Austria lost the opening encounter in the Stage one of the European Championships yesterday in Linz but her respond against Serbia today was furious. Austria won in straight matches. Favorites did not risk anything today so the lineup was different. Amelie SOLJA opened the encounter with the match against Sabina SURJAN (10:18 11:6 13:11). Sabina failed to convert seven game balls into winning games. Sofia POLCANOVA already yesterday justified her class and demonstrate perfect shape so her today’s edition was far from surprise. She beat Izabela LUPULESKU (11:7 11:7 11:5). In the third match Austria brought back LIU Jia to the game. She overcame Tijana JOKIC without due alarm (11:8 11:4 11:4). “Today we were well prepared. I think I played good on both days. After 2:3 yesterday we wanted revenge. In general we were focused today ” said POLCANOVA. „We are back. It is a bit like the comeback of Linz AG Froschberg in the Champions League-Match against St. Quentin. But the big point today was the victory of Amelie SOLJA. espcially the first game was amazing. Then LIU Jia and me could finish the match. Now we hope that Luxemburg will win the match against Serbia then we can get throuh” POLCANOVA said.

In the Group A6 in the Stage 1 of the European Championships Slovenia overcame Ukraine for a second time in two days. In Group A 2 in Kovilovo England prevailed against Serbia. So far Slovenia beat Ukraine twice and suffered defeat by the hands of Romania’s players. The second leg against Romania is scheduled for the start of 2023. Daro JORGIC gave Slovenia quick lead after the victory over Andrii GREBNIUK (11:4 11:3 11:6) and Deni KOZUL continued in the same pace against Anton LIMONOV (11:7 11:7 11:1). In the third match Peter HRIBAR needed four games to overcame Mykyta ZAVADA (11:5 10:12 11:7 11:6). “We secured the place in the final stage of the European Championships in Malmo and we are very happy. Now we have only one match to play against Romania but the main job was done as we planned ” said JORGIC.” We were also little lucky because Ukraine came here without two main players with young team.” In Kovilovo after more than three hours of play England beat Serbia 3:2. It was almost history repeated but England managed to halt the re-run of the scenario they have faced on their way to Nantes 2019. Dimitrije LEVAJAC created upset at the beginning of the match by beating Paul DRINKHALL. More than 130 places difference at the World rankings did not prevent LEVAJAC of wining the opening match (4:11 11:9 11:8 11:3). He also overcame no.24 in the World Liam PITCHFORD (6:11 11:8 8:11 11:9 11:8). Marko JEVTOVIC lost Liam PITCHFORD (9:11 11:5 7:11 9:11) and DRINKHALL (8:11 9:11 11:5 11:7) whilst Pete SZOLT suffered by the hands of Tom JARVIS (12:14 11:9 5:11 6:11). “We always had difficult matches between our teams but this one was very good match. We had points where we were on top and controlled as well as they. At the end it was very close match it could go either way. I managed to get into the good position and stay at the top of the last game ” said DRINKHALL who answered that Liam’s defeat was not a huge surprise. “We know that Liam is fantastic player but so it is everybody here. Maybe two or three years ago you could say this is surprise but now with changes: the tables balls different equipment it is a very challenging changes for the players. It brings levels closer.”

Serbia created the upset in Linz by beating Austria 3:2 in the stage 1 of the European teams Championships. Portugal justified their rankings and beat Italy. Reigning European champion in singles and doubles Sofia POLCANOVA justified her status by winning both encounters against Izabela LUPULESKU (11:6 11:5 11:4) and Sabina SURJAN (11:7 11:5 11:7). OOn the other side Karoline MISCHEK suffered by the hands of the same adversaries. She lost to SURJAN (9:11 8:11 7:11) and LUPULESKU (6:11 4:11 5:11). In the middle Tijana JOKIC was the player to make the break and gave Serbia the wings. She overcame Amelie SOLJA (5:11 11:7 11:9 11:8). “We are very happy about this victory. It was a very tough match but we played very strong. I could beat Karoline MISCHEK. Only Sofia POLCANOVA is unbeatable at this high level. So the key point was the win of Tijana JOKIC versus Amelie SOLJA. On Friday I think they will play with LIU Jia and it will be even tougher for us. But at the moment we have a good chance to reach the final stage in Malmö” explained Sabina SURJAN.   Portugal overcame Italy in four matches. It was SHAO Jieni who led the team to success with two wins. Giorgia PICCOLIN suffered by the hands of YU Fu (7:11 5:11 11:9 9:11). SHAO overcame Nikoleta STEFANOVA (11:9 11:3 11:4) Gaia MONFARDINI beat Rita FINS (11:6 7:11 11:9 11:5) before SHAO sealed the match with the win over Giorgia PICCOLIN (11:4 11:1 11:5). Elena TIMINA coach of Italy: “The miracle did not happen. We had a different line-up today because we had Nikoleta STEFANOVA with us and Debora VIVARELLI had a slight injury in the back and so I made this choice. I do not regret about the choice at all. The two Chinese ladies from Portugal are just better than us that’s it it’s simple. We will prepare for the next match against Czech Republic which is very important for us. I hope we can win at least 3-1 so we get chance to be the second in the group. In this moment I am a little bit disappointed. This match was not as good as the one we played in Portugal but my congratulations go to the Portugal’s team. They are a very good team maybe in top 3 in Europe in this moment. I also think we have to put this disappointment behind us. We are much stronger than a lot of people think and we have to prove it. We will try to do in the next match”. “It was a difficult match but we managed to win it. We all played very well. We have qualified to the European Championships of next year and we are very satisfied ” Rita FINS spoke on behalf of the team.

In Group A6 in the Stage 1 of the European Championships Slovenia overcame Ukraine whilst in the Group A4 Austria prevailed against Spain. Slovenia recorded one win so far against Ukraine and they lost one match against the unbeaten team in the Group Romania. Tonight Ukraine played their home match in Slovenia due the current circumstances. “Guests” prevailed in straight matches. Deni KOZUL overcame Nazar TRETIAK (11:2 11:7 11:6) Darko JORGIC prevailed against Mykyta ZAVADA (11:8 15:13 11:2) and Anton LIMONOV failed to make the match longer. He lost to Peter HRIBAR in four games (6:11 11:6 3:11 6:11). “This is very important win for us tonight. Now we are one step closer to the place in the final stage in Malmo ” said JORGIC.”Deni gave us very good start with good match against TRETIAK. He faced no problems. In the second match I was under little pressure in the two opening games but thanks to my routine I managed to end it in straight games. At the end HRIBAR played against Ukraine’s best player tonight. He dominated from the beginning until the end.” There is no time for break. Slovenia will meet Ukraine again at the same place tomorrow. “We need only two games to secure our pass but nevertheless we will fight and give our best to win ” Said JORGIC. In Group A 4 Spain lost the opening match against Croatia. Tonight in Granada they suffered against Austria in five matches. Alvaro ROBLES gave Spain dream start with the victory over Andreas LEVENKO (11:6 8:11 11:3 11:6). “I felt very comfortable with my game in the opening match. I controlled the game and stayed focused by playing point by point ” said ROBLES. The advantage did not last for long. Joan MASIP put great effort he was 0:2 in reverse before he recovered but Robert GARDOS withstood his spirited comeback to level the match at 1:1 (9:11 11:13 12:10 11:7 7:11). Carlos CABALLERO lost to David SERDAROGLU (4:11 11:5 8:11 5:11) before ROBLES added second win on his score line and beat GARDOS (11:8 11:4 9:11 11:7). In the decisive match Andreas LEVENKO overcame Joan MASIP (14:12 11:7 7:11 12:14 11:9). “It was really difficult match. We struggled even before the start because HABESOH got sick and could not play and he could not come. He got sick on Sunday as well as I and I was out of the trainings for five days with 39 fever and antibiotics. However it was not far for me to come to play so I was at the match but I practiced only once ” explained GARDOS. The team was prepared for a five matches duel. “It was difficult to beat ROBLES so we did not count on that two matches” said GARDOS ”I am happy that I won close one against MASIP despite the difficulties related to recent illness.”

Runners up from Cluj 2021 winners from Nantes 2019 and Luxembourg 2017 Arhus 2005 Zagreb 2002 Stuttgart 1992 and runners up in 5 other occasions women’s team of Romania recorded third victory in the Stage 1 of the European Championships. For a second time in Group A1 they overcame Turkiye. Romania recorded another straight matches victory. Adina DIACONU overcame Ozge YILMAZ (11:5 11:4 8:11 11:8) Bernadette SZOCS beat Sibel ALTINKAYA (12:10 11:3 11:8) and Andreea DRAGOMAN beat Ece HARAC after five games fight (8:11 9:11 11:6 11:9 11:5). “We saw them played very good match against Hungary they beat the 3:1. Therefore we were cautious and we prepared well. We were focused all of us played at the highest level ” said SZOCS. For Romania there is just another match in the group left. They will face Hungary and Turkiye and Hungary will also meet once again.

In the opening Stage of the European Championships Teams in Group A Czech Republic recorded second win. In both occasions Czech Republic beat Italy. They lost one match in their Group and it was against Slovakia. Tonight in Italy’s Biella guests repeated the result from the previous encounter against Italy. They succeeded in straight matches. Jiri Martinko gave the guests dream start with the victory over Matteo MUTTI (11:7 9:11 11:6 8:11 11:8). Further Tommaso GIOVANNETTI lost to Lubomir JANCARIK (6:11 12:10 4:11 5:11) and Daniele PINTO suffered by the hands of Tomas POLANSKY (9:11 10:12 3:11). “ For us it was very important match because last week we lost to Slovakia 2:3. In addition this win means the doors to Malmo are wide open now ” said JANCARIK. “It is allways hard to play as a guest. Despite the 3:0 it was not as easy as the result predicts. I am really satisfied with the play. In my match I started well then GIOVANNETTI put the pressure on me with the tactics and I knew that for the rest of the match I had to be more active and show my power and my experience. In am very proud of the guys Jiri and Tomas play two very good encounters. We have to meet Slovakia at home but we have reached the target to qualify to the European Championship next year.” JANCARIK also praised the organisers in Italy. “They put great effort to organise perfectly our stay and match. Also there were a lot of the specators and we enjoyed our time.” Lorenzo NANNONI coach of Italy said: “Tonight all the guys fought but it’s a pity because we played so many close games in this Group and nearly always we lost them. In the match we were not far from our opponents but the Czechs were able to give their best in the most decisive moments. However we must also recognize that there is a bit of a difference between us and the other teams we have faced. “ Italy lost all three matches.