European Championships 2008

At the European championship only the European citizens (i.e. holders of passports of a European country) can participate.

Every European nation can send to the European Championship 10 players for OPEN category, 4 players for Ladies, 4 players for Junior (players who reach age of 18 years or less in the year 2008) and 4 players for Veterans (players who reach age of 40 years or more in the year 2008).

Latvia as the organizing country can send to the European Championship 14 players for OPEN category, 5 players for Ladies, 5 players for Junior and 5 players for Veterans.

Defending champions in each category can participate at the European Championship in addition to limits described above.
Alexey Zakharov from Russia has rights to defend his title of the European Champion.
Alexandra Belavina (also from Russia) has rights to defend her title of the European Champion in Ladies category.
Pavel Plesak from Czech Republic has rights to defend his title of the European Champion in Veteran category.

But European Champion in Junior category Edgars Caics from Latvia will not be able to defend his title since he is not junior (under 18 years old) anymore.

The best 10 players from the overall World Table Hockey Tour ranking of season 2007/2008 will get a direct nomination for the European championship 2008.
Up to 3 players from one nation can get this direct nomination. Direct nomination is not transferable to any player below 10^th position at the WT ranking, but in case if Alexey Zakharov will be among top 10 of WTHT, then the 11^th player from the WTHT table can get the direct nomination.
Of course WTHT direct nominations are valid only if player owns a valid passport from a European country.