triumph last year in Budapest. I really want to thank my teammates for their unbelievable performance!”

Emma Augier de Moussac: “I am ever so proud to be part of this team. You can never get tired of winning and I want to experience more moments like this.”

Ondrej Zvara: “The course today was great, and it went very well. My horse doesn’t usually make many faults to start with, and the challenging part – the triple – he dealt with well so a great day overall.”

Franz Madl (Course Designer): I would firstly like to congratulate the Czech team for their magnificent win today. I am, however, disappointed that Austria couldn’t make it further!”

Louise Parkes

Egypt, Luxembourg are top seeds, ITTF Lagos World Tour serves off

Egypt’s Omar Assar and Luxembourg’s Ni Xialian are top seeded players as the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour tagged Nigeria Open serves off on Monday June 23 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria.

Speaking at the pre-tournament briefing, the President, International Table Tennis Federation, Adam Sharara was particularly thrilled by the organization of the Lagos World Tour while commending the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for their giant strides in the last one year.

In the seeding list, Egypt’s Assar is rated number one in the men’s single, while Luxembourg’s 51 year-old Xialian is also rated in the women’s event.

Other seeded players are Egypt’s El-Sayed Lashin, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri in the men’s event, while the only Nigerian seeded in the women event is Edem Offiong.

In the U-21 boys’ event, Singapore’s Yin Jing Yuan is number one, while Nigeria’s Ojo Onaolapo is rated number two, while Egypt’s Dina Meshref and Nadeen El-Dawlatly are top seeds.

“I am impressed with what NTTF has been able to do in the last one year. The game is returning back to Nigeria and most importantly the quality of organization that they had put in place has really shown that Nigeria is capable of staging this tournament.

We were surprised with what they did during the Lagos Classics and this was what motivated us to decided to give them the hosting right for this tour,” Sharara said.

The ITTF helmsman, who was represented by former Deputy President, George Segun, however charged the participant to enjoy the beautiful city of Lagos with its warm hospitality.

Also, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) President, Khaled El-Salhy expressed his satisfaction with the effort made so far by NTTF, while admitting that this was what prompted the continental body to give the hosting right of the Africa Top 16 Cup to Nigeria.

For the President, NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, all is set for the kick off of the tournament as everything have been put in place to ensure smooth organisation.

For the duo of Funke Oshonaike and Segun Toriola, taking part in the tournament would surely inspire the upcoming players to aim high.

“I am happy that the game is coming back to Nigeria because with the staging of the Classics in 2013,

Nigeria is now getting more attention from ITTF and we hope that this tempo will be sustained so that Nigeria can be a force to be reckoned with in the game. We hope that we can win the tournament but it is not going to be easy,” Oshonaike admitted.

At the pre-tournament press conference held in Lagos on Sunday June 22, 2014

Players, ITTF officials arrive for Lagos World Tour

ITTF

Players from the 14 countries including host – Nigeria and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) officials will start arriving Lagos on Friday June 20, for the Lagos World Tour tagged Nigeria Open.

According to the itinerary of the teams, Singapore’s Jing Yuan Yin will be the first player expected to touch down in Lagos for the four-day tournament.

Others expected are Luxembourg’s Ni Xialian as well as Russia’s duo of Vasilij Filatov and Irina Ermakova.

The eight-man Egyptian team will arrive on Saturday June 21, while others will arrive Lagos on Sunday.

Also, ITTF officials led by African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy as well as his deputy, Henri Djombo from Congo Brazzaville will be in Lagos by Sunday.

ITTF Marketing Director, Australia’s Mr. Steve Daintom will also be in Lagos.

The draw for the championship will hold on Sunday, while some top players will be seeded for the competition.

Meanwhile, winners in the men and women singles event will get N.8m each while players that make it to the round of 16 will get cash reward for their efforts.

Semifinalists in the U-21 event will also be rewarded for their efforts.

As a Challenge Series in the ITTF World Tour, players are expected to amass points for their world ranking at the tournament.

Preliminary matches will kick off on Monday June 23, while the main draw will commence on Tuesday June 24.
Nigerian players aiming to be part of the main draw event are now sweating it out across the country with the intention of playing in the elite stage of the championship.

Some of the Nigerian players already in the country for the tournament are Germany-based Funke Oshonaike, Portugal-based Ganiat Olatunde-Aruna, as well as Italy-based Olajide Omotayo.

Over 15 countries including Nigeria will compete in the N8.5m prize money tournament holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium from June 23 to 26.

Bode Abiodun

Organisers plan big, as venue wears new look for ITTF World Tour

Defending champion of the Lagos Classics, Omar Assar

To ensure that the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-sanctioned Lagos World Tour scheduled for June 23 to 26 is successful, organisers of the tournament are putting finishing touches to preparation even as the venues are now wearing new look.

The Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium has been given a facelift while the Main Organising Committee (MOC) believes the tournament would continue to improve its standard yearly as players are expected to start arriving this week.

With teams like Egypt already in China preparing for the competition, players from Europe are also rounding off their build up this week.

A new lighting system has been installed in the hall, while the knock hall of the National Stadium that will serve as practice hall has also been renovated in preparedness for the competition.

Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium

Commonwealth champions, Singapore, Egypt and Russia and 11 other countries have been confirmed for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour tagged Nigeria Open holding this month.

MOC Chairman, Wahid Oshodi said efforts are in top gear to ensure that the facilities are ready on time, while ITTF experts in readiness for the championship will train over 100 officials.

“We are working very hard to ensure that once again we raise the standard of the tournament and we are pleading with the fans to come to the stadium to see the best of our sport.

We had players from 13 countries last year and with the closing of registration for the event, we have over 15 countries already listed for the tournament. We need the level of competition to continue to improve from year to year,” he said.

The President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) added: “As you know the top 16 players in Africa will be here to compete in the World tour as well as the Top 16.

I spoke to Omar Assar the men’s defending champion in Tokyo and he is looking forward to returning to Lagos to defend his title and continue his great relationship with the Lagos fans. Of course all our top players will be on show.”

Also, the President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy believes the MOC has the capacity to up a good show.

“I am confident that this year’s tournament will be better than last year and with what I had been reading and hearing about the organization, I hope it will be the best tournament to be staged in recent times,” the ATTF boss said.

The teams confirmed for the tournament include, Benin, Congo Brazzaville, Congo DRC, Cameroun, Ghana, Libya, Luxembourg, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo and Tunisia.

Singapore’s Jing Yuan Yin will represent the Asian nation at the tournament and the junior sensation is expected to compete in the men’s and U-21 singles.

Also, Egypt has assembled a strong eight-man team led by the defending champion of the Lagos Classics, Omar Assar as well as current Africa’s Senior’s Cup champion, El-Sayed Lashin. His sibling, Khalid, Mohamed El-Beiali and Mohamed Elsobky will also be in Lagos.

Also, Africa’s number one female player, Dina Meshref will lead the Egyptian women team, which includes Nadeen El-Dawlatly and Farah Abdel-Aziz.

Russia’s flag will be hoisted by the duo of Vasilij Filatov and Irina Ermakova, while one of the top rated player in the world, Xialian Ni will represent Luxembourg in the championship.

Singapore, Egypt, Russia, 11 others confirm for ITTF Lagos World Tour

ITTF

Commonwealth champion, Singapore, Egypt and Russia including 11 other nations have already been confirmed for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour tagged Nigeria Open holding this month.

According to the list of confirmed countries, other teams that will join host – Nigeria at the tournament scheduled to hold on June 23 to 26 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium are Benin, Congo Brazzaville, Congo DRC, Cameroun, Ghana, Libya, Luxembourg, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo and Tunisia.

Singapore’s Jing Yuan Yin will represent the Asian nation at the tournament and the junior sensation is expected to compete in the men’s and U-21 singles.

Also, Egypt has assembled a strong eight-man team led by the defending champion of the Lagos Classics, Omar Assar as well as current Africa’s Senior’s Cup champion, El-Sayed Lashin. His sibling, Khalid, Mohamed El-Beiali and Mohamed Elsobky in the men’s category, will also join Assar.

Also, the number one rated African female player in the world, Dina Meshref will lead the Egyptian women team and Nadeen El-Dawlatly, as well as Farah Abdel-Aziz will join her.

Russia’s flag will be hoisted by the duo of Vasilij Filatov and Irina Ermakova, while one of the top rated player in the world, Xialian Ni will represent Luxembourg in the championship.

According to the chairman, Main Organising Committee (MOC), Wahid Oshodi, efforts are in place to ensure that the standard of organization for this year’s competition is improved.

“A lot more of the same is expected this year and I must thank all the people that made the tournament such a great success in 2013.

The experience garnered by many members of MOC in staging various top class events in Lagos came to the fore. The support and encouragement of His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State is probably the most important factor in putting this tournament together.

We also must thank our sponsors who are proving to be excellent partners. Of course our success last year has led to the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) giving us the hosting rights of the African Top 16 alongside the World Tour.

This means that we have a lot more to do. We are working very hard to ensure that once again, we raise the standard of the tournament and we are pleading with the fans to come to the stadium to see the best of our sport,” Oshodi said.