European Youth Championships | 13 Jul 2013

Czech Republic at the top of the Group

France was the only nation in Cadet Boys Teams Event among top 16 teams at the 56th European Youth Championships that managed to justify the top seeded position. Nolan GIVONE, Joe SEYFRIED and Lucas RIGAULT concluded first phase of the Event at the top po

After the shocker defeat, France recovered and beat Germany and Hungary. However Slovenia was very close to another top rated upset. They failed to capitalise on 2:1 lead against Germany, and lost final duel in the group 2:3. On the other side, that win did not help Germans to defend their second position in the Group. They need straight matches victory to stay second. France is first, Slovenia second and Germany third, whilst Hungary is at the last position.

Austria gave a hint at the opening day, that they are capable of great things and they continued to prove it. No. two seeds in Group B Thomas GRININGER and Andreas LEVENKO went straight to Round of 16 unbeaten in group. They overcame top seeds Russia, Sweden and Estonia. Russia is second and Sweden and Estonia third and fourth in Group B. Top seeds in Group C, Romania has slipped to third place and they will have to play play off match to stay among top teams. Denmark’s Andreas DILLING, Andreas LIND and Michel Nikolai DE VOSS moved to the top, followed by Italy. Moldova is fourth in the Group. In thrilling match of the last round Denmark stretched Italy to full distance, but Luca BRESSAN and Daniele PINTO prevailed at the end.

Patrik KLOS, Tomas POLANSKI and Jiri MARTINKO shined in front of host nation. They emerged at the top of the Group D following the success in all three rounds. Czech Republic beat top seeds Poland, Belgium and Turkey. They lost only one singles match against Poland.

The winners of four lower Groups will fight for the place in Top 16. In Group E that is Belarus. KHANIN and LABANAU lost their match against Netherlands, but prevailed against Switzerland and Iceland. In Group F that right earned England. SAVILL, GILES and JARVIL beat adversaries from team of Ukraine, Scotland and Ireland. Only Scotland made them go full distance.

There were no surprises in Group G neither. Lithuania’s STANKEVICIUS, SKIRMANTAS and LESIV booked top place. They accounted for Greece, Norway and San Marino. Portugal booked they place for play off. SILVA and PINTO beat Serbia and Croatia. In Group I Slovakia’s BRAT, SPANIK and PAVOLKA overcame Finland’s, Spain’s and Bulgaria’s players. In Group J Israel’s AVIV, SIMON and TSOOK beat Luxembourg, Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure their opportunity to play for higher division.