(by Steve Hopkins)
The group play has ended and the draws are now set for the 2023 Stupa European Table Tennis Championships. This European Team Championship event is being held in Malmo, Sweden. The listed sponsor, Stupa, is a sports analytics company based in India.
Among the top seeds in the Men’s event, Germany is on the same half of the draw as Slovakia, Denmark and Portugal. The other half of the draw will see France, Belgium, England, and Sweden as the top seeds among the 8 teams. Germany and Sweden are the top two by ITTF ranking, with France, Portugal, and Slovenia close behind.
In the Women’s Teams Germany, Romania, France and Portugal are the top seeds. Interestingly, Portugal and Slovakia are currently ranked 12 and 14 in the World (5th and 6th in Europe) and they face each other in the first round. At least in theory, Germany should have the easiest path to the Final with only No. 4 Portugal in its half of the draw, while at least by World Ranking the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th are all in the other half.
Action in this Final Stage starts on Thursday.
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