European Youth Championships | 10 Jul 2014
German girls under spotlight
Three weeks of intensive preparations are well behind. Now, the German team is ready for another big challenge at the 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships that commences tomorrow. The team arrived already on Wednesday. Under main spotlight will b
Three weeks of intensive preparations are well behind. Now, the German team is ready for another big challenge at the 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships that commences tomorrow. The team arrived already on Wednesday.
Under main spotlight will be the junior girls’ Team. Last year’s runner ups are now on the top position on the seeding list. Led by Nina MITTELHAM, the crowned singles, doubles and mixed doubles champion from Ostrava 2013, with Chantal MANTZ, European no. two, and Alena LEMMER and YUAN Wan, all in top 8 they are the main favorites for the top place at the medal rostrum.
In the opening phase they are in the group with Croatia, Israel and Sweden. Coach Tobias KIRCH pointed at Romania, Russia and France as teams who can severely challenge Germany, but it does not change the aims of the team. At this point the recent injuries are the thing that bother him more. “We have a good team. We can reach the medal, maybe gold,” said MANZ.
For junior boys’ team qualifying for World Championships is the minimum they want to achieve. They are in Group D, seeded no. two, below Czech Republic and above Switzerland and Netherland. Coach Klaus SCHMITTINGER count on DANG Qiu, Kilian ORT, Dennis KLEIN, Dominik SCHEJA and Nils HOHMEIER. “I believe we can reach position no. 5 and qualified for World Championships,” said SCHMITTINGER.
The most interesting duel will certainly be the one against Czech Republic with David REITSPIES, Europe’s no. 1. “Match against Czech Republic is very open, chances are 50:50,” explained ORT.
And DANG added: ”The Group is not very hard, but still it will be difficult to achieve our goal”.
