It was busy schedule for the ETTU officials today in Belgrade. The Executive Board meeting took place in Stark Arena during the 2022 Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships and at the same occasion ITTF President Petra SORLING came to visit Serbia’s capitol. ITTF President SORLING also attended the meeting and she will stay in following days to see European youth in action.

On the seventh day of play at the 2022 Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships the opening round in singles were on schedule. Top 24 players will enter the event tomorrow and among the players on duty in Under 19 Girl’s Singles Event were very little upsets. Among the players who were able to create an upset were Enya MOLTARA of Scotland who overcame Lithuania’s Emilija RILISKYTE in seven thrilling games (5 -1 7 9 -5 -3 8). In addition Patricia SANTOS of Portugal overcame Alexandra CHIRIACOVA of Moldova (5 8 9 -8 8). Klara HRABICOVA of Czech Republic was stretched to full distance after she prevailed against Viktoria PERSOVA of Bulgaria (-10 7 -9 7 -9 6 5). Sabina MUSAJEVA of Latvia inflicted the pain in host nation supporters by beating Sara RADAK in seven games (-9 4 -8 8 -8 5 8). Also Bruna BOROVEC of Croatia was starched to full seven games in the duel against Eloise DUVIVER of Belgium (12 -11 -5 5 -2 8 7) and Malamatenia PAPADIMITRIOU of Greece went full distance against Jocefina HAAGENSEN of Denmark (-6 -6 3 6 9 -9 11). In Under 19 Boy’s Singles Event Numa ULRICH of Switzerland stood the pressure of Andre Pierre KASES of Austria (9 -9 -9 6 9 -9 4) to book his ticket to second round. In Under 15 Girl’s Singles Maja VANJO of Serbia faced three match balls before she overcame Busra DEMIR of Turkiye in seven games thriller (7 -4 10 -5 9 -7 10). Sofija PETROVA of Estonia also booked the place in the second round after seven games match against Elinor DAVIDOV of Estonia (-5 -5 9 9 -9 8 6). Sienna JETHA of England overcame Cecilia CICUTTINI of Italy (5 -9 8 -9 9 -11 13). Two results caught the eye in the Under 15 Boy’s Singles. Stefan RADONJIC of Montenegro overcame Carlos GONCALVES of Portugal in straight games (4 2 6 9) whilst Adil AMADZADA of Azerbaijan overcame Ralph PATTISON of England (3 11 -8 5 7).

U19B     U19G     U15B     U15G       1 Romania   1 Poland   1 France   1 Romania     2 Poland   2 Romania   2 Sweden   2 Poland     3 Belgium   3 Germany   3 Hungary   3 Germany     3 France   3 Sweden   3 Ukraine   3 Portugal     5 Slovakia   5 Czech. R   5 Bulgaria   5 Ukraine     5  Croatia   5 France   5 Czech R   5 Turkiye     7 Italy   7 Croatia   7 Israel   7 Belgium     7 Turkiye   7 Ukraine   7 Romania   7 Hungary     9 Ukraine   9 Belgium   9 Germany   9 France     9 Germany   9 Portugal   9 Poland   9 Israel     11 Hungary   11 Spain   11 England   11 Czech R     11 Sweden   11 Slovakia   11 Spain   11 Slovakia     13 Israel   13 Slovenia   13 Belgium   13 Spain     13 Czech R   13 Lithuania   13 Slovakia   13 Moldova     15 Netherlands   15 England   15 Austria   15 Lithuania     16 England   16 Serbia   16 Greece   16 Croatia     17 Spain  

The team event at the 64th Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships in Belgrade brought some fact that are unique in the long history of the event. For the first time: – Romania had 3 teams in the team finals – Poland won a girls team title. This is even the first ever team title won by any Polish femals table tennis team – 3 teams from Israel finished among the top 16 and will play next year on level 1. Poland and Romania are is the 6th and 7th Association to have 3 finalists in one year. The other ones are the Soviet Union Russia Czechoslovakia Germany and France. The Soviet Union (1976 1989 and as EUN in 1992) and Russia are the only ones ever in four team finals in one year. The Romanian U19 boys team was only the second Romanian team winning this event. It took the Romanian boys no less than 64 years to regain this title the first one was in 1958. This was the first time that we had three team finals played between same Associations. The finals in U19 boys U19 girls and U15 girls was the battle between Romania and Poland. For Poland it is the first time they were in three finals in one year. Although always among the stronger table tennis nations in Europe so far the Polish teams only won 3 titles all in Junior/U19 boys (1999 2000 and 2021). In Junior/U19 girls Poland reached the final in 2001 2004 and 2006 but never won it. In Cadet/U15 girls it is the first time ever Poland is in the final. For Romania winning titles is more common. With 30 team titles Romania is the second best country in the history of the EYC. Only the Soviet Union (48) won more. But also for Romania reaching 3 finals in the same year is the first time in the history of the EYC. Romania won 2 titles in 1987 2010 and 2013. In Cadet/U15 girls their last victory was in 2018. For the Junior/U19 boys it is a different story. In this age category the Romanian team won only once and for this we have to go back to 1958!  

France won gold in the Under 15 Boy’s Teams Event at the 2022 Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships in Belgrade. In the final they overcame Sweden. Day earlier Sweden beat Ukraine and France beat Hungary. At the ultimate stage French team dominate and Flavien COTON overcame Noa DAHLSTROM Nathan LAM beat William BERGENBLOCK. In Doubles Coach Alice JONEAU put Antoine Jean Christian NOIRAULT and Flavio MOURIER in fire. “We proved how string we are as a team with this straight matches win. Our singles went also in straight three games so it speaks about our strength ” said Flavien COTON. Speaking about the greatest challenge at the tournament COTON pointed at the match against Bulgaria. “In the quarterfinal we were 2 to 1 matches in reverse before we recovered to win 3:2. That was remarkable ” explained COTON who hopes for more gold medals in individual part of the Championships.   Under 15 Boy’s Teams Event France – Sweden 3:0 Flavien COTON – Noa DAHLSTROM 3:0 (11:6 11:3 11:8) Nathan LAM – William BERGENBLOCK 3:0 (11:6 11:6 14:12) Antoine Jean Christian NOIRAULT Flavio MOURIER – William BERGENBLOCK Peter ALESTEDT 3:1 (7:11 11:9 12:10 11:9)  

Romania is crowned champions in Under 19 Boy’s Teams Event at the 2022 Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships in Belgrade. Poland could not defend their title from Varazdin last year. They lost in dramatic final after five matches and thrilling duels. On their way to the final Romania beat Belgium in semis whilst Poland halted France. Iulian CHIRITA emerged as the hero of the day with two wins over Maciej KUBIK and Milosz REDZIMSKI. Eduard IONESCU overcame Mateusz ZALEWSKI. “Poland has strong players on each of three positions. They are very good team. It was very close. I started good but Darius was a little bit unlucky in second match. He managed to recover after being down 0:2 but in the decisive game REDZIMSKI won. Also Maciej KUBIK outplayed Darius in one of the hardest matches at the tournament that also went full distance. However it did not kill my self-confidence. I won the last match ” said CHIRITA. Darius praised CHIRITA’s performance as well as IONESCU’s win at the edge of the knife. “It was so close in each match ” pointed Darious.   Poland – Romania 2:3 Maciej KUBIK – Iulian CHIRITA 1:3 (7:11 6:11 11:6 2:11) Milosz REDZIMSKI – Darius MOVILEANU 3:2 (11:7 16:14 8:11 7:11 11:7) Mateusz ZALEWSKI – Eduard IONESCU 2:3 (11:8 7:11 11:7 9:11 9:11) Maciej KUBIK – Darius MOVILEANU 3:2 (11:8 9:11 11:5 4:11 11:8) Milosz REDZIMSKI -Iulian CHIRITA 2:3 (10:12 12:10 11:8 5:11 7:11)

Just after Romania’s Under 19 team lost their title Romania’s Under 15 Girls team clinched gold by beating Poland in the final of the 2022 Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships. In the semi final Romania beat Germany whilst Poland prevailed against Portugal. The ultimate stage match commenced in favor of Poland. Natalia BOGDANOWICZ beat Alesia Sofia SFERLEA but Bianca MEI ROSU nullified the Poland’s lead by beating Zofia SLIWKA. After the doubles Poland was once again in the lead but next two singles went on Romania’s account. “I think SFERLEA played for a first time against BOGDANOWICZ but I know her very well. We will play in the doubles here together and I hope for a medal with her ” said MEI ROSU. In doubles Romania had a good chance also. “We recovered from 0:2 in reverse but we lost in decisive game 9:11 ” added Bianca.   Under 15 Girl’s Teams Event Poland – Romania 2:3 Natalia BOGDANOWICZ – Alesia Sofia SFERLEA 3:1 (7:11 11:7 11:9 18:16) Zofia SLIWKA – Bianca MEI ROSU 1:3 (10:12 9:11 12:10 9:11) Natalia BOGDANOWICZ Zofia SLIWKA – Alesia Sofia SFERLEA Bianca MEI ROSU 3:2 (11:6 11:7 12:14 11:9) Natalia BOGDANOWICZ – Bianca MEI ROSU 0:3 (9:11 9:11 9:11) Zofia SLIWKA – Alesia Sofia SFERLEA 2:3 (7:11 12:10 9:11 11:6 8:11)  

Title-holders Romania had to pass the crown to Poland after thrilling five matches duel in the final of the Under 19 Girl’s Teams Event at the Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships in Belgrade. Germany and Sweden clinched bronze. Poland managed to recover after being two to null in reverse tonight against Romania. Wiktoria WROBEL took the opening game by the storm but failed to stay at the same path in the proceedings. Ioana SINGEORZAN took over the control and won the match in four games. Romania’s no. one Elena ZAHARIA justified her status and overcame Zuzanna WIELGOS in straight games. Then Anna BRZYSKA changed the course of the match. She overcame Luciana MITROFAN and in the next duel WROBEL beat ZAHARIA before WIELGOS overcame SINGEORZAN to seal the duel. “Wiktoria WROBEL was not on her top level in the match against Ioana SINGEORZAN. I am also unhappy with my performance against ZAHARIA ” explained WIELGOS. The pressure was on BRZYSKA to try to keep Poland in the game. “I felt little bit nervous and under stress. I am happy that I managed to win” admitted Anna. Elena ZAHARIA did not stand the pressure. Wiktoria WROBEL beat he after Romania’s player had 1:0 lead. “She really played perfectly at that point. I am happy that I also managed to keep the same way ” said WIELGOS.   Under 19 Girl’s Teams Event Poland – Romania 3:2 Wiktoria WROBEL – Ioana SINGEORZAN 1:3 (11:5 6:11 7:11 9:11) Zuzanna WIELGOS – Elena ZAHARIA 0:3 (8:11 12:14 6:11) Anna BRZYSKA – Luciana MITROFAN 3:1 (9:11 11:9 11:7 11:6) Wiktoria WROBEL – Elena ZAHARIA 3:1 (8:11 11:9 11;7 11:7) Zuzanna WIELGOS – Ioana SINGEORZAN 3:1 (11:7 9:11 11:8 11:3)    

Romania and Poland booked their places in the final of the Under 19 Boy’s Teams event at the 2022 Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships. In the penultimate stage Romania beat Belgium whilst overcame Poland succeeded against France. Beside Under 15 Boy’s Event all other three events will have the same protagonists.  Darius MOVILEANU overcame Louis LAFFINEUR in the opening match before Adrien RASSENFOSSE leveled the score with the victory over Eduard IONESCU. Iulian CHIRITA went full five games against Tom CLOSSET but showed better nerves at the end of the match. On his second exit to the table Darius MOVILEANU overcame Adrien RASSENFOSSE to push Romania into the final. “We expected very hards match as it happened tonight. It is great releive that we won it. I am happy that I won both my encounters and I think that we were very good as a team. We fought hard and I expect the same tomorow ” said Darius. Maciej KUBIK secured good start for Poland after he beat Alexis KOURAICHI in the opening match. Milosz REDZIMSKI overcame Thibault PORET to push Poland one more step closer to the final. Hugo DESCHAMPS saved match ball again him and managed to beat Mateusz ZALEWSKI to push Poland into the fourth duel. KUBIK won the nail bitting duel against PORET to seal the final. Poland was the first team to book its place in the semi final in the quarters they overcame Turkiye in straight matches. Milosz REDZIMSKI Maciej KUBIK and Mateusz ZAELEWSKI beat Hakan ISIK Ugurcan DURSUN and Yigit SIMSEK. “After very difficult match against Czech Republic we played yesterday this was comparatively easier duel. Maciej KUBIK secured very important victory over DURSUN and that was the crucial moment ”said Mateusz ZAELEWSKI. Romania accounted for Slovakia in straight matches. Darius MOVILEANU Eduardo IONESCU and Iulian CHIRITA beat Adam KLAJBER Filip DELINCAK and Samuel PALUSEK. “We were under pressure because it as the match for the medal. However we stayed focused and determined. Darius and Eduard had much harder job than I did. After they secured 2:0 it was much easier for me ” said CHIRITA. Belgium’s Adrien RASENFOSSE Louis LAFFINEUR and Tom CLOSSET overcame Italy’s Tommaso GIOVANETTI Andrea PUPPO and Federico VALLINO in straight matches. “We saved some energy again with another 3:0 victory. We are going to need it because the next step will be much harder. I won my match against GIOVANETTI and that was very important because I did not play well at the beginning. Eventually I needed four games to secure 1:0 but after that LAFFINEUR and CLOSSET won in straight games ” explained Adrien. In thrilling five matches France overcame Croatia to book the last place among top four teams. Ivor BAN created very good opportunity for Croatia after beating Thibault PORET and Alexis KOURAICHI. Ban pushed to decisive match after Petek BORNA suffered in the opening match and Hugo DECHAMPS won at the position no. three. BORNA was close to create big upset but he lost fifth match in fifth game against KOURAICHI by narrowest margin (11:8 12:10 7:11 12:14 13:11). “I am so happy that I managed to win the last one. After I had a led 2:0 Borna recovered to level and the pressure was enormous. It was amazing match. I had to adjust my service and receive game. I made long service in backhand and short in forehand ”said KOURAICHI.