Player from Russia secured four medals in Bratislava   On the ultimate day at the Cadet Girls Singles Event of the European Youth Championships in Bratislava in the semi final will play Maria TAYLAKOVA of Russia Lucie GAUTHIER of France Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania and Stina KALLBERG of Sweden. In the quarterfinal TAYLAKOVA overcame Tatiana KUKULKOVA of Slovakia 4:1 (-9 5 5 5 1) whilst GAUTHIER prevailed against Kastiaryna VAKHLIYEVA of Belarus 4:0 (6 4 9 5). KALLBERG beat Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic 4:2 (6 -7 8 -10 7 3) and DRAGOMAN prevailed against Kristina KAZANTSEVA of Russia 4:2 (8 -8 -7 8 5 13).  In the semis of the Cadet Girls Doubles Event will play again Maria TAYLAKOVA of Russia and Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania against Ema MARN and Andrea PAVLOVIC of Croatia whilst Katarzyna WEGRZYN and Anna WEGRZYN of Poland will meet Tania PLAIAN Romania and Elina RUB of Russia. In the quarterfinal top seeds the combination of Romania and Russia beat Katarina STRAZAR and Aleksandra VOVK of Slovenia in straight games (9 4 6). MARN and PAVLOVIC needed one more game to prevail against host nation’s Ema LABOSOVA and Nikoleta PUCHOVANOVA (13 10 -10 8). In the lower half of the draw Katarzyna and Anna WEGRZYN beat Annastasia KOLISH and Kristina KAZANTSEVA of Russia 3:1 (9 9 -6 2) whilst PLAIAN and RUB overcame Leili MOSTAFAVI and Lucie GAUTHIER of France in the full distance duel 3:2 (9 -7 6 -7 6).

On his way to semis XU beat no. two seed Top Romanian players justified their status in the Cadet Boys Team’s Event. Top seeded Cristian PLETEA of Romania Jules ROLLAND of France Rares SIPOS of Romania and XU Jannik of Germany will play in the semi final.  In the quarterfinal PLETEA beat Lev KATSMAN of Russia 4:1 (-9 4 5 8 6) whilst SIPOS overcame Fanbo MENG of Germany by same margin (5 6 7 -9 3). Europe’s no. 14 ROLLAND already in the 4th Round overcame Europe’s no. 5 Truls MOREGARDH of Sweden so he had much easier task in quarters. Today he overcame Tom EISE of Germany 4:1 (6 6 -11 5 11). No. 10 at European Rankings Jannik XU also halted the progress of the favorite – he beat seeded no. two Irvin BERTRAND of France before he accounted for Carlo ROSSI of Italy 4:2 (-10 10 -3 7 6 8). Two French pairings booked their place in the semi final stage of the Cadet Boys Doubles Event. Cristian PLETEA and Rares SIPOS of Romania Leo DE NODREST and Jules ROLLAND of France Vladimir SIDORENKO and Maksim GREBNEV and Irvin BERTRAND and Lilian BARDET of France. Top seeds from Romania played very tense match against Tom EISE and Kirill FADEEV of Germany. After 9 days of play in the final matches it is hard to stay calm. With little bit more emotions than necessary Romanian combination prevailed in four games 3:1 (-12 12 9 4). All remaining matches concluded by same margin: DE NODREST and ROLLAND beat Matteo MUTTI and Carlo ROSSI of Italy (4 -5 10 7) SIDORENKO and GREBNEV overcame Medardas STANKEVICIUS of Lithuania and Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece (5 -9 9 4) whilst BERTRAND and BARDET overcame Jannik XU and Fangbo MENG (11 -5 6 5). 

Junior Girls team reach Round of 16 after being seeded at the last position in their group     Junior Girls Team of Croatia reached the knock out stage to be with the top 16 teams at the European Championships in Bratislava. Klara BARDAC Klara CAKOL Karla FRANOVIC and Dorina SREBRNJAK were seeded as fourth team in the Group B.   They overcame Spain and Portugal before they forced Romania to go full distance. Even Adina DIACONU was under severe pressure against CAKOL.   “ We beat Portugal in the opening round in five matches and that gave us boost. No one took us as favorites but we proved we could play against them. CAKOL beat Rita FINS latter in the match against Portugal to proved our good result is not accidental ” explained Dorina.   Dorina already won the medal at the European Youth Championships three seasons ago. “I hope we can reach the medal rostrum again ” said SREBENJAK.   In The Round of 16 Croatia will meet Belarus.

German national coach leads Junior’s team at EYC for a last time before retirement   The 58th edition of the European Youth Championships in Bratislava will be the last one at the bench for the German coach Klaus SCHMITTINGER. SCHMITTINGER will retire by the end of the year after 37 years on duty as a trainer. In 1979 Klaus SCHMITTINGER took the responsibility of cadet boys and girls as German national coach and since then he is constantly involved in work in the DTTB. In ’80 SCHMITTINGER lead Women’s team also for a few years he has been involved in coaching of Men’s team; four years he taught future coaches and talent’s scouts.  “From 2001 until now I am coaching juniors and cadets ” said Klaus SCHMITTINGER. Asked about the generation which grew to his heart the most German expert found it hard to answer.  “There were few for sure. It was nice to work with the generation of Christian SUSS and Patrick BAUM then the team with Dimitrij OVTCHAROV BAUM and Ruwen FILIUS; recently with Patrick FRANZISKA then Kilian ORT and Ding QIU…” In Bratislava in Juniors Boys team are Gerrit ENGEMANN Tobias HIPPLER Balasz HUTTER Denis KLEIN and Jonah SCHILIE. “It is very young generation. The core of the team will play in junior category for three more years since they are the last cadet year. Therefore I am very happy with their result in Bratislava.” However SCHMITTINGER underlined that the result at Youth Championships is not the ultimate goal in process of coaching youngsters.  “Medals are important but most important is to create the player who will be successful latter as a senior. This is just a development phase.” What will you do after retirement?  “I can be little bit more active with my hobby. Since a long time with my wife I am enjoying dancing twice a week; Salsa Latino…Maybe I will have more time for few hours of dance more.”  However SCHMITTINGER has no plans of leaving table tennis for good.  “I hope I will be still involved in table tennis at lest for a week in the month. I hope that German Federation or ITTF will let me be the part of some development program. Otherwise it will be very bored to be without the sport. If you do not work it is not good for your mind and body.”

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.