Croatia’s Hana ARAPOVIC and Linda ZADEROVA of Czech Republic won the title in the Under 19 Girl’s Doubles Event at the 2022 Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships in Belgrade. In the final they overcame Sophie EARLEY of Ireland and Anna HURSEY of Wales (11:9 11:4 11:8). Poland’s pairings Ilona SZTWIERTNIA and Wiktoria WROBEL as well as Germany’s Mia GRIESEL and Lea LACHENMAYER shared third step at the medal rostrum.
“We feel that we played very good throughout the whole tournament. We felt a little under pressure at the beginning of the final match when we were down 2:5 in the opening game but when we recovered to win it everything went our way ” said Hana.
In the semis Hana ARAPOVIC and Linda ZADEROVA overcame Poland’s pairings Ilona SZTWIERTNIA and Wiktoria WROBEL in straight games (11:8 11:7 11:4).
“Two times before we clinched bronze medals at the European Youth Championships as cadets and as juniors we will finally go step further ” said ZADEROVA.
HANA added: “Against Ilona and Wiktoria we managed to play our game with lot of rotations and good first top spin. In addition with our receive we controlled the match very well.”
In other penultimate round match Sophie EARLEY and Anna HURSEY overcame Germany’s Mia GRIESEL and Lea LACHENMAYER (7:11 11:6 7:11 11:8 11:7).
“Mia and Lea was choking semi finalists after their victory over the ZAHARIA and KAUFMANN but we were ready to play to whoever come against us ” said HURSEY.”For us the most difficult match was also the quarterfinal duel when we beat BRZYSKA and WIELGOS of Poland. “
