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andro Newsletter September 2007

Table tennis players, andro customers, fans of the fastest sport on earth!

The era of the speed-glue ban has started and it is the first time that all players world wide join their matches having this new regulation in mind.
Our new andro Newsletter deals carefully with this topic and we spoke about this change also with being responsible persons.

One highlight of the ending sport-summer was the Universade in Bangkok. andro was the equipment sponsor of the 24th World Games for students and also two andro players could finally enter on the medal-podium. As already to be seen at the last two World Championships, China was again the strongest nation and caught most of the medals.

We hope the new issue of the andro Newsletter will be an interesting reading for you and we wish you a lot of fun.

Your andro-Team

24th Universade in Bangkok China’s students once more number one – andro convinces as major equipment sponsor

Nearly expected, the table tennis tournament at the 24th Universade in Bangkok has shown a reflection of the relative strength in the world. At the Students World Games, China’s players were once more a class of their own and so they won with 13 medals nearly half of
the available trophies. Being on top of the podium in six of the seven competitions, China’s students had to accept superiority of a Taiwanese men’s double.

But also  players of the andro ProTeam reached creditable results in Thailand’s capital. Nadine Bollmeier won together with her partner Irene Ivancan in the women’s doubles the Bronze medal as well, as Nico Christ (see players profile) with the German men’s team.
Because of these two fantastic results, the German association  reached a 4th place in the nations ranking in table tennis competition behind China, Taiwan and Japan.
Besides the two medals for Bollmeier and Christ, Christ reached a remarkably good result in the single competition as well, where he and his German team mate Nico Stehle were the only non-Asian players in the men’s quarterfinals. These good results have topped off andro’s engagement at the Universade.

Once more the andro showcourt table was an eye-catcher and a part of the whole equipment which were sponsored by andro. Thus the black-yellow trend-setter brand pointed out, once more strongly its versatility and therefore was decisive part of a successful event. At the same time, andro performance was characterised by its special affinity to young, modern and cosmopolitan people.  

Player Portrait Nico Christ

Name:	Nico Christ
Birthday:	30.10.1981
Height:	180 cm
Weight:	73 kg
Nationalität:	deutsch
Nickname:	cratchgisi
Club membership:	TSV Gräfelfing

Speed-gluing series part 10:
Controlling of the new speed-glue ban DTTB-President Weikert

After the nearly paradoxical speed-glue ban of the ITTF at the Individual World Championships in Zageb, many national associations were intensively concentrated in dealing with this decision. An adjustment of the new regulations for the upcoming season was not possible for many nations because detailed information about the controversial decision were missing for weeks. The immediately effected decision for a ban of harmful organic solvents in the so far common glues was felt at the end of May and says that adults will be controlled by September 1st 2008 whereas for juniors, controlling will start already by the beginning of next year. On international level, handling of the situation is quite different. Many federations are following ITTF, but some also prefer a special way of handling. In Switzerland, for example, controls are already taking place for adults and juniors. Offences against the new regulation are punished by a penalty of 200,00 Swiss Francs. According to the plans of the German table tennis federation, controls before the matches should start for adult players on September 1st and for junior players already with the start of the new season e.g. 4 month before the controls start for ITTF events. A corresponding test voting during DTTB-general meeting, held last year just after the World Championships in June, resulted in an unanimous vote of the delegates for this way of proceeding; the confirmation to this result by written procedure became therefore only logical. The andro-Newsletter-Team spoke with DTTB-President Thomas Weikert, who explained in detail the position of his federation.

Mr. Weikert, the German Table Tennis Federation wants to arrange controls for the speed glue ban for youth competitions already now, so this means four month before the ITTF starts controls of international tournaments in the youth sector. What is the reason for the intensification of the ITTF-decision?
The final argument for the ban is the protection of health. Because of that we supported introduction of controlling measures already from September 1st 2007 on. But at the ITTF- Congress 2006, during the World Championships in Bremen, the ITTF revised once more its former made decision. But now we want to point out that it is a measure for the health protection and that DTTB wants to take the responsibility for its youth players.

Which effects do you expect?
We are aware of the fact that it is difficult. This is also true for the controls. But at all important changes in the past, problems occurred but at the end all difficulties are gone and everything went its regular way. According to an agreement with the responsible national coaches, the German youth squad players should stop use of harmful glues.
In der Schweiz wird das Verbot ab sofort nicht nur bei Jugendlichen, sondern auch schon bei den Erwachsenen kontrolliert. Wie beurteilen Sie diese Vorgehensweise?
Unter Aspekten des Gesundheitsschutzes betrachtet ist das aus meiner Sicht nicht schlecht. Wir haben bei der Ausarbeitung unserer Regel aber auch versucht, unseren Top-Athleten im Spitzensport-Bereich die Chancengleichheit im internationalen Vergleich zu erhalten, und uns deswegen für frühere Kontrollen nur im Jugendbereich entschlossen.

In Switzerland controls will be done for youth and also for adult players with immediate effect. What do you think about this procedure?
With regard to health protection, I think, that this solution is not bad. When developing the new regulation, we have tried to conserve equal opportunities for our top-players on international level and because of that we decided to start with earlier controls only on youth level.

The violation of the speed glue ban will be punished by claiming a fee and not, like in Germany, with a loss of a match, does the Switzerland regulation say. What is your opinion concerning this punishment?
I would have appreciated, if ITTF had introduced as a sanctions rather than to lose a match or, like it is done in Switzerland, financial penalty.

Just one year left and the day "X" will be effected on all levels. How does the DTTB wants to handle the controls?
We are still in the process of planning. There are a few questions, which have to be clarified. This also contains the question, if the measurement instruments will be provided by the home playing club or will be brought along by the umpires. For sure, we will find answers to these questions until next spring-time.

Speed-gluing series, part 9: amendment to previous andro newsletter:

In order to correct and complete the last issue of the speed-glue series of the andro newsletter we would like to add the following information:

• The new racket control test starting on 1 January 2008 is for ITTF JUNIOR EVENTS (not youth players) and it is for junior events up to 18 years (not 14 years).


• In case of a CONFIRMED serious health incident (as per ITTF approved medical authority), the testing would start IMMEDIATELY at the date health incident is confirmed.

Material intro: andro FREE – Gluing without VOCs

The ban of speed glue is starting! andro TENSOR BOND - answering the question for gluing solutions free of volatile organic compounds. andro is already offering rubbers with the highest integrated speed glue effect - the andro PLASMA series. Rubbers like PLASMA or Impuls SPEED with BIOS technology must not be fresh glued any more. However, for the first assembly of the rubber, glues including VOCs were still used. This is not necessary any more - because andro FREE with TENSOR BOND technology has specifically been developed in order to play a racket that is 100% VOC-free and thus in line with the ITTF regulations regarding the ban of VOCs. The range of andro FREE includes contact glue, gluing stickers and racket coating of high quality and comfortable in use.

andro FREE GLUE
Innovative water-based glue without any harmful volatile organic solvents, according to the new ITTF regulations. Convenient use via sponge applicator (25g). Bigger supply bottle with practical dispenser (500g). To obtain best playing characteristics of TENSOR rubbers it is recommended to use FREE GLUE in combination with FREE SEAL.
This glue is very easy to use, the drying time is similar to glue with VOCs.
25 g glue  € 6,75   
500 g glue (stock dispenser) € 29,95

andro FREE STICKER
Convenient adhesive foil for table tennis rubber free of any harmful volatile organic solvents, according to the new ITTF regulations. Easy and quick handling, 17x17cm. The easiest and fastest solution to assembly a racket. The sticker foil is non-perceptible and the playing feel remains unaffected. FREE SEAL ideally prepares the blade for the use of FREE STICKER.
Gluing sheet (for 1 rubber) € 1,75

andro FREE SEAL
Blade varnish without any harmful volatile organic solvents, according to the new ITTF regulations. Convenient use via sponge applicator. FREE SEAL ideally prepares the blade for the subsequent use of FREE GLUE + FREE STICKER. The use of racket coat is strongly recommended. Though many blades are pre-coated with a thin layer of varnish an optimum long-term protection for the blade can only be guaranteed by an additional coating procedure. Please consider that water-based glues provide a stronger bonding effect than glues containing VOCs. The preparation of the blade with FREE SEAL prevents tearing out wood fibres when later exchanging the rubber.
25 g racket coat € 7,45

LIEBHERR German Open casts its shadows – andro equipment supplier for balls

The world table tennis stars are currently preparing for a hot autumn. The last ProTour Events of the year are highly important because the last tickets
for a direct qualification for the Olympic Games 2008 in Peking are allocated soon.
The LIEBHERR German Open , which will be held from the 7th to the 11th  of November in Bremen, are the last chance for a lot of ticket aspirants to win extremely many points for their world ranking position. The tournament in the so called AWD Dome of the Hanseatic city, where the LIEBHERR Team World Championships took place in 2006, is at present  the  last one of overall four premium tournaments being organised in this ProTour season for the first time.

Already at the, before the summer – break taken place, Volkswagen Japan Open, Volkswagen China Open and the up-coming LIEBHERR French Open and LIEBHERR German Open, the ITTF has raised the status of these tournaments to a higher prize-money (151.200 against 100.000 Dollar before). Furthermore the players can win at these special events remarkably more world ranking points than at the rest of the ProTour tournaments. The interest of the players in these four events is already now accordingly high. Compared with the tennis Grand-Slam series, ITTF plans medium-dated a similar tournament competition with four big premium stops.
From the point of view of Germans’ host in Bremen,  the most asked question is, if Timo Boll is able to defend successfully his victory, gained 2006 in Bayreuth.
andro supports the ITTF strategies and because of that the black-yellow trend-setter brand belongs to the equipment suppliers of the LIEBHERR German Open 2007.
The best players of the world play with the andro*** Speedball for one of the prestigious ProTour-titles. The decision, who will finally participate from the Chinese World Champion team in Bremen, will be made short dated.
By now, andro wishes good luck to all participants and all spectators, a lot of fun and great entertainment during the matches.

ITTF ProTour Chinese Taipei Open – victory for Süß, Bronze for Dudu

What a debut – Christian Süß and his new double partner Dimitrij Ovtcharov won immediately the gold medal at the ProTour Taipei Open. Following a clear 4:1 victory in the final against the world-class combination Gao Ning/Yang Zi from Singapore, the two Düsseldorf club-mates climbed up to the top of the podium.  In the semi-final Süß/Ovtcharov defeated Mizutani/Kishikawa and the round before the two Germans won against Lundquist/Gerell in a convincing way. Concerning the new team match system at the Olympic Games, the success of the new youngster-double is a good alternative to the European Champion double Boll/Süß.

Wu Jiaduo was so close – to her first participation in a women’s single competition final – but she returned home with the bronze medal in her luggage. Dudu played a fantastic tournament with victories against Japanese Fujinuma and Hirano as well as against the No. 10 of the world ranking Kim Kyung AH (South-Korea). This makes a lot of appeal for Dudu, coming up higher in world ranking list, which is very important in regard to Beijing 2008. In spite of the 3:4 defeat in the semi-final against the No. 8th top-seeded player, Wu Jiaduo from club Kroppach can be highly pleased with her start in the first international competition of the new season.

18th andro Tischtennis Kinderolympiade successful by all means

1.395 participants from all over Germany and many European neighbour countries like e.g. Czech Republic, Serbia, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland joined the perfectly organised tournament, held from August 17th to 19th in Düsseldorf.  A wide-range of supporting programme was given and at the first match from Borussia Düsseldorf in the Deutsche Tischtennis Liga against Fulda.  4.200 spectator amounted to a new record figure - an unforgettable event.
When the participants and their coaches arrived on Friday morning in the athletic sports hall next to the LTU arena, everything was already prepared for the big tournament. Two days before, 30 helping hands built up 80 andro tables, a catering service, a bouncy castle, a soccer court and also the very important tournament draws and information.  At 10:30h the North Rhine Westphalia minister for school and education, Mrs. Barbara Sommer,  opened the 18th andro Tischtenis Kinderolympiade and then made the opening stronkes of the tournament against Borussia’s manager Andreas Preuß. Under the patronage of Mrs. Sommer, the motto of the 18th Kinderolympiade  was “Clever 4 Ever – Wissen macht spielstark” (knowledge makes strong) .

andro took the chance to introduce its new v.o.c. free glue series to the players and their coaches (andro FREE. see also material intro) At a promotion booth all new andro products were shown and described. Visitors got the chance to try them directly on site.
Also this year, the andro ProTeam stars were, of course, involved: Jean-Michel Saive played a thrilling exhibition match against Düsseldorf’s new No.1 Timo Boll and Christian Süß supported the kids efforts with advice and action.
Furthermore, many participants joined the donation action for the Kinderhilfe Organtransplantation (kiO) (organisation for children’s organ transplant).
This charity organisation helps children and families before and after a transplantation with professional support and material assistance.
By a wheel of fortune donations were collected at the andro booth and the final donation appeared to 700,00 Euro.
During the three days, 120 voluntary helpings hands were in action and took care of a fluently process of the tournament.