Alina SANDUL warmed the hearts of spectators in Stuttgart

18/09/2009 - Alina SANDUL of Moldavia is only 11 year-old but she showed more enthusiasm and courage than some of experienced players at the LIEBHERR European Championships in Stuttgart. From early morning until late hours, when she did not play – Alina keeps practicing in the training hall.

Such attitude and tiny figure of SANDUL warmed the hearts of spectators in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle and in the Porsche Arena. She won opening match in singles against Mie JACOBSEN of Denmark and then lost duel against WU Jiaduo of Germany. Nevertheless, all spectators were on her side and showed great enthusiasm in cheering.

Alina SANDUL is by far the youngest participant of the LIEBHERR European Table Tennis Championships 2009 in Stuttgart. Alina is highly talented, giving some samples of her astonishing performance on Wednesday and Thursday. In qualification round the slim girl from the independent Republic in Southeastern Europe defeated Amare JANJEVA (Kosovo) 4:1, in first round she beated Mie JACOBSEN from Denmark in a thrilling seven-set-match.

In second round on Thursday evening her opponent in front of 2.500 spectators in the main court of Porsche Arena was Germans WU Jiaduo, number 26 of World Ranking and one of the top favorites of the competition. But Alina again played very well showing not even little nervosity. It even looks as she enjoyed this special atmosphere from minute to minute more. At the end it really was a tight match and the cadet girl even forced WU into prolongation of fourth set where she lost 11-13 (see also our Photo of the Day which shows a playing scene of this memorable match of generations). Little Alina was having the whole croud on her side though she was playing against a German on her home ground.

The spectators were spending standing ovations to Alina after the match, it was even more joy and enthusiasm as at the games of German hero Timo Boll. The girl from Moldavia didn't stop smiling for half an hour and when some dozens of kids asked her for autographs she was signing papers, posters, and rubbers as if she never would have done anything else. It looks as if this wouldn't have been the last autographs in her table tennis career. It really was one of the greatest moments of these fantastic continental championships, something which opened the hearts of all people in this wonderful sports arena.

“Before the match I was not afraid of WU. It was picture of full hall cheering that terrified me,” admitted SANDUL. However, it was opposite. Enthusiastic crowd was moved by her performance and young age and they gave her huge support.

Alina played for the first time at the Mini Championships in France. Among the girls that were two years older, she finished on position number five. This year at the European Youth Championships there was no her name at the list of participants. “We did not have money to travel to Czech Republic”, explained second coach Elina MOCROUSOV.

Same problem team faced before the LIEBHERR EC in Stuttgart but the cost cuts went in favour of Alina. Faced with possibility of send only five players Moldavia TTA decided that the best thing was to invest in future. In Germany the backbone of Moldavia’s team are Alina and 13 year-old Olga BLIZNET, a player with defensive style. “I am going in Table Tennis School near Dubossary, it is 50 kilometers far from Chisinan. There are 350 players. Our head coach of Women’s national team and director of school is Valerin CROSUL” said Alina.

Alina’s normal day starts with the morning classis , then she practice from 8 to 9.30 AM, and from 5 to 8 PM. “We have free Sunday and on Saturday we played matches. Summer is reserved for playing camps. Sometimes in St Petersburg, sometimes in Sochi.”

Coach MOCROUSOV praised Alina’s character. ”She is quiet girl with big respect for older persons. She practice everyday very match. When we were searching for talents, we spotted her from many girls. We were so lucky that she choose table tennis. She is also big patriot. We had some coaches that are working for the other countries, but Alina told me that she will play only for Moldavia. Also she promised that she will be the first player from our country to participate at the Olympic Games.”

Beside table tennis, Alina loves to dance. She copies the moves from Internet, and then entertained the teammates with dancing in the room. Her family supports Alina in sports a lot.

(by Milica NIKOLIC and Stephan ROSCHER, EWT)

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Photo: Moldavia's Alina SANDUL (Photo Roscher)