European Youth Championships | 18 Jul 2015

PLETEA and TAYLAKOVA a the top of the Europe

Cadet Mixed Doubles of Sweden clinched silver

One of the most successful players at the European Youth Championships in Bratislava clinched the gold medals in the Cadet Mixed Doubles Event. Cristian PLETEA of Romania and Maria TAYLAKOVA of Russia beat Martin FRIIS and Ellen HOLMSTEN of Sweden in the final.

“It is the first Championships that we are playing together, but it did not affect our game. Maria was superb,” said PLETEA.

In the penultimate stage match PLETEA and TAYLAKOVA overcame Lev KATSMAN and Kristina KAZANTSEVA of Russia 3:1 (-11, 6, 3, 5)

“It is first time that Cristian and I playing together, but the most difficult thing was to play against my teammates. Lev and Kristina knows me very well, they know all my weak points,” explained TAYLAKOVA.

But it also could help.

“With Masha I could make a good tactics. We talked before the match and decided how to play,” said PLETEA.

FRIIS and HOLMSTEN beat Vladislav URSU of Moldova and Vony Ange RANDRIANTSOA of France in the semi final – 3:0 (10, 9, 6).

“At the beginning our adversaries had advantage. In second set we were 0:6 on reverse, so the victory did not came easy,” said Ellen.

The Swedish pairings got to change something.

“Our approach were to much defensive, so we started to attack more and it paid off,” added FRIIS.

In Bratislava Swedish pairings teamed up for a first time.” Before this we had only one training together,” stated HOLMSTEN.







CADET MIXED DOUBLES

Final 

Cristian PLETEA and Maria TAYLAKOVA - Martin FRIIS and Ellen HOLMSTEN 3:2 (11:9, 9:11, 11:9, 6:11, 11:9)

Gold medal

Cristian PLETEA of Romania and Maria TAYLAKOVA of Russia

Silver medal

Martin FRIIS and Ellen HOLMSTEN of Sweden

Bronze medal

Lev KATSMAN and Kristina KAZANTSEVA of Russia

Vladislav URSU of Moldova and Vony Ange RANDRIANTSOA of France