STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Portugal
The partnership of Maria YOVKOVA of Bulgaria and Fanni HARASZTOVICH of Hungary made for a first time at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Portugal proved its worth. YOVKOVA and HARASZTOVICH won gold in Junior Girls Doubles Event. On their way to the highest step at the medal rostrum they overcame NING Jing and CHEN Xingtai of Azerbaijan. Izabela LUPULESKU and Sabina SURJAN of Serbia and Luisa SAGER and Jennie WOLF of Germany clinched bronze medals.
YOVKOVA and HARASZTOVICH were delighted after the victory.
“We are for a first time together and it is so incredible that we won gold. We beat few very good pairings here. Not only the girls from Azerbaijan but TRIGOLOS and BOGDANOVA of Belarus were on our way. That was very important win for us “ explained both YOVKOVA and HARASZTOVICH.
In the semi final YOVKOVA and HARASZTOVICH who played for a first time together upset the favorites Luisa SAGER and Jennie WOLF of Germany.
“Our tactics from the beginning was to leave the ball short and sometimes to surprise them with the long shot. We attacked with lot of rotation to the forehand and to the middle ” said YOVKOVA.
In the lower half of the draw favorites prevailed after a lot of problems. NING Jing and CHEN Xingtai beat Izabela LUPULESKU and Sabina SURJAN of Serbia in five games.
“We had 2:0 advantage but Serbian girls fought back. They played very aggressive. However in the final stages we made less mistakes ” said CHEN.
Final
NING Jing CHEN Xingtai (Azerbaijan)- Maria YOVKOVA (Bulgaria) Fanni HARASZTOVICH (Hungary) 1:3 (11:8 6:11 8;11 7:11)
Semi Final
Maria YOVKOVA (Bulgaria) Fanni HARASZTOVICH (Hungary)- Luisa SAGER Jennie WOLF (Germany) 3:1 (8:11 11:6 11:8 11:7)
Izabela LUPULESKU Sabina SURJAN (Serbia) – NING Jing CHEN Xingtai (Azerbaijan) 2:3 (8:11 9:11 11:6 11:5 9:11)
