STAG 2017 European Youth Championships Russia is champion in Cadet Girls Teams Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships for a second year in the row. They overcame France on their way to the highest step at the medal rostrum. Russia team is composed of Elizabet ABRAAMIAN Nataliya MALININA Arina SLAUTINA Ekaterina ZIRONOVA whilst for France played Prithika PAVADE Camille LUTZ Lou FRETE Isa COK.   Bronze medal winners are Belarus’ Ulyana AKLHOUSKAYA Darya KISEL Yuliya ZALESKAYA and Turkey’s Sukran CANGIR Ece HARAC Betul TOZ and Ozge YILMAZ.   In match between France and last year’s champions Prithika PAVADE instantly imposed her rhythm against Elizabet ABRAAMIAN. Despite the slower start ABRAAMIAN responded in the next game and set the pace in opposite direction. From the second game it was one-way street.   Camille LUTZ won the opening game against Ekaterina ZIRONOVA. In the second Russia’s player did not seized the opportunity at 8:8 but she won the next game. ZIRONOVA recovered to level the match. In another twist of fate she had 3 match points but LUTZ saved them all and won the match.   After the doubles Russia was back in game. Ekaterina ZIRONOVA explained.   “I was not that before the start of the match but when the play commenced I was under pressure. I lost my first singles match but after the doubles the team- spirit brought me back into the game. We are united and we support each other it helped me recover” explained ZIRONOVA.     France – Russia 0:3 Prithika PAVADE – Elizabet ABRAAMIAN 1:3 (11:4 5:11 9:11 8:11) Camille LUTZ – Ekaterina ZIRONOVA 3:2 (11:6 11:8 8:11 9:11 13:11) Camille LUTZ Prithika PAVADE – Elizabet ABRAAMIAN Ekaterina ZIRONOVA 3:1 (12:14 4:11 11:7 18:16) Prithika PAVADE – Ekaterina ZIRONOVA 0:3 (10:12 4:11 4:11)  

STAG 2017 European Youth Championships   Germany’s Gerrit ENGEMANN Tobias HIPPLER Cedric MEISSNER and Fanbo MENG are the newly crowned champions of the Junior Boys Teams Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships. In the final they beat Russia’s team composed of Artur ABUSEV Nikita ARTEMENKO Denis IVONIN Lev KATSMAN and Anton KOTOV.     Sweden’s Truls MOREGARDH Simon SODERLUND Melker NILSSON Jonathan THIMON and Romania’s Cristian PLETEA Rares SIPOS Dragos OPREA Florin SPELBUS clinched bronze.   Germany suffered by the hands of Russia’s players in the Group stage but they avenged 2:3 – defeat with full power by beating adversaries in straight matches duel.   Gerrit ENGEMANN won the opening game against Denis IVONIN by close margin but slowly IVONIN raised his game and after he faced and saved three games ball he won the second set. Once he settled into the rhythm IVONIN continued to create the chances but ENGEMANN had all the answers. However IVONIN’s efforts were not to be denied. He managed to come back from 2:1 in reverse and to level for decisive game. In the finish ENGEMANN showed more.   “In second game it was 9:4 in advance and I lost that game. I become nervous. I had to change my tactics and play completely different from the way I did in Group stage. I used more my backhand spin and a lot of service variations” said Gerrit ENGEMANN.   Tobias HIPPLER displayed good skills against defensive style of Artur ABUSEV. Russia’s player was powerless and he failed in all attempts to halt HIPPLER.   “With my coach I worked on tactics after we recorded the first match. I adapted my game to win. I changed the placement of the ball several times and I was good with the spins. ABUSEV could not control my game ” said Tobias HIPPLER. “In the main draw we had a lot of difficult matches; close calls. As we reached the closing stages the level of the teams improved.”     Lev KATSMAN started good against Cedric MEISSNER but he failed to continue in the same style.   “I knew that I had to win this and I was nervous. In the group stage KATSMAN beat me by same margin as I won today. I did not made many errors. I played freely and relaxed as my coach told me to. I was good in service I never played this good. I never felt like this before ” Cedric MEISSNER.   FANG BO added: “We had great team spirit. We pushed each other to extremes.”     Russia – Germany 0:3 Denis IVONIN – Gerrit ENGEMANN 2:3 (12:14 12:10 7:11 13:11 7:11) Artur ABUSEV – Tobias HIPPLER 0:3 (4:11 7:11 5:11) Lev KATSMAN- Cedric MEISSNER 1:3 (11:8 4:11 5:11 5:11)  

STAG 2017 European Youth Championships Russia is champion in Cadet Girls Teams Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships for a second year in the row. They overcame France on their way to the highest step at the medal rostrum. Russia team is composed of Elizabet ABRAAMIAN Nataliya MALININA Arina SLAUTINA Ekaterina ZIRONOVA whilst for France played Prithika PAVADE Camille LUTZ Lou FRETE Isa COK.   Bronze medal winners are Belarus’ Ulyana AKLHOUSKAYA Darya KISEL Yuliya ZALESKAYA and Turkey’s Sukran CANGIR Ece HARAC Betul TOZ and Ozge YILMAZ.   In match between France and last year’s champions Prithika PAVADE instantly imposed her rhythm against Elizabet ABRAAMIAN. Despite the slower start ABRAAMIAN responded in the next game and set the pace in opposite direction. From the second game it was one-way street.   Camille LUTZ won the opening game against Ekaterina ZIRONOVA. In the second Russia’s player did not seized the opportunity at 8:8 but she won the next game. ZIRONOVA recovered to level the match. In another twist of fate she had 3 match points but LUTZ saved them all and won the match.   After the doubles Russia was back in game. Ekaterina ZIRONOVA explained.   “I was not that before the start of the match but when the play commenced I was under pressure. I lost my first singles match but after the doubles the team- spirit brought me back into the game. We are united and we support each other it helped me recover” explained ZIRONOVA.     France – Russia 0:3 Prithika PAVADE – Elizabet ABRAAMIAN 1:3 (11:4 5:11 9:11 8:11) Camille LUTZ – Ekaterina ZIRONOVA 3:2 (11:6 11:8 8:11 9:11 13:11) Camille LUTZ Prithika PAVADE – Elizabet ABRAAMIAN Ekaterina ZIRONOVA 3:1 (12:14 4:11 11:7 18:16) Prithika PAVADE – Ekaterina ZIRONOVA 0:3 (10:12 4:11 4:11)  

STAG 2017 European Youth Championships   Russia defended their title in the Cadet Boys Teams Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Guimaraes. At the ultimate stage they prevailed against France. Golden boys are: Vladimir SIDORENKO Maksim GREBNEV Vladislav MAKAROV and Gleb IVANOV. Silver medal went to France for Bilal HAMACHE Dorian ZHENG Jules CAVAILE and Myshaal SABHI.     Bronze medalists are Hungary’s Csaba ANDRAS Oliver BOTH Eric HUSZVAR Mate OCSAI and Belgium’s Nicolas DEGROS Olav KOSOLOSKY Adrien RASSENFOSSE.   At the opening of the match Vladimir SIDORENKO left no trace of hope to Bilal HAMACHE. Until the closing stages of the third game he was in charge. HAMACHE seized the opportunity to won third game by narrow margin. He also forced SIDORENKO into few errors for tight finish of the match but the favorite and last year’s singles champion prevailed.   Dorian ZHENG proved too strong for Maksim GREBNEV at the beginning. It did not stopped GREBNEV who stay close; he sought for the chance to recover. GREBNEV seized it in the closing stages of the second game. Soon he was the one who is in the driving seats forcing ZHENG into mistakes.   “Against BILALA after the third game I was nervous because I had advantage 6:2 and he recovered. BILAL had good service and I had a hard time to put it short and to attack. However I never lost the focus. I felt well from the beginning ” said SIDORENKO. “ I am very proud now and I am proud that I had a chance to win gold for Russia.     Russia – France 3:0 Vladimir SIDORENKO – Bilal HAMACHE 3:1 (11:4 11:3 11:13 12:10) Maksim GREBNEV – Dorian ZHENG 3:1 (8:11 13:11 11:4 11:7) Vladimir SIDORENKO Maksim GREBNEV – Jules CAVAILLE Myshaal SABHI 3:0 (11:7 11:9 11:5)

STAG 2017 European Youth Championships   Russia defended their title in the Cadet Boys Teams Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Guimaraes. At the ultimate stage they prevailed against France. Golden boys are: Vladimir SIDORENKO Maksim GREBNEV Vladislav MAKAROV and Gleb IVANOV. Silver medal went to France for Bilal HAMACHE Dorian ZHENG Jules CAVAILE and Myshaal SABHI.     Bronze medalists are Hungary’s Csaba ANDRAS Oliver BOTH Eric HUSZVAR Mate OCSAI and Belgium’s Nicolas DEGROS Olav KOSOLOSKY Adrien RASSENFOSSE.   At the opening of the match Vladimir SIDORENKO left no trace of hope to Bilal HAMACHE. Until the closing stages of the third game he was in charge. HAMACHE seized the opportunity to won third game by narrow margin. He also forced SIDORENKO into few errors for tight finish of the match but the favorite and last year’s singles champion prevailed.   Dorian ZHENG proved too strong for Maksim GREBNEV at the beginning. It did not stopped GREBNEV who stay close; he sought for the chance to recover. GREBNEV seized it in the closing stages of the second game. Soon he was the one who is in the driving seats forcing ZHENG into mistakes.   “Against BILALA after the third game I was nervous because I had advantage 6:2 and he recovered. BILAL had good service and I had a hard time to put it short and to attack. However I never lost the focus. I felt well from the beginning ” said SIDORENKO. “ I am very proud now and I am proud that I had a chance to win gold for Russia.     Russia – France 3:0 Vladimir SIDORENKO – Bilal HAMACHE 3:1 (11:4 11:3 11:13 12:10) Maksim GREBNEV – Dorian ZHENG 3:1 (8:11 13:11 11:4 11:7) Vladimir SIDORENKO Maksim GREBNEV – Jules CAVAILLE Myshaal SABHI 3:0 (11:7 11:9 11:5)

Junior Boy’s Teams Event   By reaching the final of the Junior Boys Teams Event Russia secured all four teams final at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Guimaraes. For the trophy they will play against Germany.   Sweden’s Truls MOREHARDH Simon SUDERLUND and Jonathan THIMON stretched Russia’s Artur ABUSEV Denis IVONIN and Lev KATSMAN to full five matches before ABUSEV sealed the duel with only 3:0 victory. He beat SUDERLUND. MOREGARDH was only player to score for Sweden. He beat ABUSEV 3:1 and IVONIN 3:2.   “I am so tired after the match. I am just happy that we reached the final ” said ABUSEV.   Nervous wrecking clash between Germany and Romania conclude in the favor of Germany. Cristian PLETEA beat both Gerrit ENGEMANN and Tobias HIPPLER but Germany proved to have a stronger team. Those two players with Cedric MEISSNER all scored in semi final.   “It was very close match. In the quarterfinal we already played long match against Italy. I won the decisive match against PINTO. In the last game of the last match I was behind Rares SIPOS 5:10 and from that moment I was only focused on table tennis. Nothing else was around me ” said Gerrit ENGEMANN.” I am satisfied with my service and receive game. In the beginning I was to much passive and I realized that I have to attack ant o play to the middle. We lost against Russia in the group stage but we are playing the final of our dreams and we want to win.”    After very good performance against England and 3:2 win day earlier Sweden repeated the success and the result in the quarterfinal against Greece.   “We had a great team spirit and it helped us in both our duels ” said Jonathan THIMON who beat Dimitros KORDOUTIS in match in which Simon SODERLUND and Truls MOREGARDH also added their points to the score sheets.   Russia escaped long distance duel and finished the job in three matches against Belgium. Romania and Germany was forced to go full five matches. Germany beat Italy whilst Romania overcame France.  

Junior Boy’s Teams Event   By reaching the final of the Junior Boys Teams Event Russia secured all four teams final at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Guimaraes. For the trophy they will play against Germany.   Sweden’s Truls MOREHARDH Simon SUDERLUND and Jonathan THIMON stretched Russia’s Artur ABUSEV Denis IVONIN and Lev KATSMAN to full five matches before ABUSEV sealed the duel with only 3:0 victory. He beat SUDERLUND. MOREGARDH was only player to score for Sweden. He beat ABUSEV 3:1 and IVONIN 3:2.   “I am so tired after the match. I am just happy that we reached the final ” said ABUSEV.   Nervous wrecking clash between Germany and Romania conclude in the favor of Germany. Cristian PLETEA beat both Gerrit ENGEMANN and Tobias HIPPLER but Germany proved to have a stronger team. Those two players with Cedric MEISSNER all scored in semi final.   “It was very close match. In the quarterfinal we already played long match against Italy. I won the decisive match against PINTO. In the last game of the last match I was behind Rares SIPOS 5:10 and from that moment I was only focused on table tennis. Nothing else was around me ” said Gerrit ENGEMANN.” I am satisfied with my service and receive game. In the beginning I was to much passive and I realized that I have to attack ant o play to the middle. We lost against Russia in the group stage but we are playing the final of our dreams and we want to win.”    After very good performance against England and 3:2 win day earlier Sweden repeated the success and the result in the quarterfinal against Greece.   “We had a great team spirit and it helped us in both our duels ” said Jonathan THIMON who beat Dimitros KORDOUTIS in match in which Simon SODERLUND and Truls MOREGARDH also added their points to the score sheets.   Russia escaped long distance duel and finished the job in three matches against Belgium. Romania and Germany was forced to go full five matches. Germany beat Italy whilst Romania overcame France.  

Cadet Boy’s Teams Event at the 60th STAG European Youth Championships   In the final of the Cadet Boy’s Teams Event at the 60th STAG European Youth Championships in Guimaraes Russia will meet France tomorrow.   Russia’s Maksim GREBNEV and Vladimir SIDORENKO prevailed against Belgium’s Olav KOSOLOSKY and Adrien RASSENFOSSE in straight matches in penultimate stage.   “Tomorrow we will have a very strong team in front of us for sure. Against France we are ready in terms on tactics and we are very motivated. It is going to be close match; both teams have two strong players for singles and for doubles. We know each other very well ” said SIDORENKO.” My coach told me that I would probably struggle to cope with pressure since I was seeded no. one in cadets. Everyone wants to beat me. I guess it is a heavy burden for me but hopefully I will overcame it.”   In other duel France overcame Hungary 3:0. Bilal HAMACHE was forced to play 3:2 against Csaba ANDRAS.   “I am playing great table tennis here. In my matches I felt that my forehand is strong and my receive of service is very good. I had some difficulties at the beginning but I adjusted the way I placed the ball at the table ” said Bilal HAMACHE.   Dorian ZHENG was much more effective against Oliver BOTH 3:0.   “We know what we had to do beat Russia. It will be difficult to stop SIDORENKO and we are looking for our chance in the match against GREBNEV ” said ZHENG.   Only Hungary prevailed in straight matches in the quarterfinal. Csaba ANDRAS and Oliver BOTH beat Germany’s Daniel RINDERER and Felix WETZEL after convincing performance.   Belgium inflicted the pain in harts of the host nation supporters. They halted Portugal’s great run toward medal. Olav KOSOLOSKY beat Tiago LI in fourth game. France beat Sweden after five matches and Russia was stretched to full distance against Poland.