Antun Stipančić

Antun "Tova" Stipančić (Duga Resa, 18 May 1949 – Zagreb, 20 November 1991) was a highly accomplished Croatian and Yugoslav professional table tennis player.

Table Tennis career He was one of the most renowned personalities in the history of the competition, earning him the nickname "the golden left hand of Croatian sport". A table tennis child prodigy who was proclaimed "Best Croatian Sportsman" in 1975, he was National Championship winner numerous times, three times European Champion in doubles, World Champion in men's doubles in 1979 (Stipančić–Šurbek), and World Championship silver medalist in singles in 1975.

On the world stage in 1975-80 In 1975 India built the Netaji Indoor Stadium, a 12,000-seat domed arena, specifically for the World Championships at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. There, Tova is considered to have played the matches of his life... At the quarter-finals - a "match for the gourmet" - Hsi En Ting, the title defender left the arena totally defeated by Tova in a rarely seen match, 3:2. In the next game - and it was the semi-final, Antun played against the excellent Japanese defender Takashima. Antun's superior play brought victory in 5 sets. Then came the long-awaited finals. In the crowded hall, "the war" between 25-year-old Antun Stipančić and the year-younger Istvan Jonyer. It was an excellent opportunity Tova's expertise, but some had doubts. Since Tova had defeated the robust "Hungarian Hussar" only a few days earlier in the team events, he had a certain psychological advantage, but there was uncertainty whether he would be able to use it. In the first set Jonyer started nervously and "hard", and Stipančić collected points from semi distance, 4:2, 9:5, 13:7, 18:15 and 21:17. There was happiness on Stipančić's bench as the Hungarian seemed nervous and played shackled, while Stipančić was…Citește mai mult

Legacy Tova Stipančić was viewed as a figure belonging to the global community. Players of table tennis from all corners of the world recall him, whether they faced him on the court or appreciated his outstanding skills from afar. Through his unique personality and exceptional athletic accomplishments, Tova Stipančić made an enduring impact and became a part of the history of sports, the world at large, Croatia, and his hometown of Duga Resa. He won 27 medals, 11 medals from world championships; 1 gold, 4 silver, 6 bronze; and 16 medals from European championships (4,3,9). Additionally, he won 48 medals at international tournaments in all categories.

Early years Antun Stipančić was born in Duga Resa, a small industrial town in central Croatia's Karlovac County (at the time of his birth, and until summer-autumn 1991, Croatia was one of six republics constituting Yugoslavia). His family of five — father Ivan, a janitor at the football club, mother Franca and two younger brothers, Marijan and Ivica — had a difficult time trying to make ends meet. They lived in very modest circumstances in a damp apartment located at the football (soccer) playground which shared its location with the hall of the Table Tennis Club (TTC) "Duga Resa". At the end of the 1950s, a group of sport enthusiasts led by Josip Trupković, Josip Stojković and Dragutin Vrana brought inspiration to the little-noted town and its young people with a new sport - table tennis. The TTC "Pamučna industrija" was born and its priority was to coach the next generation. As time passed and word began to spread, more and more curiosity seekers began to visit the table tennis halls to see with their own eyes the Duga Resa youngster, called "the wonder kid". "Tova" Stipančić won his first tournament at the age of 12 in 1961, playing in…Citește mai mult

High points of career as a professional player During summer 1970 came the unexpected decision, although not so unexpected among table tennis officials: Tova left his "Pamučna industrija" club and became a member of TTC "Vjesnik". The basic reason for moving from the smaller club to the larger one was the need for an adequately strong sparring partner (and none was more suitable than Šurbek or Čordaš), as well as the great challenge of taking part in The European Cup. With the new uniform he put on, there was still another major event: not long afterwards Tova Stipančić was married... As 1971 began, he moved to Zagreb, recalling that "...the new surrounding, new habits, days of great changes... was time for thinking". The year's end was topped off with a glamorous prize: Stipančić celebrating a first class victory at the International Tournament in Zagreb's "Box of Matches" Hall. Journalists lavished him with headlines - "Tova's Scalping Chinese", "Stipančić Over the Chinese Great Wall", "The Ball Caught Fire". Stipančić smashed Chinese Zhou Lansun and Li Furong, in the semi-finals he defeated Šurbek and, in the finals, the celebrated Zhuang Zedong: 16:21, 21:12 and 21:12, experiencing ecstatic ovations from the overjoyed Zagreb…Citește mai mult

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS - ( 11 ) TEAM 1969. (München) – 3rd ( bronze medalist ) Šurbek, Korpa 1971. (Nagoya) – 3rd ( bronze medalist ) Šurbek, Karakašević 1975. (Kolkata) – 2nd ( silver medalist ) Šurbek, Karakašević SINGLE 1973. (Sarajevo) - 3rd ( bronze medalist ) 1975. ( Kolkata) - 2nd ( silver medalist ) MEN DOUBLES 1973. (Sarajevo) - 3rd ( bronze medalist ) Šurbek; 1975. (Kolkata) - 2nd ( silver medalist ) Šurbek; 1977. (Birmingham)- 3rd ( bronze medalist ) Šurbek; 1979. (Pyongyang) - 1st ( golden medalist ) Šurbek; 1981. (Novi Sad) - 3rd ( bronze medalist ) Šurbek; MIXED DOUBLES 1971. (Nagoya) - 2nd (silver medalist ) Alexandru; EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS - ( 16 ) TEAM 1966. (London) - 3rd ( bronze medalist ) Šurbek; 1968. (Lyon) - 3rd ( bronze medalist ) Šurbek; 1970. (Moscow ) - 2nd ( silver medalist ) Šurbek, Čordaš; 1972. (Rotterdam)- 2nd ( silver medalist ) Šurbek, Čordaš; 1974. (Novi Sad) - 2nd ( silver medalist ) Šurbek, Čordaš; 1976. (Praha) - 1st ( golden medalist ) Šurbek, Jurčič; SINGLE 1972. (Rotterdam)- 3rd ( bronze medalist ) MEN DOUBLES 1968. (Lyon) - 1st ( golden medalist ) Vecko; 1970.…Citește mai mult