European Youth Championships | 8 Jul 2016

France showed no mercy, Romania stumbled

European Youth Championships

 

Romania justified their status at the opening match of the Junior Girls Team’s Event at the European Youth Championships in Zagreb. Top seeds beat Czech Republic in the first round, but main favorites for the crown, suffered in next round by the hands of Belarus.

 

Well known trio composed of Andreea DRAGOMAN, Adina DIACONU and Andreea CLAPA overcame Katerina CECHOVA, Marketa SEVCIKOVA and Nikita PETROVOVA in straight matches. However, the joy did not last for long. In the evening hours Belarus recovered from two matches to null to win their duel against Romania. After Andreea DRAGOMAN and Adina DIACONU gave their team safe advantage, Marharyta BALTUSHITE changed the course of the match. She beat Andreea CLAPA in straight games. On her second return to the table DIACONU could not halt Belarus progress. At 2:2, Nadezhda BOGDANOVA won the decisive match.

 

In the opening match Daria TRIGOLOS, Marharyta BALTUSHITE and Nadezdha BOGDANOVA overcame Bulgaria.

 

In Group B Croatia’s junior girls team had a rough start. Nikica VUKELJA, coach of Croatian team, after defeat against strong French team, one of the favorites, worried.

 

“ France is on the same level as Romania, even better, so we do not have a lot of chances. Maybe we can win a game or two more, especially in second match when Andrea PAVLOVIC played, but France was better. We must look for a chance in other two matches, which are our opportunity to find a place in next stage of competition.”

 

Spain beat Ukraine in four matches. In the second round France secured their position at the top of the Group B, by beating Spain, whilst Croatia overcame Ukraine.

 

In Group C, Russia’s Maria TAILAKOVA, Maria MALANINA and Daria CHERNORAY proved too strong for Hungary. They succeeded in straight games, to avoid any possible upset, but that was not the case in the match between Belgium and Turkey. Iisa LUNG and Eline LOYEN set Belgium to winning course, but Simay KULAKCEKEN and Betul KAHRAMAN had a different agenda. Lisa LUNG suffered in the duel against KULAKCEKEN. In the decisive game LOYEN managed to prevent Belgium of surprising defeat. Turkey’s efforts have been crowned in second round. They overcame Hungary after five matches. Russia beat Belgium.

 

Despite brave effort and two wins of Tin Tin HO, England failed to produce victory over Sweden. Ellen HOLMSTEN, Filipa BERGAND and Erica FRONT fulfill their tasks successfully to bring one point each, to their team. In three matches Poland also succeeded against England, whilst Germany beat both Sweden and Poland.

 

 

Cadet Girls Teams Event

 

 

Title holders in the Cadet Girls Teams Event, team of Russia had a good start against Germany, but in the same Group A, Italy failed to justified their status. Number two seeds lost their encounter against Ukraine, the team ranked at the very bottom of the group. Veronika PEREBEYNOS, Anastasia DYMYTRENKO and Oleksandra TSIUPKO prevailed in four matches with PEREBEYNOS won both her singles.

 

Poland and Belgium, both won their matches against Hungary and Belarus in Group B.

 

In Group C France and Romania recorded victories against Croatia and Sweden. France remain unbeaten after duel against Romania, whilst Sweden overcame Croatia.

 

The only upset has been seen in Group D. To seeds Slovakia suffered by the hands of the players from Serbia. Radmila TOMINJAK, Andjela MENGER and Reka BEZEG needed full five games to overpower favorites, but they succeeded. Czech Republic overcame Slovenia.