At the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Spa 32 medals has been won by 26 different players. That is a record for U21. Only one player won 3 medals and that is Mariia TAILKOVA. Russia’s player won silver in singles and bronze in Doubles and Mixed Doubles with Elizabeta ABRAAMIAN and Vladimir SIDORENKO. Greek player Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS is the first one to win the singles title two times in 2019 and in 2021. In Gondomar he overcame Gerrit ENGEMANN of Germany in the final whilst in Spa he prevailed against Maxim GREBNEV of Russia. Annett KAUFMANN is the youngest winner of an Europeanu Under 21 Championships. Annett is born on 23rd June 2006 and now is 15 years and 5 months 2 month younger than Pritikha PAVADE (2-8-2004) who won in March 2020. Ozge YILMAZ and Ece Harac join HU Melek as 2nd and 3rd Turkish women with a European title ever. Medals Table GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships 2021   Players         Name Assoc Gold Silver Bronze Andrea Dragoman ROU 1   1 Adrien Rassenfosse BEL 1     Olav Kosolosky BEL 1     Annett Kaufmann GER 1     Rares Sipos ROU 1     Ozge Yilmaz TUR 1     Ece Harac TUR 1     Ioannis Sgouropoulos GRE 1     Mariia Tailakova RUS   1 2 Maksim Grebnev RUS   1 1 Ivor Ban CRO   1   Bastian Rembert FRA   1   Isa Cok FRA   1   Csaba Andras HUN   1   Sabina Surjan SRB   1   Tijana Jokic SRB   1   Irving Bertrand FRA     2 Lev Katsman RUS     2 Maciej Kolodzieczyk AUT     1 Leili Mostavavi FRA     1 Franziska Schreiner GER     1 Vladislav Ursu MDA     1 Vladimir Sidorenko RUS     1 Elisabet Abraamian RUS     1 Tatiana Kukulkova SVK     1 Ema Labosova SVK     1           Associations   Gold Silver Bronze GER   1   1 ROU   1   1 BEL   1     TUR   1     GRE   1     RUS     1 4 FRA     1 2 CRO     1   HUN     1   SRB     1   AUT       1 MDA       1 SVK       1

In his last year in Under 21 category Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece clinched gold medal at the 2021 European Under 21 Championships in Spa. In the final he overcame Russia’s Maksim GREBNEV (11:6 7:11 12:10 13:15 11:9 10:12 11:7). Bronze medalists are Irvin BERTRAND of France and Lev KATSMAN of Russia. In the Group stage Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS already beat GREBNEV once but this time it was even harder. “It was really difficult to achieve that win especially now when is so much on stake. I was under stress and nervous ” said SGOUROPOULOS.”I am happy that I can leave this category with the gold.” Greek player was under severe pressure on this Championships. “Against ROSSI in Round of 16 it was 3:3 and I was 3:8 down than in semis…”reminded us SGOUROPOULOS. In the penultimate stage Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS recovered from 3:0 in reverse to overcame Lev KATSMAN of Russia (11:7 11:9 11:9 8:11 10:12 8:11 7:11). “I did not expect Lev will play the way he did. We are in the same club we train together and that what he had played surprised me. I was not ready for that. I felt incredible pressure and I was looking for the right tactics ” said SGOUROPOULOS. After 3:0 Greek played managed to find the right rhythm. “I played closer to-the table. At the beginning Lev kept me far from it and it made me feel uncomfortable ” explained SGOUROPOULOS. However Russia’s place in the final was secured by Maksim GREBNEV. He overcame Irvin BERTRAND of France in five games (11:2 11:8 11:6 10:12 11:8). “I played short-short to him and that is the play he is not comfortable with. In fourth game with “bananas” situation worsened for me but I made my way through. I lost one game but it did not put me out the rhythm very much ” said GREBNEV who could not hold himself of playing behind his back on match ball at 10:7.

European cadet singles champion from Varazdin this year Annett KAUFMANN of Germany clinched the title in the Women’s Singles Event at the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Spa. In the final she overcame Russia’s Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia (11:13 11:6 9:11 8:11 11:7 8:11). Bronze medalists are Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania and Franziska SCHREINER of Germany. Annett KAUFMANN came to Spa with the wild card and in the final match she overcame the no. one seed. She is the youngest winner of an European Under 21 Championships. Annett (23-6-2006) is now 15 years and 5 months 2 month younger than Pritikha Pavade (2-8-2004) who won in March 2020. “I can not believe I did it. It was not planed that I will be here at all and now I am the winner. I am so happy. TAILAKOVA played fantastic matches during the tournament and I still do not believe I beat her. It was hard tournament for me mentally. I always want to win and being in such fierce competition it is sometimes difficult. I was overwhelmed with all what was happening here ” said Annett KAUFMANN. In the penultimate stage of the event Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia overcame silver medalist from last year’s edition of the U21 Championships in Varazdin Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania in five games (6:11 11:5 11:9 11:5 18:16). “We played against each other long time ago and a lot things changed in time of Covid. We did not have a chance to meet recently so I did not know what to expect. That is why I had a slow start I had to see what to play against Andreea. Then I found the right tactics I attacked her from the first ball and took over the control. At the end I had a match point at 10:8 I wanted to finish quick but I rushed too much and that costed me few points. At the end it was 50/50 but I prevailed ” explained TAILAKOVA. In all-German clash Annett KAUFMANN overcame Franziska SCHREINER. “I am happy that I won this one but it was very hard. They tell us to be professional and to play without emotions but it is difficult. I faced my friend who is in my team we share the room together train together…It was not easy to act like it is any other match. On top of all Franziska played extremely good. I had to preform my top game in order to keep the game under control. It was amazing match ” explained KAUFMANN.

n Belgium’s town of Spa at the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships Adrien RASSENFOSSE and Olav KOSOLOSKY made host supporters proud by clinching the gold medal in the Men’s Doubles Event. In the final they overcame Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary and Ivor BAN of Croatia (8:11 13:11 6:11 12:10 10:12). Bronze medalist are Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK of Austria and Vladislav URSU of Moldova as well as Lev KATSMAN and Maksim GREBNEV of Russia. In the dramatic match in the final stage it was RASSENFOSSE and KOSOLOSKY who had a better start too. “Even in the games that we lost the second and fourth I did not feel we were overpowered. It was always because of small mistakes that we did. We never lost the control over the match. At the end we also proved that we have better nerves ” said KOSOLOSKY. RASSENFOSSE added: “Even when it was 10:5 and 10:10 we felt equally confident.” On their way to the highest step at the medal rostrum RASSENFOSSE and KOSOLOSKY faced few challenges. “I think the hardest match if we exclude the pressure that final brought was when we play against Bastien REMBERT and Lilian BARDET. Our main weapon service and receive did not work on them. Also we have very good communication among each others and it seamed that nothing was giving results there ” explained KOSOLOSKY.

Newly crowned champions in Women’s Doubles Event at the 2021 European Under 21 Championships are Ozge YILMAZ and Ece HARAC of Turkey. In the final of the Event in Spa they overcame Sabina SURJAN and Tijana JOKIC of Serbia (3:11 3:11 16:14 11:9 11:5).Maariia TAILAKOVA and Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia and Tatiana KUKULKOVA and Ema LABOSOVA of Slovakia won bronze medals. In the final match YILMAZ and HARAC revered from 2:0 in reverse to win the gold. “At the beginning we did not feel the game. We did so many easy mistakes. However after 2:0 we released that we had to change the situation. We started to play more relaxed because we had nothing to lose after being in such bad position. We won so many silver and bronze medals finally we have gold ” said Ece HARAC. In third game Serbian pairings had 2:0 and 7:5 when Turkish duo recovered. “Our game was still very good but they took their performance on much better level ” explained JOKIC.

Rares SIPOS and Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania are the new crowned Mixed Doubles champions at the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Spa. In the final they overcame Bastien REMBERT and Isa COK of France (12:10 3:11 11:8 11:5). In their final year at this tournament Rares SIPOS and Andreea DRAGOMAN finally reached the top step at the medal rostrum. “We played so many time together and we do not have the medal from the Under 21 Championships I am so happy that we finally did it ” said DRAGOMAN who won silver in singles last year in Varazdin. SIPOS returned to the table after very heavy defeat against Maksim GREBNEV in the quarterfinal of the Men’s Singles Event. “Together with Lav KATSMAN he is one of the best players here and he played at the unbelievable level against me. I could not do anything else but to lift myself from the scratches after that defeat and to find new straight to face REMBERT and COK in the final. Now I am so happy and tired “said SIPOS. In the penultimate stage Bastien REMBERT and Isa COK overcame Irvin BERTRAND and Leili MOSTAFAVI in all French duel. They needed four games (11:7 9:11 11:6 12:10). “It it is so difficult to play against the teammates. They know all your strengths and all your weakness. On top of all BERTRAND and MOSTAFAVI are both left-handers so we constantly has to be very cautious where we would place the ball. At the end we did less mistakes and it was most important in the fourth game. It came very close so we were very focused on the first ball and good placement ” explained COK. On their way to the semis they eliminated Darious MOVILEANU and Elena ZAHARIA of Romania in five games. They French pairings had to play against Maksim GREBNEV and Olga VISHNIAKOVA of Russia 3:1 before they beat Matteo MUTTI of Italy and Sabina SURJAN of Serbia in straight games. “We had a tough road to the final and the opening match was the toughest one. After that we “warmed up” we played better and better as the tournament went ” added COK. SIPOS and DRAGOMAN beat Vladimir SIDORENKO and Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia in full distance thriller (9:11 11:7 9:11 11:9 8:11). “I was nervous and I think that is the reason why I did not play at my usual level. I did not attack; after the receive I just looked for a option to put the ball down not to finish the point ” said DRAGOMAN after the match.

On the final day at the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Spa tomorrow we will see the clashes between Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia and Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania in one semi final and in other in all-German clash Franziska SCHREINER will play against Annett KAUFMANN. In the quarterfinal top seeded Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia beat Katarzyna WEGRZYN of Poland in five games (0:11 11:5 11:7 15:13 11:9) whilst without any difficulties Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania overcame Ema LABOSOVA of Slovakia (12:10 11:6 11:7 11:3). Annett KAUFMANN was under pressure in the match against Camille LUTZ of France but Germany’s player responded without due alarm (8:11 12:10 11:4 7:11 11:7 11:9). The match that brought most of the suspense was the one between Franziska SCHREINER and Elena ZAHARIA of Romania; it went full distance (11:8 11:13 11:8 11:13 11:8 5:11 11:8). In the Round of 16 Mariia TAILAKOVA had also a slow start but from second game showed no mercy against Sabina SURJAN of Serbia (8:11 11:8 11:6 11:8 11:8). No. 5 seed Jamila LAURENTI of Italy suffered by the hands of the no 9 seed Anna WEGRZYN 0:4 (10:12 5:11 8:11 3:11) whilst Andreea DRAGOMAN justified her status in the match against Kornelija RILISKYTE of Lithuania 4:1 (12:10 11:6 9:11 11:6 11:4). Ema LABOSOVA of Slovakia overcame Lucie GAUTHIER of France 4:1 (11:9 17:15 9:11 12:10 11:4). In the lower half of the draw two players from Germany progressed after the five games duels. Annett KAUFMANN beat Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia (5:11 6:11 9:11 11:7 9:11) whilst Franziska SCHREINER prevailed against Katarzyna WEGRZYN of Poland (5:11 9:11 11:8 5:11 5:11). Elena ZAHARIA overcame Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia (9:11 11:9 15:13 11:9 11:7) and in seven games dramatic duel Tania PLAIAN of Romania lost to Camille LUTZ (2:11 18:16 7:11 11:7 11:4 11:13 5:11).  

Medals in the Men’s Singles event at the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Spa are already secured. In tomorrow’s semi final will play Lev KATSMAN of Russia against Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece and Irvin BERTRAND of France will meet Maksim GREBNEV of Russia. In the quarterfinal KATSMAN overcame Fanbo MENG of Germany (16:14 15:13 8:11 11:7 5:11 16:14) in nailbitting duel. BERTRAND also had a very difficult match against Ivor BAN of Croatia (9:11 11:9 1:4 11:7 17:15). GREBNEV saved some energy by finishing his match in straight games against Romania’s Rares SIPOS (11:6 11:7 13:11 11:4). SGOUROPOULOS faced difficulties at the beginning of the duel against Bastien BERTRAND of France (9:11 11:9 11:4 11:7 17:15) but then he started to control the match. In the Round of 16 Carlo ROSSI of Italy no. 40 seed stretched player no. 3 at the list SGOUROPOULOS to the limits 3:4 (11:7 11:8 6:11 8:11 11:9 5:11 9:11) but he failed to reach the next round. Italian player had 2:0 then 3:2 but winner from 2019 recovered to win the match. Samuel KULCZYCKI of Poland also was close to beat the odds by overcoming no. 7 Fanbo MENG 3:4 (11:9 11:9 8:11 9:11 8:11 11:9 6:11) but after the close duel MENG justified his rankings. Lev KATSMAN inflicted the pain in the harts of the host nation supporters by overcoming Adrien RASSENFOSSE in thrilling seven games 4:3 (10:12 11:8 13:11 12:14 8:11 11:5 11:8). Bastien REMBERT of France needed only four games to prevail in the match against Olav KOSOLOSKY of Belgium 4:0 (11:8 11:9 11:5 11:8). The lower half of the draw provided less dramatic encounters. Irvin BERTRAND prevailed against Cristian PLETEA of Romania in straight games (11:3 11:9 11:6 11:6) and Ivor BAN was also in the fast lane in the match against Cedric MEISSNER of Germany (11:7 11:9 11:5 11:9). Nicolas DEGROS of Belgium took only one game from Rares SIPOS of Romania (16:14 8:11 8:11 3:11 8:11). It was the same case scenario in the duel between Leo DE NODREST of France and Maksim GREBNEV (13:15 7:11 9:11 11:5 4:11).  

In the final of the Men’s Doubles Event at the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Spa in front of their supporters Adrien RASSENFOSSE and Olav KOSOLOSKY will play against Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary and Ivor BAN of Croatia. In Women’s Doubles Sabina SURJAN and Tijana JOKIC of Serbia will meet Ozge YILMAZ and Ece HARAC of Turkey. In semi final Belgium’s pairings RASSENFOSSE and KOSOLOSKY overcame Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK of Austria and Vladislav URSU of Moldova (11:7 7:11 3:11 6:11). “They surprised us in the opening game with their service and receive game but when we learned what to do it was our main strength against them. We turned it into our advantage ” explained KOSOLOSKY. Belgium’s pairings play together for a six years but mainly at the International tournaments. “We won Belgium open and three times we were in the quarterfinals of the European Youth Championships. Always so close but also against very tough draw with players like SIDORENKO and GREBNEV on the other side of the net ” explained RASSENFOSSE. KOSOLOSKY added:”Now it is different. We had a tough draw here and few close matches but now we feel more complete. Our game matured.” Lev KATSMAN and Maksim GREBNEV of Russia suffered by the hands of ANDRAS of Hungary and BAN in full distance duel (6:11 13:11 14:12 5:11 9:11). “We lost third game buy narrowest of margins and it was close fight but we never lost our control. We were always at the top of the game ” explained ANDRAS. BAN added: “We followed the advance of our coaches to be brave and to attack.” Turkey’s pairings Ozge YILMAZ and Ece HARAC overcame Mariia TAILAKOVA and Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia (8:11 11:6 6:11 7:11) in very impressive style. “We were mentally very strong. They are very dangerous but today we were at the top of the game ” said Ece HARAC. Turkish pairings playing very long time together. “We have already four medals from the European Youth Championships there are all silver and bronze; we never clinched gold. I feel now is the right time for the title ” said HARAC. On the opposite side of the table will be JOKIC and SURJAN. Serbian pairings beat Tatiana KUKULKOVA and Ema LABOSOVA of Slovakia in the semis (7:11 8:11 11:7 13:11 10:12). “We had 2:0 but Slovakia’s girls managed to come back. I missed few spins and I lost the touch. I become insecure. Generally there were a lot of ups and downs. In the second game it was 6:1 for them but we recovered. Then they won two games in the row and had 10:8 two match balls. At that stage Sabina played two spins which left them completely stunned. Even I was stunned ” explained JOKIC laughing.”It is good that this happened otherwise I will be afraid to look Sabina in the eyes.”