LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF- European Table Tennis Championships
In the thrilling final in 2017 Romania beat Germany to reach the throne at the European Teams Championships. In little more than a month they will have the opportunity to defend that title in the final stage of the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF- European Table Tennis Championships in Nantes France (3- 8 September 2019).
The system is changed and beside title holders Romania and host nation France 22 other teams were required to play two stages during two years period to book their place. In Nantes will also play: Germany Luxembourg Netherlands Croatia Sweden Belarus Stage Czech Republic Portugal Ukraine Poland Russia Turkey Spain Belgium Serbia Slovakia Greece Bulgaria and Slovenia. Romania is in the Group A with Spain and Slovakia.
The member of the Romania’s champions team Elizabeta SAMARA followed the previous two stages.
“There were no surprises; all the results are expected and all the best from Europe will be in France ” said Elizabeta who watched the draw live.” We will have very difficult job to retain our title but the atmosphere is good and we will be ready for the challenge. I think that biggest favorites beside us are Russia and Germany.”
There are still enough time before the start of the Championships but so far we will most likely see in action silver medalist from individual European Championships in Alicante and vice champion in Doubles at the World Championships Oividu IONESCU alongside Hunor SZOCS Cristian PLETEA and Rares SIPOS. In Women’s team will be Europe’s no. one Bernadette SZOCS SAMARA Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO.
“There will be Adina DIACONU and Irina CIOBANY there too but the list is not finalised yet ” said SAMARA.
After the European Games in Minsk SAMARA had a two weeks break and now she is back in working rhythm.
“I had a short break then two days escape to Paris for my friend’s wedding and now I am in Romania. We are preparing for the ASAREL Bulgaria Open in Panagyurishte in mid- August and then we will finalise the preparations for the European Championships. Both teams will be in Constanta.”
She stays with KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg. With Polish club she won title in the Women Champions League this year.
“The team will stay the same but I think that this time will be much harder to play. The other teams are much stronger then the last year. However we have very strong line up and we will fight to defend our title ” promised SAMARA.
This year for KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg will play: HAN Ying LI Qian WU Yue Viktoria PAVLOVICH Kinga STEFANSKA GU Ruochen and Agata ZAKRZEWSKA.
More information: here
