European Youth Championships in Ostrava
Without need for agonizing fifth match favorites booked their places in the quarterfinal of the Junior Girls Team’s Event at the European Youth Championships in Ostrava. However it was far from easy path for most of them. In the quarterfinal will play Russia vs. Romania Slovenia vs. Czech Republic Italy vs. France and Germany vs. Poland.
Top favorites and top seeds Russia was the first to leave the venue. They overcame Ukraine in straight matches. Mariia TAILAKOVA overcame Anastasiya DYMITRENKO Anastasia KOLISH accounted for Veronika HUD whilst Elizabet ABRAMIAAN beat Alina VYDRUCHENKO.
“We were ready for this and very focused. It is hard to point what was key to success because it was easy challenge for us. I do not think we will have much difficulties tomorrow against Romania ” said TAILAKOVA.
Romania overcame Netherlands also 3-0. Tania PLAIAN overcame Karlijn VAN LIEROP Luciana MITROFAN prevailed against Emine ERNST and Denisa URITU beat Dobrila JORGUSESKA.
Slovenia needed four matches to overcame Serbia. Katarina STRAZAR overcame both Andjela MENGER and Radmila TOMINJAK. Reka BEZEG scored for Serbia by beating Lara OPEKA and Lea PAULIN succeeded against TOMINJAK.
Romania overcame Netherlands also 3-0. Tania PLAIAN overcame Karlijn VAN LIEROP Luciana MITROFAN prevailed against Emine ERNST and Denisa URITU beat Dobrila JORGUSESKA.
Czech Republic left Norway without the chances 3-0. Linda ZADEROVA Zdena BLASKOVA and Gabriela STEPANOVA overcame Rikke SKATTET Martine TOFTAKER and Lisa LANGE.
“We played against them for a first time so we were little bit nervous. It did not last long thanks to great support we have here in Ostrava. I hope we will be able to thank them with the medal ” said BLASKOVA.
Italy won 3-0 against Sweden but all three girls had to play full distance matches. Gaia MONFARDINI beat Rebecca MUSKANTOR Jamila LAURENTI overcame Alma ROOSE and Valentina RONCALLO prevailed against Jennie EDVINSSON.
“Last time when I played against ROOSE I lost only one game. Now it was much harder. All over matches were very close. WE have to play our best for each ball ” said LAURENTI.
Isa COK Camille LUTZ and Julie PENNEC of France overcame Ozge YILMAZ Ece HARAC and Merve DEMIR in straight games. Portugal lost to Germany also in three matches. Anastasia BONDAREVA Franziska SCHREINER and Yuki TSUTSUI beat Ines BATISTA Raquel MARTINS and Joana LOPES.
“It was Yuki’s first match at the tournament but she was great. We have very strong team and I am confident in our game ” said BONDAREVA.
Poland overcame Hungary 3-1. Anna WERGRZYN overcame Fanni HARASZTOVICH and Helga DARI. Her sister Katarzyna beat Fanni whilst Hungary’s Anita DRABANT overcame Aleksandra MICHALAK.
“In the last match I lost little bit of confidence and I was very nervous. When I lost one game I started to serve and receive badly. In the middle of the last game I said to myself „come on fight Anna”. I started to attack harder changed my service and won. I believed from the first ball that our team will win because our team is very strong and I believe that we can beat Germany tomorrow as well ” said Anna WERGRZYN.
