Ukraine
So, what do people know about table tennis in the Ukraine? Almost nothing, although the Eastern European country can present some amazing successes.
Germany accommodates more than twice as many inhabitants as the Ukraine, on only about 60 percent of the area, but in the Federal Republic far more than hundred times as many people play table tennis in a club! There are only 2800 players active in the official ranking registration of the Ukraine association, just 215 table tennis clubs are scattered throughout the large country, and yet the national teams sponsored by DONIC are internationally competitive – the women even rank among the European top.
This is mainly, but not only, due to Margaryta Pesotska, who already won her fourth European Championship individual medal at the European Championships 2021 in Warsaw. Pesotska, a counter attacking player, and the defensive players Ganna Gaponova and Tetyana Bilenko can become dangerous opponents to every team in Europe; they even reached the quarterfinals at the World Championships in 2018.
"We are working hard to promote young talents."
For such a small association, these are remarkable international successes, but Alexander Zats is already looking further ahead. The declared target is to develop young talent, says the president of the association, but that takes time: "Our current national team is very strong. We are working hard to promote young talents and were happy to see already good results on international level in recent months." According to Zats, his federation needs above all good young coaches, who are currently not available in the Ukraine, and of course the corresponding budgets are needed.
This is not the only reason why he is grateful for having such a strong partner as DONIC since 2018. The traditional German company supports the Ukrainian association as textile supplier, but above all with the know-how of decades of experience being among the world's best.
"At DONIC, there are experts in every area of table tennis."
"Of course, DONIC is a reliable partner for us, but for us this cooperation means much more", says Alexander Zats. "As an association, we need to become a bit more professional in everything, we need to be more modern, we need someone to show us the way. At DONIC, there are experts in every area of table tennis who can do just that."
On the other hand, the Ukrainian national team is an attractive promotion partner for DONIC, not only because of its sporting ambitions. Anyone who has seen Margaryta Pesotska and her teammates playing quickly finds this thesis confirmed. With DONIC as their textile supplier, the fashion-conscious women have the best prerequisites to present themselves in the best possible light. This is called a win-win situation.
Achievements of Luxembourg National Ladies’ Team
2017 European Championship Luxembourg: place 3
2018 World Championship Halmstad: place 5
2019 European Championship Nantes: place 5