2016 European Youth Championships to be held in Zagreb from 8th to 17th July 2016     European Table Tennis Union is pleased to confirm the dates for the 2016 European Youth Championships to be held in Zagreb Croatia on Friday 8th to Sunday 17th July 2016.   The 59th edition will be held in Dom Sportova hall. This venue is well known in table tennis world as ait hosted the World and European Championships as well as numerous tournaments from seniors to youth categories.

Czech Republic only suffered against Poland After very solid performance of Junior Boys team of Czech Republic in group stages secured them a second position in Group C. Defeat against Poland halted their progress to the top. Poland preserved unbeaten status at the end of the day two at the European Youth Championships in Bratislava.   Tomas POLANSKI placed at position no. 13 at Old Continent lost only one match against Patryk ZATOWKA Europe’s no. four.   “It was very good match. I forced Patryk to go full distance but at this point he was better. In the decisive game it was 10:12 at the end; I think it explains a lot. We lost the match against Poland but we produce good game ” explained POLANSKI.   Against Portugal and against Belarus the win was never in question.   “We hope we will reach quarterfinal in Bratislava. After that stage it will be extremely difficult to stay in the tournament ” said POLANSKI.   POLANSKI reached the quarterfinal of the French open this year where he suffered by the hands of Can AKKUZU.   “I am playing in Czech extra league for Usti Nad Labem. I will stay there for sure but I am also looking for opportunity of training in some European center. Maybe in Austria we will see…”

ITTF President watched the action at the European Youth Championships in Bratislava   During the European Youth Championships in Bratislava this morning ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT visited Slovnaft Arena. In the time of his visit German cadet’s team played their ultimate match in group against Serbia. Fanbo MENG Tom EISE and Kirill FADEEV beat Pero TEPIC Dimitrije LEVAJAC and Matija JOVICIC in straight matches. WEIKERT greeted youngsters led by coach Eva JELER.  Yesterday Germany suffered by the hands of Moldova’s players so they will move to play off matches from the position no. two in Group D.  Belgium and Serbia concluded group stages at position’s no. three and four.  In Group A of the Cadet Boys Temas Event Romania and Poland are at the leading positions followed by Hungary and Czech Republic. In Group B the order is: France Russia Turkey Denmark. In Group C: Italy Sweden Lithuania Slovenia. 

Moldavia’s player is still unbeaten in singles duels in Bratislava     The success of Moldova’s cadet’s team at the European Youth Championships in Bratislava mainly lies on shoulder of Cristian CHIRITA. Young player lead his team to the top place in the Group D. On their way to the position no. one they overcame the top seeds Germany.   At the opening day Moldova beat Germany and suffered unexpected defeat against the last seeded Serbia. They stretched Serbia to full distance so in the final standings managed to preserve the top position after today’s victory over Belgium.   “I am happy with my performance. Both matches in the singles at the opening day I won but I have to admit today was the most difficult for us. Belgium put us under severe pressure ” explained CHIRITA.   The key-moment was the victory in doubles. After two defeats on the opening day CHRITA and Vladislav URSU finally beat Belgium’s pairings of Laurens DEVOS and Romain GASPAR.   “That was the point that made a difference. We succeeded today thanks to win in doubles ” said CHIRITA who won both his singles again.   Asked did he suffered from pressure he admitted: “I am not suffering under pressure. It is good motivation fuel. It makes me better.”   Cristian won Team’s Event at French Open and Romanian Open whilst he won silver in singles in Romania in junior’s category.

Business as usual for Cristian PLETEA and Rares SIPOS   Romania’s cadets Cristian PLETEA and Rares SIPOS concluded the Group stages of the competition in Cadet Boys Teams Event at the European Youth Championship unbeaten. After Poland and Hungary on the day two they prevailed against Czech Republic. “We did not like the draw when we have saw it. We have never played against this team of Czech Republic ” stated PLETEA. Matej SIWIEC and Jan VALENTA maybe were not most desirable adversaries for Cristian ad Rares but the result certainly did not show it. They lost in straight matches. “It is always easier to play on the second day. Now we fell the ball better we entered mentally into competition “ explained SIPOS. Sipos struggled a bit on the opening day. He lost his match against Poland’s Samuel KULCZYCKI.“It is always like that at the beginning. I got little bit upset by the game of my adversary I missed few balls…”said SIPOS. “Against Hungary it was much easier.” PLETEA was extremely busy in last 12 months. He clinched the title at the European Top 10 in France won the gold at Bahrain Open as junior and he succeeded in the same category to the top position at Czech Open whilst in Poland he won the title in cadets category. SIPOS won the title in Bahrain in cadet’s Event but he was absent from the scene for a while. “I had an English exam so I had to prepare for it. I pass it!”

Slovenia beat Russia for top position   For Can AKKUZU Alexandre CASSIN and Joe SEYFRIED the opening day at the European Youth Championships in Bratislava judging by the results was an opportunity for safe warm up. Top seeded France bat Hungary and Spain in the Group A to secure the top place at the end of the day. In the same group Croatia exceeded the rankings. They overcame Spain to move from the spot no. four at the standings to position no. three. Hungary is second after they overcame Croatia in full five matches. Anton KALLBERG Malte MOREGARDH and Simon SODERLUND with Oscar PERMAN secured the victories over Germany and Slovakia. There were no movements at the standings with Denmark on spot no. four after two rounds today. The same situation was in Group C with Poland at the top. Patryk ZATOWKA Marek BADOWSKI Kamil NALEPA and Tomasz TOMASZUK overcame Czech Republic and Belarus. Those two teams will play for second position tomorrow whilst Portugal is at the bottom of the standings without the victory.  Slovenia upset the top seeded Russia. The thrilling five matches duel Darko JORGIC Deni KOZUL and Tom SFILIGOJ concluded in their favor. They also beat Ukraine 3:0 to emerge at the top position. Russia beat Austria to secure second position whilst Austria and Ukraine are third and fourth. 

Poland upset favorites from Germany     The opening day of the European Youth Championships in Bratislava was free of upset for top seeded team in Junior Girls Event – France but for the German team this day was not fully successful.  In Group A Audrey ZARIF Pauline CHASSELIN and Marie MIGOT beat Serbia in straight matches to justify their rankings. Against Hungary Oceane GUISNEL suffered by the hands of Leila IMRE but still France recorded 3:1 victory. Serbia beat Estonia to stay in the run for second position. Estonia is without the victory today. In Group B Romania also lost only one point. Adina DIACONU Diana LUPU Andreea CLAPA and Alina ZAHARIA overcame Spain and Portugal. However they have to share the top position with the biggest upset in the Junior Girls Event. From position no. four Croatia is also at the top. They overcame Spain and Portugal but they needed full five matches in both occasions.  In Group C Germany failed to preserve their leading place. They lost against Poland’s Natalia BAJOR Julia SLAZAK and Paulina KNYSZEWSKA. Poland also beat Israel. Tomorrow they will play against Czech Republic to stay at the top. Germany is second and Czech Republic is third.  Russia recorded two clean wins despite very close matches against Slovenia. Daria CHERNOVA and Daria CHERNORAY were both stretched to full distance against Ana TOFANT and Katrina STRECHI. Only Maria MALANINA finished the match in straight games. Against Belgium led by Lisa LUNG Russia added two more points. Belgium and Slovenia are second with Italy occupying fourth position. 

Moldova and Belgium will play position no. one   It was not an easy day for the favorites in the Cadet Boys Team’s Event at the opening stages of the European Youth Championships in Bratislava. Leaders in their Groups Germany France and Italy all were under severe pressure on day one.  Romania’s Rares SIPOS and Cristian PLETEA won both their matches against Poland and Hungary. Only SIPOS faced defeat in one match against Hungary’s Csaba ANDRAS but PLETEA was at the top of the tasks. Czech Republic exceeded their rankings; Tomas KOLDAS Matej SIWIEC and Jan VALENTA overcame Hungary after thrilling five matches to book third position. Poland is second.  Leaders in Group B French players Irvin BERTRAND Leo DE NODREST and Lilian BARDET beat Turkey in straight matches but against Russia they were stretched to full distance. Both Russia and Turkey will play tomorrow for position no. two and Denmark failed to post a victory today.  In Group C Italy’s Carlo ROSSI and Matteo MUTTI beat Lithuania in straight matches after they faced spirited team of Sweden. In the opening match of the day Truls MOREGARDH Melker NILSSON and Martin FRIIS forced leaders to go full distance. Slovenia is without victory in the group.  Tom EISE of Germany was the backbone of the Germany’s success in the opening round against Belgium. He won both his singes and doubles with Kirill FADEEV whilst XU Jannik failed to follow his path. Against Moldova EISE posted victory in doubles with FADEEV but the team failed to score in singles. Moldova’s Cristian CHIRITA and Vladislav URSU booked the top position in the Group with same ratio as Belgium. Tomorrow in direct clash they will decide the leader of the Group.