2018 STAG European Youth Championships   Anastasia KOLISH of Russia and Lucie GAUTHIER of France prevailed against NING Jing and CHEN Xingtai of Azerbaijan in the final of the Junior Girls Doubles Event at the STAG European Youth Championships. Tania PLAIAN of Romania and Ekaterina ZIRONOVA of Russia as well as Tijana JOKIC and Sabina SURJAN of Serbia finished third.   NING and CHEN were the favorites but girls from France and Russia beat them easily then everyone expected.   “We wanted to win more then them. It was a most difficult match for us but in crucial moments we were stronger ” said GAUTHIER.   In the semis Sabina SUIRJAN and Tijana JOKIC of Serbia suffered by the hands of KOLISH of Russia and GAUTHIER in full distance semi final.   “We are very happy because it was very close we were loosing 2-1 but we didn’t give but and we won 11-9 in the last game. I think the difference was in the head we were better mentally and this is why we could win” said Lucie GAUTHIER.   Anastasia KOLISH also stressed how difficult the match was.   “The game was good. It was a difficult because it was 2-1 for the Serbian girls. Then we won the 4thfourth game with 11-9 and it was difficult but when we played the last set it was 50-50 9-8 then equal to 9. It was difficult but we won. I like playing with Lucie. Before the European Championship we also prepared for it. I went to France for our double. Now we are playing good and we will try to win.”   Final Anastasia KOLISH (Russia) Lucie GAUTHIER (France) – NING Jing CHEN Xingtai (Azerbaijan) 3:1 (8:11 11:9 11:6 11:6) Semi Final NING Jing CHEN Xingtai (Azerbaijan) – Tania PLAIAN (Romania) Ekaterina ZIRONOVA (Russia) 3:0 (11:7 11:9 11:6) Sabina SUIRJAN Tijana JOKIC (Serbia) – Anastasia KOLISH (Russia) Lucie GAUTHIER (France) 2:3 (11:13 11:3 11:8 9:11 9:11)   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter

2018 STAG European Youth Championships   Prithika PAVADE and Chloe CHOMIS of France beat Elizabet ABRAAMIAN and Liubov TENTSER of Russia to clinch the title in the Cadet Girls Doubles Event. The bronze went to Radmila TOMINJAK and Reka BEZEG of Serbia and Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia and Linda ZADEROVA of Czech Republic.   “In the final the second game was very important. We won it by narrow margin and from that moment we were in control ” said Chloe CHOMIS.   In the nsemis Elizabet ABRAAMIAN and Liubov TENTSER overcame Radmila TOMINJAK and Reka BEZEG of Serbia in the penultimate stage. They prevailed in straight games abut TENTSEV admitted she was very nervous.   “This is my first European Youth Championships and I reached the final stages. I am so happy “said TENTSER.   More experienced ABRAAMIAN was calmer but her desire to win was not in the question.   “We were focused on each ball. We wanted so much to win ” said ABRAAMIAN.   Prithika PAVADE and Chloe CHOMIS overcame Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia and Linda ZADEROVA of Czech Republic. PAVADE is very experienced but for Chloe this is the first European Youth Championships.   “We played together for very long time in the club so we know each other ” said CHOMIS.   PAVADE explained what they need to overcame ARAPOVIC and ZADEROVA.   “We changed the rhythm of the game and we did not let our adversaries to settle into the game.”     Cadet Girls Doubles Event Final Elizabet ABRAAMIAN Liubov TENTSER Russia – Prithika PAVADE Chloe CHOMIS 1:3 (11:6 12:14 7:11 5:11). France Semi final Prithika PAVADE Chloe CHOMIS France – Hana ARAPOVIC Croatia Linda ZADEROVA Czech Republic 3:1 (11:7 7:11 11:3 12:10) Elizabet ABRAAMIAN Liubov TENTSER Russia – Radmila TOMINJAK Reka BEZEG Serbia 3:0 (11:8 11:8 11:6)   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter    

2018 STAG European Youth Championships   Maciej KUBIK of Poland and Ivor BAN of Croatia clinched the gold in the Cadet Boys Doubles Event. They overcame Andrei TOMICA and Darius MOVILEANU of Romania in the ultimate stage of the Event at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships. Bronze madalists are Myshaal SABHI and Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA of France and Slovakia’s Adam KLAJBER and Filip DELINCAK.   “We were very good at the first ball and controlled the match ” said BAN.   In the penultimate stage KUBIK and BAN overcame Adam KLAJBER and Filip DELINCAK.   “This is the first tournament that we play together but we had very good preparation in Poland before the start of the Championships ” explained Ivor BAN. ”Against Slovakia’s pairings it was important to play first balls good. We closed their game with good spins. Basically we played good service and receive game ” said BAN.   KUBIK added: “We attack on every ball and we were very focused.”   Andrei TOMICA and Darius MOVILEANU overcame Myshaal SABHI and Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA of France. They recovered from 0:2 to win the match.   “It was a tough match. We managed though to push ourselves from 0:2 in reverse and to win the duel ” said Darius MOVILEANU.   Andrei added: “We didn’t give up at 2-0 cause if we had it would have been over but we fought and we won.”     Cadet Boys Doubles Event   Final Maciej KUBIK (Poland) Ivor BAN (Croatia) – Andrei TOMICA Darius MOVILEANU (Romania) 3:1 (11:5 4:11 11:7 11:6)   Semi Final Andrei TOMICA Darius MOVILEANU (Romania) – Myshaal SABHI Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA (France) 3:2 (10:2 9:11 11:9 14:112 11:6) Maciej KUBIK (Poland) Ivor BAN (Croatia) – Adam KLAJBER Filip DELINCAK (Slovakia) 3:0 (11:5 11:8 11:8).   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter

2018 STAG European Youth Championships   Jules ROLLAND and Lucie GAUTHIER of France defended their title in the Junior Mixed Doubles Event at the 2018 STG European Youth Championships. In the final they overcame Samuel KULCZYCKI and Anna WEGRZYN of Poland in straight games.   “Last year it was harder. Now we came as no. one. We were severely challenged only in the quarterfinal against Azerbaijan’s pairings ” said ROLLAND.   Only five pairs in history of Youth European Championships managed to maintain their title: TURAI/VOSTOVA (TCH) 1967 1968 1969 STROKATOV/ELMIRA ANTONIAN (URS) 1971 1972 Jörgen PERSSON/NEMES (SWE/ROU) 1982 1983 SAMSONOV/KUSCH (URS) 1988 1989 and cadets SÜSS/Meike ROHR (GER) 2002 2003   ROLLAND and GAUTHIER overcame Maksim GREBNEV and Natalia MALININA of Russia in the penultimate stage.   “We commenced good in the opening game but latter I think we lost our focus. However we managed to stay calm and to build up the game ” said ROLLAND.   GAUTHIER added that GREBNEV made their game very difficult with his good backhand on Jules service game.   “We easily prevailed in the opening game but French pairings raised the level of their game after that   Samuel KULCZYCKI and Anna WEGRZYN prevailed to halt the all French final. They overcame Leo DE NODREST and Camille LUTZ in full distance match.   “We won the opening game but after that our adversaries found their way back. In the decisive game we though we were safe bit after 6:1 they leveled. It was very hard ” explained Anna WEGRZYN.     Junior Mixed Doubles   Final Jules ROLLAND Lucie GAUTHIER (France) – Samuel KULCZYCKI Anna WEGRZYN (Poland) 3:0 (11:9 11:8 10:12) Semi final Jules ROLLAND Lucie GAUTHIER (France) – Maksim GREBNEV Natalia MALININA (Russia) 3:1 (11:5 12:14 11:7 13:11) Leo DE NODREST Camille LUTZ (France) – Samuel KULCZYCKI Anna WEGRZYN (Poland) 2:3 (9:11 11:7 15:17 13:11 8:11)   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter

2018 STAG European Youth Championships   New champions in the Cadet Mixed Doubles Event are Andrea PUPPO of Italy Arina SLAUTINA of Russia. In the final of the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships they overcame Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA and Prithika PAVADE of France.   “The final is always so difficult but it makes even harder when you play against French players. They are the best in Europe ” said PUPPO.   In the penultimate stage PUPPO and SLAUTINA overcame Adam STALZER and Linda ZADEROVA of Czech Republic in straight games.   “It was not easy as the result predicts. STALZER is a lefthander and I was not feeling comfortable in this match ” explained SLAUTINA. PUPPO agreed: “From the start we had a problem with the spin that he played on the side. It was difficult to adjust.”   Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA and Prithika PAVADE had a much tougher job against host nation representatives Andrei TOMICA and Elena ZAHARIA. They were stretched to full distance.   “We tried to play with long balls to keep the away from the table. It was very close game ” said PAVADE.   RAKOTOARIMANANA: “It is the first time that we play together.”   Cadet Mixed Doubles   Final Andrea PUPPO (Italy) Arina SLAUTINA (Russia) – Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA Prithika PAVADE (France) 3:2 (11:6 3:11 3:11 11:8 11:7) Semi final Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA Prithika PAVADE (France) – Andrei TOMICA Elena ZAHARIA (Romania) 3:2 (8:11 11:4 8:11 11:9 14:12) Andrea PUPPO (Italy) Arina SLAUTINA (Russia) – Adam STALZER Linda ZADEROVA (Czech Republic) 3:0 (11:9 11:9 11:8)   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter    

2018 STAG European Championships   European champion from Portugal NING Jing of Azerbaijan progressed to the semi final of the Junior Girls Singles Event at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships in Cluj Napoca.   NING overcame Serbia’s Sabina SURJAN in straight games and in penultimate stage she will meet Christina KALLBERG of Sweden. KALLBERG overcame host nation ace Andreea DRAGOMAN.   “I was really nervous but I think I handled it good. I think I played better and better and in the end I think played my best. I am so happy ” said Christina KALLBERG.” I changed the tempo; she is very fast and I slowed her with spin. It feels unreal. I can’t believe it. When I started my first match I was 1-3 down and in the last game I was 5-9 down and now I am in the semifinal. It feels like it’s not real. I hope I can win the gold medal now I believe that.”   Ekaterina ZIRONOVA of Russia was screeched to full distance but eventually prevailed against Franziska SCHREINER of Germany. In the bottom of the draw Tania PLAIAN of Romania beat no. two seed Anastasia KOLISH of Russia.   “It was the best match I ever had in my career. I knew that this moment in which I will overstep my limit will come. I am very glad that I managed to beat this opponent. I never managed to beat her so far but better to win when it is the mater than winning many times. During the first 2 sets I built my self confidence and I realized that this is the moment to beat her ” said Tania PLAIAN. ”The atmosphere is sensational. It is the best European Championship that I ever had in my career as a player. I am glad that this championship is at home and that the first single medal will stay at home.”   In the semi final of the Cadet Girls Singles Event Elizabeta ABRAMIAAN of Russia will play against Prithika PAVADE of France.   “It was very good. I tried to give my best. This is the first time I reached the semifinals and I will try to have the gold medal” said Prithika PAVADE.   Rebecca MUSKANTOR will meet Elena ZAHARIA of Romania.   “It was a very close match she played very good. She has a very good forehand so I tried to avoid it but it was very hard. I had a good advantage with my service. I tried to change a lot not to make her feel safe. It was a good match ” said Rebecca MUSKANTOR.         Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter    

2018 STAG European Youth Championships In the nail biting thriller Rares SIPOS of Romania overcame Irvin BERTRAND of France to clinch the medal in the Junior Boys Singles Event at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships. He succeeded in six games (-10 9 9 -9 6 9).   “It was a very very hard match I am glad that I managed to win it and I am happy that I am in the semifinals for both the singles and doubles. I hope I will completely recover both physically and mentally so I can give my best tomorrow. I think that I was very strong mentally today it was a complete shift compared to yesterday when I was a little bit down. If I would have had the same attitude as yesterday for sure I couldn’t have win against such strong opponents ” admitted SIPOS.   In thee semis SIPOS will play against Truls MOREGARD of Sweden. Swede prevailed against Leo DE NODREST of France.   “It was a good match. I had problems with him before in World Championship I was down 8-5 in the 7th game. So I knew a little bit how he is playing and I think that gave me confidence to set a good tactic in this match. I had a very good service game. I struggled with his service but I just managed to deal with it and try to win the point in the rallies ” said MOREGARD. “The next match will be exciting. Against Rares I had played great matches before always 3-2 I think.”   Maksim GREBNEV of Russia beat Laurens DEVOS of Belgium and he will meet reigning European Champion Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece in the semis.   Top seeded player in the Cadet Boys Singles Event Maciej KUBIK of Poland overcame Darius MOVILEANU of Romania to reach the semi final. KUBIK will play against Simon BELIK of Czech Republic who overcame Andrii GREBENIUK of Ukraine.   “It was very close. I lost two opening games ” said Simon.” I had a good receive of the service. Even on some difficult balls. Now I will meet top seeded KUBIK but I will keep on fighting. “   Mike HOLLO of Germany overcame Vladislav MARKOV of Russia in six games.   “It was a tough match. I was very nervous but now I am happy that I won. I was focused on every ball and I kept on fighting. I have a hard opponent in the semis but I hope I will win ” said HOLLO.   HOLLO will meet Myshaal SABHI of France. SQABHI beat Andrea PUPPO of Italy.   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter    

2018 STAG European Youth Championships     Romania clinched three medals in both Junior Girls and Boys Doubles Events. Cristian PLETEA and Irvin BERTRAND of France who are at the top of Junior Boys seedings progressed to the semi final in superb style. Rares SIPOS and Dragos OPREA joined them. In Junior Girls Event Tania PLAIAN and Ekaterina ZIRONOVA of Russia followed the winning path.   PLETEA and BERTRAND overcame Vitor AMORIM and Tiago LI of Portugal in straight games. Tomorrow in the semis they will meet YANG Xinyuand YU Khinhangof Azerbaijan. YANG and YU prevailed after five games against Matteo MUTTI and Carlo ROSSI of Italy.   “We prepared well for the match. We understand each other very well and we have chances to win the title. From the next match we expect to play even better ” said Cristian PLETEA.   Rares SIPOS and Dragos OPREA were also stretchered to full distance in the match against Bastien REMBERT and Lilian BARDET of France but it was opposite scenario in the duel at the bottom of the draw. No. two seeds Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece and Vladimir SIDORENKO of Russia lost in straight games against Lev KATSMAN and Maksim GREBNEV of Russia.   “The match was very nice because it was the first time we played together. For the moment it is was quite easy match. We will see in the semifinals because it will be harder but for the moment everything is ok ” said BERTRAND.   Lev KATSMAN : “It was a very tough match because every set was 11-9 or 12-10. It was a great fight but at the end of the game we found a good tactic and we won.”   OPREA had no doubt who will win th match.   “It was a difficult match but we knew that by the end we will be winners. We knew that we can turn the match from any score. We were positive all the time and we believed in ourselves. The key point of the match was the ball from 2-2 and 10-10 which got broken we got the point and gained the confidence to play further and win. I feel very positive that we can win ” said OPREA.   Sabina SURJAN and Tijana JOKIC of Serbia justified their status and overcame Andrea PAVLOVIC of Croatia and Fanni HARASZTOVICH of Hungary in the quarterfinal. They will meet Anastasia KOLISH of Russia and Lucie GAUTHIER of France in the semis. The combination of Russia and France prevailed against Hungary’s Helga DARI and Anna FEJOS.   “At the beginning it was very hard because we were under pressure but from second game it became better ” said Serbia’s JOKIC.   NING Jing and CHEN Xingtaiof Azerbaijan overcame Ozge YILMAZ and Ece HARAC ofb Turkey whilst Tania PLAIAN and Ekaterina ZIRONOVA prevailed against ChristinaKALLBERG and Alma ROOSE.   “It was not that difficult from my point of view but we had to play rough and to fight so I am very happy that I brought another medal for Romania ” said PLAIAN.   Ekaterina ZIRONOVA: “The match was not so hard because we played together 2 years ago. We won the European Championship so we know how to play together and everything is good.”   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter

2018 STAG European Youth Championships In the semi final of the Cadet Girls Doubles Event  at the 2018 European Youth Championships top seeded Elizabet ABRAAMIAN and Liubov TENTSER of Russia will play against Radmila TOMINJAK and Reka BEZEG of Serbia. The other penultimate stage pairings are Prithika PAVADE and Chloe CHOMIS of France who will meet Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia and Linda ZADEROVA of Slovakia.   Elizabet ABRAAMIAN and Liubov TENTSER prevailed against Naomi PRNJAKOVIC and Annett KAUFMANN of Germany in four games whilst Serbian pairings beat Kornelija and Emilija RILISKYTE of Lithuania in straight games.   “We played in the Teams Event against them and we beat Kornelija and Emilija. We knew what to do and I think they were under bigger pressure after that defeat because we recovered from 0:2 in reverse to win Team’s match ” explained Reka BEZEG.   Prithika PAVADE and Chloe CHOMIS overcame Ukraine’s Iolanta YEVTODII and VasylysaKANUNNIKOVA.   “Two opening games were easier but latter it became difficult. However we managed to maintain the control and to stay focused ” said CHOMIS.   ARAPOVIC and ZADEROVA came to the victory easier then they expected. Arina SLAUTINA and Svetlana DMITRIENKO of Russia previously beat no. two seeds Elena ZAHARIA of Romania and Sophia KLEE of Germany.   “They prevailed against favorites and we expected much harder match not straight games victory ” said ARAPOVIC.   In the semi final of the Cadet Boys Doubles Event Maciej KUBIK of Poland and Ivor BAN of Croatia will meet Adam KLAJBER and Filip DELINCAK of Slovakia. In second semi final Andrei TOMICA and Darius MOVILEANU of Romania will play against Myshaal SABHI and Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA of France   Top seeded combination of Poland’s and Croatia’s players needed four games to overcame Ukraine’s Andrii GREBENIUK and Belgium’s Louis LAFFINEUR. By same margin Slovakia’s pairings overcame Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE and NicolasDEGROS.   “This is our first medal ” said KLAJBER.”It was a hard match. After 1:1 it was 10:4 but we won it at 12:10. After that we succeeded with 11:3 in fourth game.”   Andrei TOMICA and Darius MOVILEANU beat Arnau PONS and Iker GONZALEZ of Spain whilst Myshaal SABHI and Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA overcame Mike HOLLO and Vincent SENKBEIL of Germany.   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter