Other Events | 20 Sep 2015

Two gold medals for Romania in Varazdin

2015 Croatia Junior and Cadet Open concluded today

 

Romania clinched gold in both Junior Team Events at the 2015 Croatia Junior and Cadet Open in Varazdin. In the Cadet Girls’ Team competition it was the top prize for Slovenia, whilst in the Cadet Boys’ Team event it was success for the top seeded Russian duo.

 

Led by Cristian PLETEA with Rares SIPOS and Alexandru MANOLE, Romania A, the second seeds, at the final hurdle accounted for the German trio of Gerritt ENGEMANN, Balazs HUTTER and Jonah SCHLIE, the third seeds, to claim the title.

 

Cristian PLETEA accounted for both Balazs HUTTER (11-5, 11-9, 11-6) and Gerritt ENGEMANN (12-10, 11-4, 11-9. Two days earlier at the quarter-final stage of the Junior Boys’ Singles event, Cristian PLETEA had been beaten by Balasz HUTTER in four straight games (11-7, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7). Clearly the Romania teenager had learned how to deal with the defensive attributes of a most worthy adversary.

 

Alexandru MANOLE accounted for Jonah SCHLIE (6-11, 11-9, 11-5). The one win for the Germans came in the second contest when Gerritt ENGEMANN overcame Rares SIPOS (7-11, 12-10, 14-12, 16-14).

 

At the quarter-final stage Romania A accounted for the Croatian combination of Marko VIDACEK, Josip ARBANAS and Mitija HRELEC, the no.13 seeds, by three matches to nil, before recording the same margin of victory in opposition to the English trio comprising Tom JARVIS, Helshan WEERASINGHE and Luke SAVILL, the no.5 seeds.

 

Germany in the round of the last eight teams, overcame Hungary’s Istvan MOLNAR, Mate BRUCKNER and Gergo TIMAFAVI, the no.7 seeds, before causing somewhat of a surprise. At the semi-final stage they beat the top seeded Slovenia outfit comprising Darko JORGIC, Deni KOZUL and Tom SFILOGOJ.

 

In the Cadet Boys’ Team event it was success for the top seeded Russian duo of Lev KATSMAN and Maksim GREBENEV. At the final hurdle they overcame Poland B, the no.6 seeds, represented by Artur GRELA and Kamil DZIADEK by three matches to one.

 

Romania’s Mihaela PLAEASU , Andreea DRAGOMAN and Andreea HUDUSON, in a thrilling full distance five match final beat the top seeded Germany. In the vital fifth and deciding match in the gold medal contest Mihaela PLAEASU beat Julia KAIM by the very narrowest of margins (15-13, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 14-12) to secure the title.

 

The vital success came after Andreea DRAGOMAN had beaten Julia KAIM in the second match of the contest (11-9, 11-8, 12-10) and Luisa SAEGER in the fourth (11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5). The wins for Germany came from Luisa SAEGER in the opening engagement in opposition to Mihaela PLAEASU (11-13, 15-13, 11-6, 11-6) and from Caroline HAJOK in the third duel. She accounted for Andreea HUDUSON the give the Germans a two-one advantage.

 

In the Cadet Girls’ Team competition Slovenia’s duo of Alexandra VOVK and Katarina STRAZAR, the second seeds, accounted for the Russia A outfit formed by Daria AZARENKOVA and Ekaterina BESPALOVA, the no.5 seeds, by three matches to one.