European Youth Championships | 16 Jul 2014

Adina DIACONU the new generation’s leader

Romania won 10th title in Cadet Girls Team’s Event. In the final they overcame Russia to defend their title. In the close match Adreea DRAGOMAN and Adina DIACONU were under pressure, but Anastasia KOLISH and Maria TAYLAKOVA failed to beat them. “Adina was

Romania won 10th title in Cadet Girls Team’s Event. In the final they overcame Russia to defend their title. In the close match Adreea DRAGOMAN and Adina DIACONU were under pressure, but Anastasia KOLISH and Maria TAYLAKOVA failed to beat them.

“Adina was under great pressure. She is the leading player at the European rankings, so our decision was to let her play with the older girls. She played for a first time against very good Russia’s players and in past year she was at only one tournament in cadet category. In Poland she suffered the defeat in the semi final. She needed time to adjust to the competition. However, she improves her game match after match. Also other girls are under less stress. For Adina this is final year in cadets,” explained coach Filipas MARIAN.

Adina lost her duel against Maria TAYLOVSKA, but overcame Anastasia KOLISH on her third visit to the table.

“She was focused”, explained MARIAN. ”All the girls in the team are very dedicated and it is easy to work with them. They listen and they re willing to learn.”

In semi final Romania beat Germany in straight matches. “We were never challenged in that match. Only against Ukraine we were stretched to full distance.”

As it was the case in Team’s Event, in the singles the pressure will be on Romania’s players. “When you are good everyone wants to beat you. Adversaries play without pressure, because they have nothing to lose. We’re use to it.”

All the girls from national team works and lives 270 days in year in three Olympic training camps in Bistrita, Constanta and Slatina. “We have good facilities, so they go to school there, they have trainings…Due the financial situation we are not able to travel like before, but now the condition we offers are very good, so we have good teams from Denmark, Norway, Spain…working with our players. In the sports center they can sleep, eat, we have big hall with 24 tables. Everything what players need to improve their game.”