Andrej GACINA and Andrea PAVLOVIC (Aquaestil) are Croatian table tennis champions. The Championship has been played in Varazdin for the past three days organized by STK Starr.
Andrej Gacina still holds the throne for himself this was his ninth title the third consecutive. In the quarterfinals he beat Filip Zeljko 4-1 in the semifinals of Filip Cipin (4-0) and to the end of the biggest rival Tomislav Pucar (4-3).
“It was a good match again. In my opinion the five set I received with 16:14 was crucial. In the last set I changed the game I took a little risk with the service. This time I was a bit bolder in the last set I changed more and that brought me victory” Gacina said.
Bronze medals were won by Ronald REDJEP and Filip CIPIN.
Andrea PAVLOVIC (Aquaestil) is the new ‘queen’ of Croatian table tennis. She played three finals last year eventually being gold in mixed doubles. This year one finale the most valuable one won the gold. She was dominant in the finals beating Mateja JEGER with a smooth 4-0.
“Before the championship the goal was to attack the individual title but nothing was imperative. I told myself let’s go match by match. It turned out great I’m just happy. I really cared about this title “Andrea said.
In addition to the individual title she also added bronze paired with club teammate Marta VUKELIC.
Title defender Petra PETEK (Varazdin) won the bronze as did Ivana TUBIKANEC (Dr. Casl).
The men’s doubles champions are Miho SIMOVIC (Libertas Marinkolor) and Tomislav KOLAREK. In the finals they defeated Ivan ZELJKO (Donat) and Daniel MIJATOVIC 3-1. Mateja JEGER and SUN Jiayi won the girls gold after defeating title defenders Petra PETEK and Ivana MALOBABIC (Varazdin) 3-0.
In mixed doubles the title was taken by Ronald REDJEP and SUN Jiayi (Starr/Ino). In the finals they defeated Leon SANTEK and Marta VUKELIC (Starr/Aquaestil) in five sets.
Singles
Men’s: 1. Gacina 2. Pucar 3. Cipin and Redjep (Starr)
Women’s: 1. Pavlovic (Aquaestil) 2. Jeger 3. Petek (Varazdin) and Tubikanec (Dr. Casl)
Doubles
Men’s: 1. Simovic / Kolarek (Libertas Marinkolor / Ino) 2. I. Zeljko / Mijatovic (Donat / Ino) 3. Krstevski / Kuzmic (Pula / Kvarner) and Horvat / Runjic (Ino / Pula)
Women’s: 1. Sun / Jeger 2. Friday / Malobabic (Varazdin) 3. Pavlovic / Vukelic (Aquaestil) and Tubikanec / Silver (Dr. Casl)
Mix doubles: 1. Redjep / Sun (Starr / Ino) 2. Santek / Vukelic (Starr / Aquaestil) 3. Cipin / Srebrnjak (Ino / Dr. Casl) and I. Zeljko / Jazbec (Donat / Malinska Dubasnica)
