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.  

Sweden and France unbeaten in Bratislava   At the end of the day one at the European Youth Championships in Bratislava in Cadet Girls Teams Event only Serbia failed to justify their rankings. Belgium beat them to finish the day at position no. two in Group C.  Top seeded team in Group A Russia easily prevailed in both their matches. Anastasia KOLISH Maria TAYLAKOVA and Kristina KAZANTSEVA recorded two straight matches victories over Czech Republic and Poland. Both Czech Republic and Poland beat Hungary so they will play against each other tomorrow for the position no. two that leads directly to the top 16.  In Group B Leili MOSTAFAVI and Lucie GAUTHIER from team of France beat Belarus and Germany also in straight matches. Like in Group A Belarus and Germany accounted for Austria who is seeded at position no. four in their Group; they will play against each other on the second day for the position no. two. In Group C Sweden’s Stina KALLBERG and Ellen HOLMSTEN overcame Serbia and Belgium However Jana BERNARD Natacha KOSZULAP from team of Belgium accounted for Spain to secure the second position in their Group. Spain seeded at the last position in Group C also beat Serbia to move one place up. In Group D Romania showed no weak points. Andrea DRAGOMAN and Tania PLAIAN beat Slovakia and Turkey in straight matches. Gui Pembe OZKAYA of Turkey stretched PLAINA to full distance in singles whilst Slovakia’s Tatiana KUKULKOVA and Natalia GRIGELOVA played five games in doubles against Romania’s representatives before group leaders justified their rankings. Ukraine failed to post a victory despite very good performance against Turkey. 

The 58th edition of the European Youth Championships starts on Friday   We are counting hours before the start of the 58th edition of the European Youth Championships. From July 10th until 19th Slovak Republic will host the future of Continental table tennis in the SLOVNAFT Arena in Bratislava. As we used to the first part of the competition will be reserved for the teams events until the next Tuesday; whilst from next Wednesday the competitors in singles doubles and mixed doubles will take the stage. Most crowded event is the Cadet Boys Team’s event with 41 nation on entries list. Junior Boys has one less whilst for Junior and Cadet Girls Teams Event 34 nation sent their teams. They all will fight for 14 titles. The title holder in Junior Boys Team in Junior Girls Team and in Cadet Boys Team is France. Only Team’s Event won by other nation was Cadet Girls Team. Romania clinched the title in that category. In Junior Boys Singles the 2014 winner was Alexandre CASSIN of France; in Junior Girls Singles Chantal MANTZ of Germany clinched the title. CASSIN will be on duty in Bratislava whilst Germany counts on team without last year’s winner. In Junior Boys Doubles Adam SZUDI and Nandor ECSEKI of Hungary stood at the top of Europe; whilst in Junior Girls Doubles Portugal’s Rita FINS and Patricia MACIEL reached the gold. In Junior Mixed Doubles Tomislav PUCAR and Lea RAKOVAC brought gold to Croatia. In Cadet Boys and Girls Singles Romania’s Rares SIPOS and Adina DIACONU succeeded to the top in Italy last year. In Cadet Boys Doubles Nolan GIVONE and Ivan BERTRAND of France and in Cadet Girls Doubles Adina DIACONU of Romania and Lisa LUNG of Belgium made it to the top place at the medal rostrum. In Cadet Mixed Doubles Romani had another gold won by Cristian PLETEA and Adina DIACONU. Both players are present in Bratislava. In top Division top seeds last year’s winners team of France will play against Hungary Spain and Croatia. In Group B Sweden will meet Germany Slovakia and Denmark. In Group C 2014 runners up Poland will meet Czech Republic Belarus and Portugal. In Group D Russia will face the opposition from Slovenia Austria and Ukraine. In Juniors Girls Team’s Event as in Group A France will start their journey with matches in the first phase against Hungary Serbia and Estonia. In Group B are Romania at the top followed by Spain Portugal and Croatia. In Group C Germany will face Poland Czech Republic and Israel. In Group D Russia is the leader followed by Belarus Slovenia and Italy. Romania’s cadets are on the top of the Group A. They will meet Poland Hungary and Czech Republic. France is the leading nation in the Group B. Russia Turkey and Denmark are also there. In Group C Italy is at the top followed by Lithuania Sweden and Slovenia whilst in Group D Germany at the top will play against Moldova Belgium and Serbia. In Cadet girls Event Russia is in the Group A. They will meet Czech Republic Poland and Hungary. In Group B France will play against Belarus Germany and Austria. At the top of the Group C is Sweden. Serbia Belgium and Spain will try to halt their progress. In Group D Romania is with Slovakia Turkey and Ukraine.