2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships Lisa LUNG and Eline LOYEN of Belgium will enter the history books as a first title winner of the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships. In the thrilling closure of the Women’s Doubles Event in Sochi they overcame Romania’s Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN (12-10 10-12 8-11 9-11). At the edge of the knife finishes LUNG and LOYEN showed their class. “It was not the tactics that prevailed here. More important was that we managed to overcome the pressure of the final. I was too nervous and made to many mistakes. Thankfully Lisa found the way to calm me down ” said LOYEN. LOYEN regained her confidence and found the answer against the pressure from the no. one seeds DIACONU and DRAGOMAN. “I just told Eline to stay calm and to put the ball on the table. I played a little bit risky. When we managed to focus on game we took full control ” said Lisa. Morning session did not start easy for Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN but after they warmed up a little the semi final match against Ekaterina GUSEVA of Russia and Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic took only one course (11-9 11-5 11-3). “We had a little bit difficult start. It was not easy for us so the adversaries took a quick lead. However after 2:6 we started to play much aggressive and to attack more ” explained Adina DIACONU. Andreea DRAGOMAN added: “Ekaterina and Zdena responded but they could not keep with that pace for long. We kept on attacking and soon took over the control of the match.” Lisa LUNG and Eline LOYEN had to play four games against Alina NIKITCHANKA and Hanna PATSEYEVA of Belarus to reach the ultimate stage (6-11 11-5 12-10 11-9). The dangerous combination of attacker and player with the defensive style proved very strong. “I am so happy they have won it because they did not play well. When you play against defense and attack you have to be five steps ahead. Also the attitude was something that bothered me. I told the girls either you are going to win or lose- you are going to do that together. It proved crucial at the end. In the last game they were talking cheering each other and they won ” explained coach Marc CLOSSET. Lisa LUNG added: “We had to change the rhythm of the game constantly. It was very important that we managed to regain control in the second game.”
LUNG and LOYEN sealed the fantastic run with the gold
2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships Lisa LUNG and Eline LOYEN of Belgium will enter the history books as a first title winner of the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships. In the thrilling closure of the Women’s Doubles Event in Sochi they overcame Romania’s Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN (12-10 10-12 8-11 9-11). At the edge of the knife finishes LUNG and LOYEN showed their class. “It was not the tactics that prevailed here. More important was that we managed to overcome the pressure of the final. I was too nervous and made to many mistakes. Thankfully Lisa found the way to calm me down ” said LOYEN. LOYEN regained her confidence and found the answer against the pressure from the no. one seeds DIACONU and DRAGOMAN. “I just told Eline to stay calm and to put the ball on the table. I played a little bit risky. When we managed to focus on game we took full control ” said Lisa. Morning session did not start easy for Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN but after they warmed up a little the semi final match against Ekaterina GUSEVA of Russia and Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic took only one course (11-9 11-5 11-3). “We had a little bit difficult start. It was not easy for us so the adversaries took a quick lead. However after 2:6 we started to play much aggressive and to attack more ” explained Adina DIACONU. Andreea DRAGOMAN added: “Ekaterina and Zdena responded but they could not keep with that pace for long. We kept on attacking and soon took over the control of the match.” Lisa LUNG and Eline LOYEN had to play four games against Alina NIKITCHANKA and Hanna PATSEYEVA of Belarus to reach the ultimate stage (6-11 11-5 12-10 11-9). The dangerous combination of attacker and player with the defensive style proved very strong. “I am so happy they have won it because they did not play well. When you play against defense and attack you have to be five steps ahead. Also the attitude was something that bothered me. I told the girls either you are going to win or lose- you are going to do that together. It proved crucial at the end. In the last game they were talking cheering each other and they won ” explained coach Marc CLOSSET. Lisa LUNG added: “We had to change the rhythm of the game constantly. It was very important that we managed to regain control in the second game.”
CP Lyssois Lille Metropole in the semis of the women’s ETTU Cup
After two victories in both legs of the Women’s ETTU Cup quarterfinal against SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin CP Lyssois Lille Metropole booked their semi final place. In the opening leg in France CP Lyssois Lille Metropole beat Slovakia’s representatives in straight games. SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin -CP Lyssois Lille Metropole 2:3 Natalia PARTYKA – Agnes LE LANNIC 3:1 (11:7 6:11 11:2 11:8) Lenka HARABASZOVA -Yue WU 1:3 (11:9 8:11 8:11 10:12) Renata STRBIKOVA – Xiaoxin YANG 3:0 (11:7 11:3 11:4) Natalia PARTYKA – Yue WU 0:3 (3:11 9:11 6:11) Lenka HARABASZOVA – Agnes LE LANNIC 0:3 (8:11 8:11 9:11)
Matilda EKHOLM ends Antibes campaign on a high note
The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup Antibes France With the semi-final positions already decided the evening session of play on Saturday 4th February focused on deciding the positions 5-8 for the competitors at the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup. Unfortunately the play-off match to decide fifth and sixth places in the Women’s Singles event was cut short after Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS withdrew due to injury problems after the opening few points and as a result Georgina POTA of Hungary will finish in 5th position. Therefore the attention turned to the battle for seventh position as Sweden’s Matilda EKHOLM went head-to-head with the other Romanian player in action Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN. EKHOLM made the slightly brighter start in the tie with her capture of games one and two but then a glimmer of hope appeared for MONTEIRO DODEAN when she took the third end to narrow the game scores. Both players continued to give it their all but three games later and the win was EKHOLM’s (11-8 11-9 8-11 12-10 7-11 11-6). The final order of the Men’s Singles competition will be confirmed tomorrow but there were two encounters in the evening session to decide which players would take part in which play-off ties. Earlier in the day Timo BOLL suffered a shock defeat to Frenchman Simon GAUZY in the quarter-finals. Germany’s BOLL will still have an opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note though after his victory over Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA (11-9 8-11 11-9 11-4 15-13) put BOLL into the match for fifth place. BOLL will meet Andrej GACINA on the final day of the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup following the Croatian contestant’s 4-3 success over Austria’s Stefan FEGERL (11-9 6-11 11-6 11-8 6-11 8-11 11-7).
Matilda EKHOLM ends Antibes campaign on a high note
The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup Antibes France With the semi-final positions already decided the evening session of play on Saturday 4th February focused on deciding the positions 5-8 for the competitors at the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup. Unfortunately the play-off match to decide fifth and sixth places in the Women’s Singles event was cut short after Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS withdrew due to injury problems after the opening few points and as a result Georgina POTA of Hungary will finish in 5th position. Therefore the attention turned to the battle for seventh position as Sweden’s Matilda EKHOLM went head-to-head with the other Romanian player in action Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN. EKHOLM made the slightly brighter start in the tie with her capture of games one and two but then a glimmer of hope appeared for MONTEIRO DODEAN when she took the third end to narrow the game scores. Both players continued to give it their all but three games later and the win was EKHOLM’s (11-8 11-9 8-11 12-10 7-11 11-6). The final order of the Men’s Singles competition will be confirmed tomorrow but there were two encounters in the evening session to decide which players would take part in which play-off ties. Earlier in the day Timo BOLL suffered a shock defeat to Frenchman Simon GAUZY in the quarter-finals. Germany’s BOLL will still have an opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note though after his victory over Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA (11-9 8-11 11-9 11-4 15-13) put BOLL into the match for fifth place. BOLL will meet Andrej GACINA on the final day of the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup following the Croatian contestant’s 4-3 success over Austria’s Stefan FEGERL (11-9 6-11 11-6 11-8 6-11 8-11 11-7).
Draw in Antibes determines Play Off crossings
European Team Championships Qualification – Play Off The draw for the European Team Championships Qualification – Play Off matches was held today in the venue of the ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup in Juan-Les-Pins Antibes France as crossings between groups are determined. The draw was conducted by ETTU Deputy Secretary General Pierre KASS while both ETTU Ranking Committee Deputy Chairman Mr. Miguel VICENS and World Champion of 1993 Jean-Philippe GATIEN drew the balls out. The winners of ten groups in both men`s and women`s competitions will qualify for the Championships Division whilst 10 second placed national teams are going to play in the 5 Play Off clashes. Teams ranked on the 3rd spot are continuing in the Challenge Division. Five out of six rounds are finished while ultimate one is scheduled for March 7th. According to the men`s draw Group G (Greece 3-1 England 2-1 Netherlands 0-3) crosses over with Group E (Sweden 4-0 Slovakia 1-2 Estonia 0-3). France secured top spot in Group C (Italy 1-2 Finland 0-3) which goes to Group F (Portugal is winner Ukraine 1-2 Lithuania 0-3). Other crossings are next: Group I vs. Group B (I: Spain 3-0 Russia 2-2 Bulgaria 0-3 B: Germany 4-0 Serbia 1-2 Switzerland 0-3). Group J vs. Group H (J: Romania 3-0 Czech Republic 1-2 Turkey 0-2) H: Poland 2-2 Slovenia 2-1 Belgium 1-2). Group A vs. Group D (A: Austria 3-1 Hungary 1-2 Denmark 1-2 D: Belarus 2-1 Croatia 2-0 Israel 0-3). Regarding women`s draw outcome is the next: Group E vs. Group A (E: Poland 4-0 Spain 1-2 Switzerland 0-3 A: Germany 4-0 England 1-2 Slovenia 0-3). Group H vs. Group B (H: Portugal 4-0 Turkey 0-2 Azerbaijan 0-2 B: Romania 4-0 Netherlands 1-2 Greece 0-3). Group F vs. Group C (F: Austria 4-0 Wales 1-2 Kosovo 0-3 C: Russia 4-0 Belarus 1-2 Bulgaria 0-3). Group J vs. Group I (J: Hungary 4-0 Sweden 1-2 Belgium 0-3 I: France 3-1 Slovakia 2-1 Italy 0-3). Group G vs. Group D (G: Czech Republic 4-0 Serbia 1-2 Lithuania 0-3 D: Ukraine 4-0 Croatia 1-2 Finland 0-3).
KALLBERG and BERGLUND shattered Rusia’s hopes
2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships Ekaterina GUSEVA of Russia and Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic lost their medals in the quarterfinal of the singles but they got consolation in medal in Doubles at the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships. In the quarterfinal they beat Karoline MISCHEK of Austria and Airi AVAMERI of Estonia (8-11 11-7 11-13 5-11). Lisa LUNG of Belgium again inflicted the pain in the host nation supporter. Teamed with Eline LOYEN they beat Maria TAILAKOVA and Maria MALANINA of Russia (9-11 11-2 11-8 11-4). Favorites for the medals in singles Romania’s Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN after all will not leave Sochi empty handed. They overcame Simay KULAKCEKEN and Ipek KARAHAN of Turkey (7-11 11-9 11-9 11-9). Alina NIKITCHANKA and Hanna PATSEYEVA of Belarus overcame Anna WEGRZYN and Julia SLAZAK of Poland (11-9 4-11 13-11 11-8). In the quarterfinal of the Men’s Doubles event despite the frenetic support from the crowd Sadi ISMAILOV and Konstantin CHERNOV of Russia lost their encounter against Sweden’s Anton KALLBERG and Simon BERGLUND (11-5 11-9 11-9 9-11 8-11 7-11). Anders LIND of Denmark and Alexander VALUCH of Slovakia prevailed against Tomas POLANSKY and David REITSPIES of Czech Republic (8-11 7-11 11-9 11-2 11-6); Patryk ZATOWKA and Marek BADOWSKI of Poland lost against Adam SZUDI and Nandor ECSEKI of Hungary (8-11 10-12 11-8 7-11) whilst Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia and Janos Bence MAJOROS of Hungary overcame Tom JARVIS and Helshan WEERASINGHE of England (8-11 11-9 6-11 11-8 3-11).
KALLBERG and BERGLUND shattered Rusia’s hopes
2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships Ekaterina GUSEVA of Russia and Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic lost their medals in the quarterfinal of the singles but they got consolation in medal in Doubles at the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships. In the quarterfinal they beat Karoline MISCHEK of Austria and Airi AVAMERI of Estonia (8-11 11-7 11-13 5-11). Lisa LUNG of Belgium again inflicted the pain in the host nation supporter. Teamed with Eline LOYEN they beat Maria TAILAKOVA and Maria MALANINA of Russia (9-11 11-2 11-8 11-4). Favorites for the medals in singles Romania’s Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN after all will not leave Sochi empty handed. They overcame Simay KULAKCEKEN and Ipek KARAHAN of Turkey (7-11 11-9 11-9 11-9). Alina NIKITCHANKA and Hanna PATSEYEVA of Belarus overcame Anna WEGRZYN and Julia SLAZAK of Poland (11-9 4-11 13-11 11-8). In the quarterfinal of the Men’s Doubles event despite the frenetic support from the crowd Sadi ISMAILOV and Konstantin CHERNOV of Russia lost their encounter against Sweden’s Anton KALLBERG and Simon BERGLUND (11-5 11-9 11-9 9-11 8-11 7-11). Anders LIND of Denmark and Alexander VALUCH of Slovakia prevailed against Tomas POLANSKY and David REITSPIES of Czech Republic (8-11 7-11 11-9 11-2 11-6); Patryk ZATOWKA and Marek BADOWSKI of Poland lost against Adam SZUDI and Nandor ECSEKI of Hungary (8-11 10-12 11-8 7-11) whilst Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia and Janos Bence MAJOROS of Hungary overcame Tom JARVIS and Helshan WEERASINGHE of England (8-11 11-9 6-11 11-8 3-11).
Antibes rejoices as Simon GAUZY powers past Timo BOLL
Cheers of ‘ALLEZ SIMON!!!’ filled the Azur Arena in Antibes after the host nation’s Simon GAUZY put in a delightful showing to defeat five-time champion of the tournament Timo BOLL at the quarterfinal of the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup. GAUZY overcame BOLL at both the Perfect 2016 World Team Championships and the Liebherr 2016 European Championships and now the Frenchman has beaten BOLL in their first encounter of 2017 in the quarter-finals stage of the Europe Top 16 competition. After the opening three games it was BOLL who held the advantage but with the help of the home crowd GAUZY continued to fight and the capture of three successive games gave the 22-year-old the win (11-8 3-11 4-11 11-7 11-8 11-7). “I performed quite well. I’ve beaten him the last four times so it was hard for him to play against me. But in the end he’s the kind of guy that doesn’t allow himself to lose four or five times in a row to the same player so I had to think about two three four different types of tactics against him because he played incredibly aggressive in the second and third games so I had to play a little bit faster a little bit more aggressive and it worked out” Simon GAUZY. Alexander SHIBAEV was a big headline maker at the 2016 Europe Top 16 event in Gondomar Portugal where he surprisingly managed to finish in third position. One year later in Antibes the Russian player will once again have the chance to finish on the podium after he edged out the no.7 seed Tiago APOLONIA in seven games to move into the semi-finals (11-5 5-11 9-11 11-8 11-5 10-12 11-5). “I’m quite happy with the performance I gave and my psychological feelings. Maybe it wasn’t my best match but I’m quite happy and tomorrow we will go again… I’m quite okay with playing Simon GAUZY in the last four and I’m going to be ready for tomorrow’s game” Alexander SHIBAEV. Also moving through to the last four is Ukraine’s tournament debutant KOU Lei after he saw off Croatia’s Andrej GACINA across seven games. KOU who defeated Vladimir SAMSONOV in his last match of day one put in a strong display in his match with GACINA on the second day of the event and was able to prevent the Croatian player from stealing the result (11-7 11-7 8-11 9-11 11-9 8-11 11-6). The other semi-finalist is Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV following his straight games win over Stefan FEGERL of Austria (11-4 11-8 11-5 11-9). OVTCHAROV is the Men’s Singles winner of the previous two Europe Top 16 competitions and he is just two match wins away from potentially picking up the 2017 title.
Two medals for Slovenia in Men’s Singles
STAG 2017 European Under 21 Championships Slovenian players Darko JORGIC and Deni KOZUL reserved their places at the medal rostrum in Men’s Singles Event tomorrow on the final day of the play at the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships in Russia’s Sochi. Germany’s QIU Dang and Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR also progressed to the semi final of the Event. Both today’s singles matches Darko JORGIC of Slovenia concluded in straight games. After SIPOS Martin ALLEGRO of Belgium was next in line suffer (11-3 11-6 11-7 11-6). “Speaking about the tactics it was not very hard to made one since we know each other very well. We played against each other many times. The key point was in my head. I already saw myself as a winner I knew I am going to beat him ” said JORGIC.” His weak point was his backhand so I attacked him with the service. “ Few minutes after JORGIC Slovenia enriched its treasury with another medal. Deni KOZUL beat Tom JARVIS of England (3-11 8-11 9-11 11-5 9-11). “We played against each other two years ago at the Croatia Open so I was familiar with his game. From the beginning JARVIS could not receive my service well; he struggled. I won easily three opening games but then Tom played better and that made me nervous. I lost four game before I took the control again ” said KOZUL. QIU Dang of Germany beat Marek BADOWSKI of Poland (14-12 11-6 8-11 8-11 11-7 4-11 9-11). “From the beginning BADOWSKI tried to slow down the game. He was controlling it by forcing me to play by his rhythm. I gave my best to adapt to it. That is why he stretched me to full seven games. However at the end I was mentally stronger for the finish and that prevailed ” said QIU. Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia needed six games to overcame his very well know adversary Killian ORT of Germany (8-11 15-13 8-11 11-8 10-12 10-12 10-12). “I never lost the match against him but it is never easy to beat him at the same time ” explained 196 cm tall Croat who admits that his height sometimes help to reach the ball but sometimes slows him a little.
