On their way to become most successful nation at the 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships France rewrites the history books. For a first time French Junior Girls Team won gold but this edition of the Championships will be remembered also by anot On their way to become most successful nation at the 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships France rewrites the history books. For a first time French Junior Girls Team won gold but this edition of the Championships will be remembered also by another fact. It was only 6 time in 43 years that one country wins three team events at an EYC. The Soviet Union did this in 1970 1978 1990 and as EUN in 1992 and in 1976. They were the only one ever to win all four. Czechoslovakia won three team titles in 1970. In Junior Boys Team’s Event France secured 9th title – after having won it in 1972 2001 2005 and between 2008 and 2012 five times in a row. Last year they lost it to Italy. In Girls Team’s Event France never won a team title in any girls category although they were close in 2013 losing the cadets final 2-3 to Romania. In Cadet Boy’s France improved the record. In Italy they clinched the gold for 7th time. Previously they did it in 1997 2004 2008 2009 2010 and 2012. Romania’s girls defended their title. It is their 10th title since Cadet Girls Event has been played. The team’s event concluded on Tuesday. The preliminary rounds in singles starts on Wednesday. JUNIOR BOYS TEAM’S EVENT GOLD France: Can AKKUZU Alexandre CASSIN Paul GAUZY Romain RUIZ Joe SEYFRIED. SILVER Poland: Patryk ZATOWKA Tomasz KOTOWSKI Marek BADOWSKI Jakub FOLWARSKI Damian KREFT. BRONZE Sweden: Carl AHLANDER JOHANSSON Simon BERGLUND Anders ERIKSSON Anton KALLBERG Elias RANEFUR. BRONZE Denmark: Kasper RASMUSSEN Claus NIELSEN Tobias RASMUSSEN Anders LIND Jakob HANSEN. JUNIOR GIRLS TEAM’S EVENT GOLD France: Laura PFEFER Marie MIGOT Pauline CHASSELIN Audrey ZARIF Oceane GUISNEL. SILVER Germany: Nina MITTELHAM Chantal MANTZ Yuan WAN Alena LEMMER Caroline HAJOK. BRONZE Romania: Bernadett BALINT Andreea CLAPA Diana LUPU Arina Dora SANGEORZAN Alina Georgiana ZAHARIA. BRONZE Russia: Ekaterina GUSEVA Maria MALANINA Ekaterina CHERNYAVSKAYA Daria CHERNOVA Elizaveta KHLYZOVA. CADET BOYS TEAM’S EVENT GOLD France: Nolan GIVONE Irvin BERTRAND Lilian BARDET Remi MENAND. SILVER Romania: Cristian PLETEA Rares SIPOS Dragos OPREA Florin SPELBUS. BRONZE Russia: Anton KOTOV Artur ABUSEV Iliya ISAKOV Denis IVONIN. BRONZE Germany: Jannik XU Gerrit ENGEMANN Alexander GERHOLD Nils SCHULZE. CADET GIRLS TEAMS’ EVENT GOLD Romania: Adina DIACONU Andreea DRAGOMAN Mihaela PLAEASU Tania PLAIAN. SILVER Russia: Anna IVANNIKOVA Anastasia KOLISH Elina RUB Maria TAYLAKOVA BRONZE Germany: Jennie WOLF Luisa SAGER Lotta ROSE Natalia MOZLER. BRONZE Hungary: Leonie HARTBRICH Orsolya FEHER Marta NAGYPAL Fanni HARASZTOVICH. Riva del Garda (ITA) July 15th 2014

The members of the French silver team from Ostrava Alexandre CASSIN and Can AKKUZU with spirited Paul GAUZY returned to the top of the Europe. For a 9th time in history France clinched the title in the Junior Boys Teams’ Event. They overcame last year’s The members of the French silver team from Ostrava Alexandre CASSIN and Can AKKUZU with spirited Paul GAUZY returned to the top of the Europe. For a 9th time in history France clinched the title in the Junior Boys Teams’ Event. They overcame last year’s bronze medalists Poland. Europe’s no 12 Alexandre CASSIN played in perfect shape in Italy. On his way to the final he lost only one individual match. Today Jakub FOLWARSKI could not ruin his record. CASSIN won opening game after close contest and lost third game but his overall victory was never really tested. At the beginning Can AKKUZU nullified all Patryk ZATOWKA’s efforts to set the match in the less expected course but in the second game everything changed. ZATOWKA was in the command.  The roles changed once again in the third game when Patryk won only two points and after that he never managed to recover. The duel between Marek BADOWSKI and Paul GAUZY started in favor of Poland’s player but soon Polish hopes melted. GAUZY managed to settle in game and to impose his game.. In the match for the third position Sweden was hardly tested against Denmark. The Scandinavian duel concluded after three matches. Simon BERGLUND beat Jakob HANSEN Elias RANEFUR succeeded against Kasper RASMUSSEN whilst Anders ERIKSSON accounted for Tobias RASMUSSEN. Juniors Boys Teams’ final: France – Poland 3:0 Alexandre CASSIN – Jakub FOLWARSKI 3:1 (14:12 11:6 7:11 11:3) Can AKKUZU – Patryk ZATOWKA 3:1 (11:6 6:11 11:2 11:6) Paul GAUZY – Marek BADOWSKI 3:1 (4:11 11:4 11:7 11:7 

Romania defended their title in Cadet Girls Team’s Event at the STERILGARDA European Youth Championships in Riva del Garda. They overcame Russia in four matches. Russia vs. Romania may be called the classic final. Although the last three finals were distu Romania defended their title in Cadet Girls Team’s Event at the STERILGARDA European Youth Championships in Riva del Garda. They overcame Russia in four matches. Russia vs. Romania may be called the classic final. Although the last three finals were disturbed by “intruders” France (2013) and Germany (2011 and 2012) Including the era of the Soviet Union this is the 10th final between the two masters of the youngest girls. The first one was in 1971 the last one up to now in 2010. Over all these years the Russian/Soviet girls are leading 7-2 but Romania lead by Bernadette SZOCS were the last ones to win the battle. In the opening moments of the first match Anastasia KOLISH Europe’s no 8 showed very weak game against Andreea DRAGOMAN. Fifth player in Europe dominated at the beginning of the match and preserved good rhythm even when Anastasia managed to raise her game. Eventually DRAGOMAN concluded the duel in straight games. Top European player Adina DIACONU continued with the same determination but she failed to justified her rankings in the duel against Maria TAYLAKOVA placed at position no. 12 in Europe. After good start and 2:1 TAYLAKOVA recovered to level and to win the match. Doubles went on Romania’s account after full five games and Adina seized the first opportunity to seal the match. Germany overcame Hungary in the match for the third position. Jennie WOLF needed only three games to beat Orsolya FEHER. Leonie HARTBRICH succeeded in similar style against Lotta ROSE to level the match. In doubles Hungary managed to put adversaries under pressure but after five games Germany prevailed. WOLF preserved unbeaten status and overcame HARTBRICH in ultimate match. Cadet Girls Teams Final: Romania – Russia 3:1 Andreea DRAGOMAN – Anastasia KOLISH 3:0 (11:3 12:10 11:6) Adina DIACONU – Maria TAYLAKOVA 2:3 (11:6 8:11 11:8 10:12 6:11) Adina DIACONU Andreea DRAGOMAN – Maria TAYLAKOVA Anastasia KOLISH 3:2 (11:6 8:11 11:5 14:16 11:8) Adina DIACONU – Anastasia KOLISH 3:1 (12:10 9:11 12:10 11:3)

For a first time in the history France is at the top place of the medal rostrum at the STERILGARDA European Youth Championships. In the Junior Girls Teams’ final they overcame Germany. France never won a team title in any girls category although t For a first time in the history France is at the top place of the medal rostrum at the STERILGARDA European Youth Championships. In the Junior Girls Teams’ final they overcame Germany. France never won a team title in any girls category although they were close in 2013 losing the cadets final 2-3 to Romania. Germany won the title twice in 2000 and 2003. European’s top ranked player Nina MITTELHAM opened the final with the duel against Europe’s no. 17 Marie MIGOT. Two opening games went on reigning European champion’s account but Marie managed to settle into the game in third set eventually. She created slight advantage but failed to stay on same course in the finish of the game. Nina recovered and won the match. Europe’s no. 7 Yuan WAN play against Pauline CHASSELIN placed at position 15 at the rankings. Those numbers did not fit the situation on the table.  CHASSELIN dominated leaving no space for Yuan to impose her rhythm. At 1:1 Europe’s no 2 Chantal MANTZ played against best-ranked French player Laura PFEFER at position no. 4. PFEFER won opening game but in next Chantal took over the control. The pendulum swung once again in very tight third game but in next MANTZ secured decisive fifth set. In fifth set PFEFER preserved cool head. She created advantage and even aggressive finish from MANTZ could not help German side. Yuan WAN was powerless against Marie MIGOT. She stole one game but was never able to take control of the match. The winners of the bronze medals Romania and Russia showed no mercy against each other in the duel that had to determined who will be no. 3 and who will be no. 4. Bernadett BALINT was stretched to full distance against Maria MALANINA. She went through agonizing five games against Ekaterina GUSEVA as well before she succeeded. GUSEVA beat Diana LUPU and Ekaterina CHERNYAVSKAYA prevailed against Andreea CLAPA. However LUPU in another full distance duel overcame MALANINA to secure 3rd position to Romania. Junior Girls Teams Final: Germany – France 1:3 Nina MITTELHAM – Marie MIGOT 3:0 (11:9 11:4 11:9) Yuan WAN – Pauline CHASSELIN 0:3 (5:11 5:11 8:11) Chantal MANTZ – Laura PFEFER 2:3 (6:11 11:9 9:11 11:8 9:11) Yuan WAN – Marie MIGOT 1:3 (10:12 7:11 11:7 5:11)

For a seventh time in the history at the 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships France won the title in the Cadet Boys Team’s Event. French side overcame Romania in fantastic five matches breathtaking duel. The boy who occupies the top of the Euro For a seventh time in the history at the 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships France won the title in the Cadet Boys Team’s Event. French side overcame Romania in fantastic five matches breathtaking duel. The boy who occupies the top of the European rankings Cristian PLETEA opened the final with the duel against best-ranked French player in Europe Nolan GIVONE Europe’s no. three. In the match meters went according to rankings in two opening game but in the third GIVONE moved to another gear with much aggressive approach. He forced Cristian into errors to win third game in impressive style. The tactics paid off so he recovered completely to level the duel. In decisive game PLETEA was not able to impose his game so GIVONE gave France a dream start. In the duel between Rares SIPOS and Irvin BERTRAND meters went in favor of lower ranked player at the beginning. Rares Euorope’s no 2 could not find the game for Irvin Europe’s no. 4 in opening game. When Rares finally settled into the game he showed variety of excellent strokes to level the match. After the doubles France was once again in the driving seats. They prevailed in straight games. Cristian PLETEA showed much braver performance against Irvin BERTRAND. French player failed to put him under pressure at any point of the match. Nolan GIVONE proved once again he is too strong for Romanian players. Despite enormous efforts Rares SIPOS failed to find the answer for his game. In the match for the third position Russia overcame Germany. Denis IVONIN beat both Gerrit ENGEMANN and Alexander GERHOLD. Artur ABUSEV lost his encounter against ENGEMANN whilst Russia’s doubles showed no mercy. Cadet Boys Teams final: Romania – France 2:3 Cristian PLETEA – Nolan GIVONE 2:3 (11:8 11:8 7:11 9:11 8:11) Rares SIPOS – Irvin BERTRAND 3:1 (7:11 11:4 11:7 11:9) Cristian PLETEA Rares SIPOS – Nolan GIVONE Irvin BERTRAND 0:3 (10:12 8:11 10:12) Cristian PLETEA – Irvin BERTRAND 3:0 (11:9 11:6 11:4) Rares SIPOS – Nolan GIVONE 0:3 (6:11 8:11 10:12)

Fantastic battles fired up Riva del Garda at the penultimate day of the matches in Team’s Event. After fierce fights in the final of the Junior Boy’s teams event tomorrow will play France and Poland. Denmark and Sweden will have consolation in bronze. Fr Fantastic battles fired up Riva del Garda at the penultimate day of the matches in Team’s Event. After fierce fights in the final of the Junior Boy’s teams event tomorrow will play France and Poland. Denmark and Sweden will have consolation in bronze. France was 2:1 down before they turned the course of the match against Sweden. Alexandre CASSIN lost five games encounter against Carl AHLANDER JOHANSSON before Can AKKUZU leveled against Anton KALLBERG. Then once again Sweden was in driving seat. Elias RANEFUR beat Paul GAUZY. AKKUZU and CASSIN showed patience and mature to come back into the game and to win. In the fifth match Can failed to take advantage of the first match ball and lost fourth game. “I was so angry after that. I wanted so much to win this match. I had to do it for my team. I felt my game was good and I kept playing point after point. It paid off ” said AKKUZU. AKKUZU praised the play of his teammates. “CASSIN played very well today. He showed mental strength. Although he lost against KALLBERG it was great match. Also GAUZY created good chances. They will meet Polish side. Tomasz KOTOWSKI Patryk ZATOWKA and Marek BADOWSKI overcame Tobias RASMUSSEN Claus NIELSEN and Kasper RASMUSSEN.  ’ No one expected to see us in the semi final so our progress to the ultimate stage is one of the biggest upsets. We are not under pressure and it is only meter for us to produce good game tomorrow ” said ZATOWKA. Earlier today Denmark returned to the medal rostrum in Junior Boys Team’s Category. Boys did it in great style by beating Croatia. They needed full five matches and they succeeded after great battle. Denmark showed its quality as a team. Both Claus NILSEN and Tobias RASSMUSEN lost their duel against Tomislav PUCAR but Filip ZELJKO could not stop them. On the third position Kasper RASSMUSEN overcame Vedran BAKAC. France denied Germany of medal Alexandre CASSIN was in fantastic run today. He overcame both QIU Dang and Killian ORT. ORT lost against Can AKKUZU too. Dennis KLEIN was the only player to score for Germany. He beat Romain RUIZ Poland fulfilled very hard task and stopped Belarus. Marek BADOWSKI beat Aleksandr KHANIN in four games. Patryk ZATOWKA needed full five against vadim YARASHENKA whilst Tomasz KOTOWSKI beat Gleb SHAMRUK in another four games duel Duel between Hungary and Sweden went on Sweden’s account. Carl AHLANDER JOHANSSON needed three very close sets to break Adam SZUDI. He lost first by narrow margin won next two and dominated at the end. Anton KALLBERG beat nandor ECSEKI and Elias RANEFUR beat Janos MAJOROS.

In the final of the Cadet Boys Team’s Event at the 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships Romania will play against France.  In the match for the third position Russia will meet Germany in Riva del Garda. France overcame Germany. Nolan GIVONE and I In the final of the Cadet Boys Team’s Event at the 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships Romania will play against France.  In the match for the third position Russia will meet Germany in Riva del Garda. France overcame Germany. Nolan GIVONE and Irvin BERTRAND succeeded against XU Jannik and Gerrit ENGMAN. “The second match was very important. Irvin was starched to full distance against Gerrit. He was 2:1 up and then his adversary leveled. It was tough one. Also in doubles they had 2:0 in advantage players from Germany leveled but we were at the top of the game eventually “ explained coach Thierry PRIOU . Coach PRIOU stayed for a while to watch the duel between Russia and Romania. “We prefer to meet with Romania in the final. Recently boys had played against Russia and lost very close match. They have very strong doubles.” His wish was granted. Romania beat Russia. Cristian PLETEA succeeded against Artur ABUSEV and Denis IVONIN. Rares SIPOS lost against IVONIN. “ABUSEV gave us hard time. He has very difficult style and this time he even changed his tactics. He has defending style but here he used his forehand more then he played top spin ” explained SIPOS. Asked about their chances against France SIPOS said: “50/50.” Games for medals always delivers such enormity of pressure that you can almost feel the desires hopes and determination in the air. Morning sessions in Riva del Garda at the STERILGARDA European Youth Championships were not exception. High stakes produced fierce fights. Romania was under severe pressure against Denmark. Cristian PLETEA won his duel against Rasmus MIKKELSEN but Rares SIPOS failed to produce same outcome against Andreas DILLING. Even in doubles Romania’s pairings were stretched to full distance before player who topping the European rankings PLETEA sealed the match. “The pressure is high. I am not tired three matches per day I can easily manage.  It is just the importance of our duel. However now when we reach the medal rostrum everything is easer ” said Rares SIPOS. France also experienced a little bit of struggle. European no. 4 Irvin BERTRAND could not prevent Simon SUDERLUND (ER 14) of giving Sweden a dream start.  However Europe’s no. 3 Nolan GIVONE changed the course of the match. In double France was far from the safe zone they needed five games to win it. Spirited Italian team put Germany on the test. Daniele PINTO was the player who was close of creates great upset. PINTO overcame XU Jannik and stretched Gerrit ENGEMANN to full distance. Unfortunately for hosts Carlo ROSSI could not follow his rhythm. Russia’s Denis IVONI Artur ABUSEV and Anton KOTOV had trouble-free path in the quarterfinal. Poland failed to post a single victory although they had good chance in doubles.

France was in the focus at the final hours of the fourth day of the 57th STERILGARDA European Championships in Riva del Garda. Whilst boys were fighting against Denmark French girls were on big test against Russia. They passed that test and tomorrow in i France was in the focus at the final hours of the fourth day of the 57th STERILGARDA European Championships in Riva del Garda. Whilst boys were fighting against Denmark French girls were on big test against Russia. They passed that test and tomorrow in in the Junior Girls Team’s Event France will meet Germany. Laura PFEFER suffered at the very beginning of the match against Ekaterina GUSEVA. Ekaterina also beat Marie MIGOT in the fourth match but Ekaterina CHERNYAVSKAYA could not follow her. Migot beat her in five games and Laura showed patience to repeat the success in ultimate match. Pauline CHASSELINE also won her encounter. “I wanted to win so much. The only way to beat Ekaterina is to be aggressive. I had a problem with service and receive had to change tactics…I pushed myself ” said PFEFER who never played in the final before. “I played once in the semifinal and I lost against Russia 2:3. That is why I was so nervous. This was important for us. Against Germany we have nothing to lose. They are clear favorites.” Good shape “clear favorites” justified in other semi final duel. Romania could not halt their progress. Chantal MANTZ lost her opening encounter against Diana LUPU but all other matches went on German account. Nina MITTELHAM overcame Bernadett BALINT Alena LEMMER overcame Andreea CLAPA before MANZ succeeded against Bernadett. “We knew what to expect against Romania. After I lost against LUPU it was important Nina’s win against BALINT. After Alena with 2:1 on score sheets I was under less pressure ” said MANZ. In the quarterfinal stage of the event it was only Russia that had to go through agonizing five matches duel. Lea RAKOVEC was once again main force of the Croatia’s team but she could not stop Russia by herself. Maria MALANINA was first to suffer against Lea on her visit to the table in the opening match. However despite her straight games defeat in the opening game she managed to stay calm and to overcame Dorina SREBRNJAK in the decisive match. Ekaterina GUSEVA showed great performance against Dorina and Daria CHERNOVA overcame Klara CAKOL The remaining three quarterfinals concluded in straight matches. Romania was in fast lane against Slovenia. Bernadet BALLINT Mihaela LUPU and Andreea CLAPA clear their way to the semis without any pressure. In the duel between France and Czech Republic Marie MIGOT was forced to go full distance against Karolina MYNAROVA. Pauline CHASSELIN also went through five games against Krystina STEFCOVA. However after France established 2:0 lead Laura PFEFER posted straight games victory. Top seeds Germany halted the progress of the team that emerged as a biggest surprise of the Event. Estonia started this championship in Level 2 and they were not even seeded at the top position in their Group. However they could not crowned their brave effort with the medal. Chantal MANTZ Nina MITTELHAM and Alena LEMMER proved too strong for Olesja KETSKO Airi AVAMERI and Valeria PETROVA.

Romania the country with immense traditions in the women table tennis secured another final in Cadet Girls Team’s Event. Reigning champions will meet Russia in the final of the 57th STERILGARDA European Championships. In semi final Romania overcame Ger Romania the country with immense traditions in the women table tennis secured another final in Cadet Girls Team’s Event. Reigning champions will meet Russia in the final of the 57th STERILGARDA European Championships. In semi final Romania overcame Germany in straight matches. Andreea DRAGOMON and Adina DIACONU beat Luisa SAGER Jeanny WOLF and  Lotta ROSE. They have been tested only in doubles. “Germany wanted to surprise us with their line up. They started with SAGER. Last time I lost against WOLF. However we were ready and played very well today. Most of the problems we faced in doubles but luckily prevailed in five games ” explained DIACONU. Next in line of adversaries is Russia. Anastasia KOLISH and Maria TAYLAKOVA beat Leonie HARTBRICH and Orsolya FEHER. “I lost first match against HARTBRICH so now I am more happy that I managed to comeback in the fourth match. In doubles it was hard at the beginning we lost first game but our coach told us we can do it and encourage us.” said KOLISH. When the medal is in stake there are no favorites. Romania and Hungary were stretched to full distance today in the quarterfinal before they secured the place at the medal rostrum. Adian DIACONU produced two good wins against Veronika PEREBEYNOS and Solomiya BRATEYKO but Andreea DRAGOMAN could not stop BRATEYKO. Also Romania failed to win the doubles so the match was stretched to full distance. Hungary accounted for medal winners from Ostrava team of Serbia yesterday and today they proved they are not in quarters by chance. Orsolya FEHER and Leonie HARTBRICH eat Turkey in full five matches duel. The scream of girls after the fifth match that ended in five games clearly spoken of the relief they felt. Turkey fought hard but they could not stop their adversaries. Jennie WOLF Luisa SAGER and Lotta ROSE recorded straight matches victory against Marharyta BALTUSHITE Daria TRIGOLOS and Nadezhda BOGDANOVA. It was the same outcome of the duel between Russia’s Anastasia KOLISH and Maria TAYLAKOVA and Lili MOSTAFAVI Lucie GAUTHIER and Nolwenn FORT.