Andrew Reports On The Championships

Tamworth and Lichfield College were proud to sponsor Andrew Calloway for his trip to Sweden to play for Great Britain in the 2007 Deaf Table Tennis Championships.

We’ve kept in touch with Andrew throughout his adventure, and are now pleased to let you know how he got on.

Read Andrew’s report

11th EUROPEAN DEAF TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007 MALMO ~ SWEDEN

GB Team

• BELA HEGEDUS
• ANDREW CALLOWAY
• MARTIN STRUTT
• ANDREW COOPER
• and COACH GEORGE BUCK

Having arrived at the Ibis Hotel in Malmo, Sweden on Friday 23rd March, the GB team of four players and coach settled down for the night. The next day was for all participants to acclimatise themselves with the venue conditions and practise on the tables. This consisted of 2 x two hour intensive training sessions, which I personally had to take lightly due to not having played for three weeks because of my calf injury that I sustained at the Staffordshire Championships. However, I slowly progressed and finished the day at about 95% fitness, but showed plenty of promise by taking a game off our number one, Bela (which I had not done before these championships).

The following day, Sunday, was the opening ceremony followed by the Team group’s competition, twelve countries split into four groups of three, with the top two progressing through to the knockout rounds. GB was in a tough group along with number 4 seeds Poland and number 6 seeds Belgium. First we played Poland and our team tactics dictated that I played first as our number one! Poland proved to be too strong as my defensive play was no match against their strong attack; the same went for our third player Martin. Bela, our best player was able to offer some resistance but lost in five and so Poland took the match 3-0.

It was a similar fate in the next match against Belgium, as it was difficult to penetrate their heavy attacking play. Again, I went on as number one and Andrew Cooper replaced Martin as number three. Bela won his first match and so had to play his second, knowing that nothing more than a win will save the team as we were 2-1 down. Unfortunately, he lost in four, to a player who won gold at the Paralympics; GB lost the match 3-1.

The next day, GB along with all other group losers, had to play for 9th – 12th places. GB had to face an awkward Croatian team, consisting of retired men playing with ‘pimples’ rubbers (which gives unpredictable ball spin). The GB team of Bela, Andrew & I lost easily 3-0, although Bela lost in five having been two up! This meant that GB now faced Turkey in the final play-off for 11th – 12th place. A change of tactics put Martin on first, Bela second and I as number three. Martin lost his match three straight but Bela won his three straight to leave the two teams level pegging. I went on next, knowing that this was a crucial game to win as Bela would play his second match next. Our tactics paid off as my defensive play unsettled the Turkish player and I took the match 3-0 to give GB a 2-1 lead. It was all down to our number one, Bela, to deliver the goods, and he did, but not without a struggle! It was a very close encounter as the two players won two each but then Bela raced ahead in the fifth to take the match and give GB a well deserved 3-1 victory. This cemented GB to 11th place, which was one better than four years ago!

The men’s final was an epic battle between defending champions Ukraine and Germany, the Germans managed to edge in front in the fifth and last game to take the match and the title 3-2. The women’s team final was won by defending champions Ukraine as they defeated Russia 3-2. Tuesday 27th March was not only a ‘free’ day and a sightseeing trip of Malmo, but it was also my 44th Birthday!! What a way to celebrate, by representing your country in your chosen sport!!

The next day was back in the arena for all the Doubles events in a straight knockout draw, the pairings were Bela & I and Martin with Andrew. Bela & I faced the pairing from Turkey, of which we had both won in our Team singles matches with them. However, this was totally different, as the two Turkish attackers dominated from the start and I was struggling to support Bela and as a result we lost easily 3-0. Our other doubles pairing faced another uphill battle and despite giving it their all, they lost in straight sets to a strong Lithuanian pair. The GB squad were left to be spectators for the rest of the day and watched the men’s final between the number one seeds from Germany and the pairing from Ukraine. The Ukrainians ran out worthy champions as their number one player showed his true form. In the women’s doubles final the Ukrainians beat Germany.

Thursday saw the start of the singles group pool matches and consisted of thirteen groups with four players in each group, top two players progress to the main stage knockout. First eight groups contained a seeded player and Bela, Martin & Andrew were all in these groups. I was in group twelve but it still contained the number two from Ukraine, so a bit of a red herring really. My first match was against a young Bulgarian and my defensive chop proved to be too strong and so I went on to win in straight games, giving me an excellent chance of progressing. Second match I faced another young man from Denmark, it started off pretty evenly matched but the Dane managed ease in front and snatch the first two games. With nothing to lose I obviously became more relaxed and managed to claw my way back into the match by taking the next two games comfortably to level the match. The fifth and final game continued in the same fashion and I went into a 7-3 lead, but he came back strong and eventually we tied at 10-10, only for him to snatch it from me by taking the next two points. To think at my first ever European Championships I was just two points away from making the big stage, my coach George was over the moon and so proud.

In my final match I knew that I faced an uphill battle against the Ukrainian to make the big stage, but, boy did I give it my best shot? He took the first two games, but I came back and took the third, to leave it to a tentative fourth game, which he eventually won. So, he finished top of the group with the Dane second and they progressed to the next stage.

Martin faced a tough group consisting of strong attackers from Poland & Belgium and a pimpled player from Croatia; unfortunately he failed to win a game. Andrew was also faced with a strong German & Russian but may have had a chance against the Bulgarian, but again he failed to win a game and so did not progress to the next round. This left Bela to fly the flag for GB, but he too, faced a very strong group consisting of number 2 from Russia, Swedish number 1 and an awkward Croatian. However, he managed to sweep aside the Croatian with some steady controlled play and then went on to beat the Russian, to book his place in the next round. He finished by losing to the Swede in a difficult but close encounter and so was runner-up in his group.

In the main draw on Friday, Bela was faced with the number 2 from Ukraine (winner of my group) and despite a gallant effort he lost 4-2 as the Ukrainian had luck at crucial points. The men’s singles final was eventually contested by the number 1 seed (world number 2) from Ukraine and a young seventeen year old from Lithuania. The Ukrainian displayed an extremely high level of table tennis skill to take the men’s crown comfortably in straight sets. In the women’s singles final, the seventeen year old from Ukraine comfortably defeated the favourite from Russia.

After some fantastic finals on the last day, the closing ceremony brought the championships to an end and the flag & honour for the hosts of the next games in four years time was passed onto Poland. Out of the 16 nations involved, and taking into account all events, GB finally finished 13th overall; much to the delight of coach George.

Having been involved with table tennis for 30 years, it was a most remarkable experience to celebrate my 44th Birthday and one that I shall never forget. I am now working closely with my coach by setting up a structured two year program to lose weight, get fitter and maybe change my game to more attack or ‘pimples’! This I need to do if I am ever going to compete with the strong players from Ukraine, Germany and Russia. I am now focusing on the next major events which are the World Deaf Championships in Bulgaria in 2008 and then the Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan in 2009. So bring it on…..!

Report on Championships By Andrew Calloway

Update 01/10/2007

CALLOWAY HITS GOLD AND #1 SPOT……………..
Andrew Calloway became the number 1 deaf table tennis player in Britain, according to the latest disability rankings, after a fantastic display at the recent DSE games in Aylesbury. Andrew claimed gold after winning the deaf class and was losing semi-finalist in both the men’s open doubles and men’s open singles events.

The deaf category (class 12) proved to be a fairly comfortable victory as Andrew won his group without dropping a game, and both semi-final and final followed in similar style. Only Martin Strutt offering some resistance in the final by taking a game off a formidable opponent, as Andrew took the match 3-1.
Partnering with Martin in the doubles, they won their group and progressed to the semi-final, only to meet the number 1 seeds. However, despite a good effort they lost 3-1.

In the men’s open singles, Andrew progressed to the knockout stages as the group winner and progressed to the semi-final by taking care of some strong opposition along the way with his array of defensive shots. Despite taking the first game and leading in both the 2nd & 3rd games, Andrew finally lost 3-1 to the eventual winner Tim Heaps.

As this was also a team event, Andrew’s efforts contributed to the North West Region’s massive total of 300+ points, to retain their crown.

Another successful weekend, taking a gold cup and two bronze medals to add to his collection of success over the last 18 months. This will no doubt stand him in good stead for the future international events of World Championships in Bulgaria next year and Deaflympics in Taiwan 2009!