Seeded at the position no. one in Group A at the Under 15 Girls Team’s Event Germany successfully concluded the opening day of the play at the second part of the GAZPROM European Youth Championships in Varazdin. Ukraine is also at the top of the standings in Group B followed by Poland who is unbeaten in Group C. In Group D France upset the odds.
The opening round of the Under 15 Girls Team’s Event already showed few favorites stumbled. Whilst top seeded Germany justified their rankings it was less pleasant start for the Group C leaders Russia. Belarus was severely tested in the match against the host nation.
In the opening round Germany represented by Mia GRIESEL and Annett KAUFMANN beat Hungary’s Emma SZOSZNYÁK Nora TANACS and Evelin MULLER in straight matches. In similar vein Portugal’s Matilde PINTO and Mariana SANTA COMBA beat Sweden’s Josephina FRED Alice NILSSON and Agnes SVENSSON. In the next Round Germany needed four matches to beat Portugal whilst Hungary recovered to post 3:2 victory over Sweden. In the last round Germany beat Sweden.
“The match against Portugal was the most difficult for us. Mia showed very good performance but PINTO was very dangerous. After we overcame that obstacle everything got easier. Josephina NEUMANN and Faustyna STEFANSKA also played very well in the doubles in the match against Sweden so we are looking forward Round of 16 ” said Annett KAUFMANN.
In Group B Belarus was stretched to full distance in the opening match of the Group Stage against Croatia. Sena SMAJLI of Croatia won her singles duel as well as doubles partnering Marla VIDAKOVIC but Veranika VARABYOVA showed no weak spots and she won both her singles for the Ukraine’s side. Ulyana MIASHCHANSKAYA added third point to score list. Ukraine’s Veronika MATIUNINA Sofia SHEREDEHA Anastasiiia KHACHATUROVA and Olha PONKO overcame Greece Belarus and Croatia in straight matches. Ukraine overcame Belarus in Round two whilst host nation prevailed against Greece.
In the last round Ukraine recorded third victory out of three rounds and moved to the Round of 16.
“I am so happy to be member of the team here in Varazdin. I am so proud of my team as well. We won all three rounds in straight matches and all the girls played at the good level. We hope for gold here and it seams we are on the good way ” said Veronika MATIUNINA.
At the top of the Group C Russia suffered by the hands of Poland’s players. Wiktoria WROBEL and Natalia BOGDANOWICZ posted quick 3:0 win over Ekaterina and Anastasiia IVANOVA and Zlata TEREKHOVA.Romania’s Bianca MEI ROSU and Ioana BAIASU were at the top of the task against Turkey’s Busra DEMIR and Banu Aybuke SIMSEK.
Russia was challenged once again in the duel against Romania that went full distance in the second round but eventually prevailed. Poland beat Turkey. In the last round Russia beat Turkey 3:0 and Poland beat Romania 3:1.
France is at the top of the Group D after they overcame favorites and pushed Slovakia to the third position. Slovakia’s Dominika WILTSCHKOVA and Nina DAROVCOVA won 3:1 against Czech Republic’s Veronika POLAKOVA Adela SAZIMOVA and Vendula SICHANOVA. France represented by Clea DE STOPPELEIRE Leana HOCHART and Agathe Anne AVEZOU prevailed against Belgium’s Eloise DUVIVIER and Lilou MASSART in straight games. France kept the winning pace and overcame Slovakia in second round whilst Belgium scored against Czech Republic. In the ultimate round of the group stage Belgium beat Slovakia and France overcame Czech Republic.
“Match against Slovakia was the hardest one. After that it was much easier to play against Czech Republic ” said Clea DE STOPPELEIRE from France.
