STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Portugal
Europe has new champions in Cadet Boys Doubles Event. In Portugal at the STAG 2017 European Championships Truls MOREGARDH and Martin FRIIS of Sweden beat Vladimir SIDORENKO and Maksim GREBNEV of Russia on their way to the first gold. Bronze medal winners are Jules CAVAILLE and Myshaal SABHI of France and Bilal HAMACHE and Dorian ZHENG also from France.
Top seeds failed to justify their positions in the battle against the pairings seeded at the position no. two.
“It was very close match but we knew what to expect. We stayed calm even when we were in reverse ” said FRIIS. ” We were challenged but I think that duel against RINDERER and WETZEL was the toughest for us at the tournament.”
In the semi final SIDORENKO and GREBNEV lost the opening game against Jules CAVAILLE and Myshaal SABHI of France but as soon as they settled into the rhythm it was one-way street match.
“It was not easy because we were nervous. It is our first final in Doubles and it is first time that we played against French pairings. After losing the first game our coach told us to calm down and to be focused only on table tennis ” said SIDORENKO.
MOREGARDH and FRIIS needed two games to start the engine in the morning session against Bilal HAMACHE and Dorian ZHENG of France.
“We had a strong team spirit so we managed to overcame 0:2. It was the first game today and unfortunately we missed few easy balls at the beginning. From the third game we started to attack more to the backhand since French pairings has very strong forehand ” said MOREGARDH.
Final
Vladimir SIDORENKO Maksim GREBNEV (Russia) – Truls MOREGARDH Martin FRIIS (Sweden) 2:3 (11:13 11:9 9:11 11:6 6:11)
Semi final
Vladimir SIDORENKO Maksim GREBNEV (Russia) – Jules CAVAILLE Myshaal SABHI (France) 3:1 (7:11 11:8 11:7 11:6)
Bilal HAMACHE Dorian ZHENG (France) – Truls MOREGARDH Martin FRIIS (Sweden) 2:3 (11:7 13:11 7:11 7:11 8:11)
