2018 STAG European Youth Championships   The top seed it the Cadet Girls Teams Event of the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships Russia victoriously started their quest in Cluj Napoca. Defending champions overcame Hungary in their opening match on day one in the Polivalenta Cluj Sport Hall. Lithuania Romania and France followed their path successfully.   The triumph did not come easy for the favorites as the beginning of the match and position of Russia at the seedings predicted. Arina SLAUTINA showed no mercy against Dorottya TOLGYES but Csenge ADAMIK proved as worthy adversary and she put Elizabet ABRAAMIAN on sever test. She had 2:1 lead before Elizabet recovered to win the match. In Group A Czech Republic Overcame Bulgaria 3:0 in the opening match.   In the second duel of the day Russia beat Czech Republic by same margin – in straight matches.   “It was not easy because it was the first day so it was a little bit hard at the start as is always is. We were nervous but we are no. 1 and we are able to win all the matches in group. We have to fight for it and be focus on every match. We prepared a lot for this event we had two weeks of training in China and another two weeks in Russia ” said Elizabet ABRAAMIAN.   Romania’s Elena ZAHARIA and Luciana MITROFAN overcame Belgium in straight matches to give host’s supporters joy at the beginning of the day. Later they overcame Moldova in much closer encounter that went in four matches. ZAHARIA recorded victories in both singles and doubles.   Lithuania and France justified their status and recorded victories in the opening rounds in their respective C and D Groups. Lithuania overcame Ukraine and Germany whilst France beat Belarus and Serbia.   Top favorites in the Cadet Boys Teams Event  successfully concluded opening round and all did it in straight matches.   France with Myshaal SABHI faced some difficulties but prevailed at the end against Mate OCSAI. Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA beat Erik HUSZVAR. Belgium’s Nicolas DEGROS and Adrien RQSSENFOSSE overcame Theo ABRAHAMSSON and Daniel LINDSO of Sweden.   Ivor BAN and Lovro ZOVKO overcame Valentyn YUNCHYK and Andrii GREBENIUK of Ukraine and Czech Republic with Adam STALZER and Simonn BELIK overcame Tommaso GIOVANNETTI Andrea PUPPO and Shasa PELLIZZON 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   Top three seeds in Junior Boys Teams Event at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships in Romania’s Cluj Napoca Romania France and Russia concluded two opening games in the Polivalenta Cluj Sport Hall unbeaten.   All except Italy favorite cruised through their opening matches in the Group stages. Romania beat Slovakia with both Rares SIPOS and Cristian PLETEA lost only one game against Stefan PEKO and Daniel ORAC. Dragos OPREA was EVEN en more convincing in straight games victory over Jakub ZELINKA. In next round it was Poland who suffered by the hands of Romania. PLETEA won both his encounters against Artur GRELA and JAN ZANDECKI but GRELA put him under severe test Poland’s player forced him to go full distance.   “It was a difficult game we played against Poland often but for this event they came with a new team that we didn’t know what to expect. Now we are very happy that we managed to win. And we hope to deliver a good result in the match with Turkey tomorrow ” said PLETEA. “My first match was very important since I was losing and I recovered to win it 3-2. For the team it was also important since it was 1:1 and it will be difficult to return in case of my defeat.”   France showed good performance against Belgium. Bastien REMBERT beat Olav KOSOLOSKY in full distance encounter but Irvin BERTRAND and Lilian BARDET had much easier task. In the same group Greece which heavily depends on Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS faced difficult task to beat Croatia. European champion recorded his two wins safely but Dimitris STAMOU was the forced to resolve the match in decisive fifth game of the match against Jakov JAKELIC.   SGOUROPOULOS was not in Greek line up for for the match against France which opened the door for France to seal the duel in fast three matches.   “He is all right but left out for strategic reasons. We are saving him for closing stages ” said coach Konstantinos VATSAKILIS.   In Group C Russia beat Hungary and defending champions team of Germany prevailed against Czech Republic.   “It was a good match we were a little bit reserved at the beginning but I think it is normal. We fought good. In the beginning of my match against Tomas MARTINKO I was not at the right track I had some problems but after I won the first set I knew I will win the match ” said Kay STUMPER.   The duel of the second round between Germany and Russia went to the Russia’s account. They needed four matches to secure the victory. Vladimir SIDORENKO beat both Cedric MEISSNER and Fanbo MENG.   In Group D leading team of Italy was 2 matches to one down against Spain. Francisko RUIZ beat Carlos ROSSI but Matteo MUTTI beat both Alberto LILLO and RUIZ before ROSI sealed the match against LILLO. They escaped narrowly but in the second round Italy failed to repeat the success. Sweden booked top spot in the standings for tonight after another victory. In the opening match they overcame Slovenia.   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter  

2018 STAG European Youth Championships   Top three seeds in Junior Boys Teams Event at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships in Romania’s Cluj Napoca Romania France and Russia concluded two opening games in the Polivalenta Cluj Sport Hall unbeaten.   All except Italy favorite cruised through their opening matches in the Group stages. Romania beat Slovakia with both Rares SIPOS and Cristian PLETEA lost only one game against Stefan PEKO and Daniel ORAC. Dragos OPREA was EVEN en more convincing in straight games victory over Jakub ZELINKA. In next round it was Poland who suffered by the hands of Romania. PLETEA won both his encounters against Artur GRELA and JAN ZANDECKI but GRELA put him under severe test Poland’s player forced him to go full distance.   “It was a difficult game we played against Poland often but for this event they came with a new team that we didn’t know what to expect. Now we are very happy that we managed to win. And we hope to deliver a good result in the match with Turkey tomorrow ” said PLETEA. “My first match was very important since I was losing and I recovered to win it 3-2. For the team it was also important since it was 1:1 and it will be difficult to return in case of my defeat.”   France showed good performance against Belgium. Bastien REMBERT beat Olav KOSOLOSKY in full distance encounter but Irvin BERTRAND and Lilian BARDET had much easier task. In the same group Greece which heavily depends on Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS faced difficult task to beat Croatia. European champion recorded his two wins safely but Dimitris STAMOU was the forced to resolve the match in decisive fifth game of the match against Jakov JAKELIC.   SGOUROPOULOS was not in Greek line up for for the match against France which opened the door for France to seal the duel in fast three matches.   “He is all right but left out for strategic reasons. We are saving him for closing stages ” said coach Konstantinos VATSAKILIS.   In Group C Russia beat Hungary and defending champions team of Germany prevailed against Czech Republic.   “It was a good match we were a little bit reserved at the beginning but I think it is normal. We fought good. In the beginning of my match against Tomas MARTINKO I was not at the right track I had some problems but after I won the first set I knew I will win the match ” said Kay STUMPER.   The duel of the second round between Germany and Russia went to the Russia’s account. They needed four matches to secure the victory. Vladimir SIDORENKO beat both Cedric MEISSNER and Fanbo MENG.   In Group D leading team of Italy was 2 matches to one down against Spain. Francisko RUIZ beat Carlos ROSSI but Matteo MUTTI beat both Alberto LILLO and RUIZ before ROSI sealed the match against LILLO. They escaped narrowly but in the second round Italy failed to repeat the success. Sweden booked top spot in the standings for tonight after another victory. In the opening match they overcame Slovenia.   Quick links   ETTU EYC page   Organiser’s web site    ETTU on Facebook    ETTU On Instagram    ETTU on Twitter  

61st STAG European Youth Championships   By the end of the week all the best young players in Europe will gather in Romania’s Cluj Napoca for the biggest youth tournament at the Old Continent. Romania’s city will gather 574 players at 61st STAG European Youth Championships. The battles commences with Team’s Groups Stages on Sunday July 15th and the singles champions will be crowned on Tuesday July 24th.   In between the schedule is well known; the Team’s Juniors and Cadets events will last until Thursday July 19th and from July 20th the individual events starts.   Almost all the champions in singles events from the previous year are on duty in Cluj Napoca again. Junior Boys Singles champion Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece will have a chance to defend his title but this time his job might be even harder since the last year’s runner up Christian PLETEA will play on the home soil. Romania will be also represented once again by Rares SIPOS last year’s bronze medalist.   Junior Girls Singles champion Jing NING who won first ever medal for Azerbaijan in Portugal will play as well as extraordinary Russia’s generation of girls lead by silver medalist in singles and gold in team’s event Anastasia KOLISH and bronze medalists in singles Mariia TAILAKOVA. Adina Diaconu of Romania also medalists from Portugal is missing but there is Andreea DRAGOMAN who will try to hold Romania’s flag high as the best ranked player from hosts team.   Cadet Boys Singles champion from two previous events Vladimir SIDORENKO moved to junior category so the throne is waiting for the new prince. Silver medalists in singles and gold in double Truls MOREGARD of Sweden is also junior now so the road is wide open. The leading cadet at the European rankings Maciej KUBIK of Poland will be present so we will see could he face the challenge according to his status.   Champion Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia will have the opportunity to defend her title both in cadet singles and team’s events. Sophia KLEE of Germany doubles champion will have new partner since Anastasia BONDAREVA will play in junior’s team.   Germany won gold last year in Junior Boy’s Team’s Event whilst all other three titles went to Russia.   Quick links   ETTU EYC page Organiser’s web site ETTU on Facebook ETTU On Instagram ETTU on Twitter  

2018 STAG European Youth Championships   Russia won three teams medals last year in Guimaraes and they are coming in Romania at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships as favorites once again. Junior and cadet girls as well as cadet boys clinched gold medal in Portugal.   They will come ready for the challenge.   ”We had training camp in Sochi with all national teams boys and girls also some seniors was there. We were together for 12 days” stated Mariia TAILAKOVA. “ I am satisfied with my shape. Not the best ever but it is OK.”   Junior girls were very impressive despite the fact that Anastasia KOLISH Mariia TAILAKOVA and Kristina KAZANTSEVA formed very young team. All three will be on duty again in Cluj Napoca. This year two more girls from last year’s cadet team joined them – Ekaterina ZIRONOVA and Natalya MALININA.   Now when you have one more year of experience do you think it will be little easer?   “Maybe in some moments yes it will be little bit easier but actually it’s like a new paper everything is changed not only us others also. I think it will be same – hard and difficult as always is at the European Championships.”   They are in the group A with Azerbaijan Czech Republic and Norway.   “We have Azerbaijan and it will be great challenge to beat them. However if you want to defend the title you should win against everybody so we will do our best and we will see. It is not so bad to have one of the favorites in the Group because later it does not matter if we will win or lose in the main draw we can meet them only in the final. Against Czech Republic and Norway we will fight as against anyone else.”   Last year Russia beat Romania in the final to clinch the title.   “They will be even more dangerous than usual. At home is always easier to play you got support from everybody but we do not think about it. Our task is to fight and to hope for best.”   What is your goal in singles?   “The title of course but let’s reach the final stages first.”   Quick links   ETTU EYC page Organiser’s web site ETTU on Facebook ETTU On Instagram ETTU on Twitter

2018 STAG European Youth Championships   Russia won three teams medals last year in Guimaraes and they are coming in Romania at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships as favorites once again. Junior and cadet girls as well as cadet boys clinched gold medal in Portugal.   They will come ready for the challenge.   ”We had training camp in Sochi with all national teams boys and girls also some seniors was there. We were together for 12 days” stated Mariia TAILAKOVA. “ I am satisfied with my shape. Not the best ever but it is OK.”   Junior girls were very impressive despite the fact that Anastasia KOLISH Mariia TAILAKOVA and Kristina KAZANTSEVA formed very young team. All three will be on duty again in Cluj Napoca. This year two more girls from last year’s cadet team joined them – Ekaterina ZIRONOVA and Natalya MALININA.   Now when you have one more year of experience do you think it will be little easer?   “Maybe in some moments yes it will be little bit easier but actually it’s like a new paper everything is changed not only us others also. I think it will be same – hard and difficult as always is at the European Championships.”   They are in the group A with Azerbaijan Czech Republic and Norway.   “We have Azerbaijan and it will be great challenge to beat them. However if you want to defend the title you should win against everybody so we will do our best and we will see. It is not so bad to have one of the favorites in the Group because later it does not matter if we will win or lose in the main draw we can meet them only in the final. Against Czech Republic and Norway we will fight as against anyone else.”   Last year Russia beat Romania in the final to clinch the title.   “They will be even more dangerous than usual. At home is always easier to play you got support from everybody but we do not think about it. Our task is to fight and to hope for best.”   What is your goal in singles?   “The title of course but let’s reach the final stages first.”   Quick links   ETTU EYC page Organiser’s web site ETTU on Facebook ETTU On Instagram ETTU on Twitter