EVC 2011: President SPACEK had a bad luck again
Even Presidents are not safe from the tough draw. At the European Veterans Championships leading persona of the Czech Table Tennis Association Zbynek SPACEK once again meet his greatest adversary in veterans days, title holder in 50-59 category from Porec YI Ding. “He beat me in Croatia two years ago in Round of 16, and then here once again. I really had tough luck,” said President SPACEK. He remained YI of their previous encounter and they both laughed. “There is good point of this. Now I do not have to run to hotel after each match to change my playing uniform for suit and tie. I can concentrate on regular meetings and business.” It is not like President does not know how to win the title. SPACEK already clinched the top prize at European veterans in Aarhus, 1991 in Doubles Event.
“I am very happy with the way the event is organized and running in Liberec. Director Milan SIMACEK is doing a good job. Everything is all right and the atmosphere is really good. It is a shame that we do not have more sun, but it is beyond our power. I am very pleased with the conditions that Tipsport hall, and the fact that each of four halls are within minutes of walk.” CTTA have been very successful organizer of two major European events in Prague and Ostrava in past two years. Now they welcomed veterans in Liberec. “We had two very successful events, and I hope that Liberec will conclude in the same way.”
Are you looking for some other Events in the future?
“It will depend of what our youngsters will do at the European Championships in Kazan next month. So far we agree to host ITTF junior event and pro tour in September, and after that we will decide should we run candidacy for the another European youth Championships.”
The financial problems and lost of one of the biggest sponsors lottery company also affected the future plans.
Mr. SPACEK played the Czech men's Extraleague for several years and currently he is also the president of El Nino Praha, one of the most important table tennis club in the Czech Republic. “We will play in the European Champions league. We are in the very tough group with Fakel Grazprom Orenburg, Levallois Sporting Club and TTC Zugbrucke Grenzau. However it is great success for us to be in ECL at the first place. If we look at the list, there are four German and French teams, and Czech Republic has two representatives, same as Russia. It is a big achievement.”
You are playing at the EVC, but are you still regular at the practice hall?
“I live 60 meters from EL Nino’s hall, but I hardly finds the time to practice more then three times in month. I want it, but there is always some problem waiting to be solved urgently.”
Milica Nikolic
ETTU Press Officer
