Site Products

Big Team Changes for Ovtcharov: Major Upgrade for Neu-Ulm

(by Steve Hopkins)

For several years, Dimitrij Ovtcharov has been the anchor on a Russian League team called Fakel Gazprom Orenburg. That Fakel team has been one of the strongest in the European Champions League and has been the dominant team in the Russian League.  Last week, Ovtcharov announced he would be leaving that team – expressing his concern over the war in Ukraine and referencing his grandmother who lived in Kiev at the start of the conflict.

None of the Russian teams are current allowed to participate in international competitions – and, in fact, the Fakel team was through to the Final Four in the recent Champions League tournament and were barred from continuing (ultimately the match between Dusseldorf and Saarbrucken decided the title as the two Russian entrants were not allowed to compete).  Just three days after the announcement that Ovtcharov would leave his Russian team, he has made a second announcement – he will be playing the upcoming Champions League season with TTC Neu-Ulm.

Ovtcharov is bringing another Fakel team member along, Lin Yun-Ju will also be joining the TTC Neu-Ulm squad.  Tomokazu Harimoto (a third Butterfly player who is also in the World Top 10), and Sweden’s Truls Moregardh round out this very strong team.  The Champions League and the TTBL are two different things, and Ovtcharov’s announcement was specific to the European Champions League without referencing the German League where Neu Ulm finished this year in the middle of the pack at 11-11.   Neu Ulm’s current team includes one of Germany’s top juniors, Kay Stumper, along with top Russian player Vladimir Sidorenko and well-known Tiago Apolonia.  It will be interesting to see if this announcement also means they will be competing in the TTBL and displacing many of the current Neu-Ulm team – or if Ovtcharov, and his all-star cast of top players, will just be competing in the Champions League events a few times each year under the Neu-Ulm flag.

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results.

Latest News

Kevin Doyle – Backhand Loop, Butterfly Training Tips

May 21, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Kevin Doyle is working on the Backhand Loop from underspin… Read More

Jessie Xu Named 2025 Table Tennis Canada Athlete of the Year

May 20, 2025
(by Bowmar Sports) Recognizing Leadership, Excellence, and Sportsmanship On and Off the Table Bowmar is proud to celebrate the… Read More

World Championships Update: Jarvis Powers Through to Round of 32

May 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) A few surprises in the early rounds of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals… Read More

Apply Finger Pressure With Your Thumb!

May 19, 2025
Backhand block (regular block and no spin block) – robot plays very spinny shots deep SET TO RING… Read More

Bowmar Sports Tournament Highlights – Kef Noorani Tournament Highlights

May 19, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) Bowmar Sports Tournament Highlights, Kef Noorani https://youtu.be/68Or5s_S2yg Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment,… Read More

Learn from Students of the Game, Crafty Veterans, and Hedgehogs

May 19, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) You should always be learning in table tennis, or in any serious activity. I’m always… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Atlanta International Table Tennis Academy

May 18, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) With their location just North of Atlanta in Suwanee, Atlanta International Table Tennis Academy has… Read More

MLTT Team Feature: East Division Expansion Team the Atlanta Blazers

May 18, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) continues to grow, and the Atlanta Blazers are one of… 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.