Gold medal for Hanka KODETOVA

July 23, 2023
8:05 pm
European Youth Championships

Hanka KODETOVA of Czechia clinched the gold medal in the Under 15 Girls Singles Event at the ORLEN European Youth Championships. In the final she overcame Nina GUO ZHENG of France. Both girls were born in 2010. The bronze medalists are Maria BERZOSA of Spain and Leana HOCHART of France.

KODETOVA faced a very strong adversary in the final. Nina performed at a very high level but it wasn’t enough to stop Hanka (11 -7 8 -7 7 5).

“The end of the first game was very important. In such matches it always helps to win the opening part of the match. I don’t think this was the hardest match of the tournament; the quarter-final against Germany’s Koharu ITAGAKI was probably harder. But Nina Guo ZHENG also played great and the gold medal was at stake. I think I was a little bit better in the match. The tournament was very long but I still felt good physically. That was also important; I had enough strength ” said KODETOVA.

Hanka KODETOVA faced serious pressure in the match against Maria BERZOSA of Spain before she moved further to secure her place in the final (12 -6 7 8 -6 8).

“I have already played with Maria BERZOSA several times and I know that every ball is decisive. It was similar this time as well. It was a very evenly matched play and the little things decided the outcome. From the third game I felt that I believed in myself more. The rival seemed as if she was afraid. But I have to admit that even I played nervously and was a little scared at the end. It was about advancing to the finals of the European Championship so that’s understandable. I am happy that I succeeded and in the final the chances are open. I have a strong opponent waiting for me again but I will want to win ” said KODETOVA.

In the other penultimate match Nina GUO ZHENG beat her teammate Leana HOCHART of France (6 7 -7 -4 12 9).

“I played very well but I was also very nervous because I was playing against my teammate. We know each other very well and I have never recorded a win against her which added to my stress. She did not like my forehand because I have pimples and every time I played with my forehand she was uncomfortable ” said Nina.

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