Site Products

Fakel Gazprom’s Big 3: Calderano, Lin Yun-Ju, Ovtcharov

(by Steve Hopkins)

Dimitrij Ovtcharov has been the dominant player on the Russian team Fakel Gazprom Orenburg.  Gazprom has been one of the best teams in Europe for years, not just winning the Russian League but also finishing in the top four in the European Champions League (and winning their sixth league title in 2019).  Last year, the team fell short in the Champions League Final, bringing a team that included Ovtcharov, Freitas, and Samsonov and falling to Saarbrucken.  They were supposed to have Lin Yun-Ju available a year ago, but COVID affected the availability of Lin.

This week, Gazprom had a press conference to announce the addition of Calderano and Lin.  Gazprom is reloading – and their top three will include not just Dimitrij Ovtcharov (World No. 8) but also Lin Yun-Ju (World No. 6), and Hugo Calderano (World No. 5).  The Gazprom squad dominated the Russian League a year ago, so you can expect to see them dominant again.  But a year ago, when they competed in the Champions League against the other great European Teams, they fell short.  Clearly this squad is intended to match up well against Borussia Dusseldorf (with Boll at No. 10, Karlsson at No. 28, and Kallberg at No. 51).  Dusseldorf, incidentally, is off to a great start – undefeated in the German Bundesliga.

There should be some great battles to watch as this year progresses with the Champions League Final Four set for December.

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for table tennis news and results.

Latest News

TABLE TENNIS AMERICAS INTERNATIONAL ELITE TRAINING CAMP

June 19, 2025
INTERNATIONAL ELITE TRAINING CAMP June 9 to August 8, 2025 World-class training program designed for elite table tennis… Read More

Nishant Lebaka – Forehand Reverse Pendulum

June 19, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Nishant Lebaka is explaining how to the Reversed Pendulum Serve… Read More

Mostly Wrist When the Ball is Short

June 18, 2025
Backhand flip against short back spin in Backhand to Backhand or Backhand topspin against backspin that comes half… Read More

Jacob Kordus – Random Backhands, Forehand Looping

June 18, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Jacob Kordus is working on his Stroke Chemistry and Footwork.… Read More

Tenis de mesa Ecuador, lanza Campamentos de Entrenamiento/Table Tennis Ecuador Launches Training Camps

June 17, 2025
(by Bowma Sports/USFQ Table Tennis Club) Tenis de mesa Ecuador, lanza Campamentos de Entrenamiento con el respaldo de… Read More

Tanish Mamidyala – US Ranking Tournament Highlights

June 17, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Tournament Highlights – Tanish Mamidyala   is in action at the US… Read More

Get Closer to the Ball

June 16, 2025
Forehand flip against short backspin in Forehand to Forehand or Forehand topspin against backspin that comes half long… Read More

How to Serve to Passive and Aggressive Receivers

June 16, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Part of how you serve to these types of receivers comes down to your own… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.