The Czechia table tennis teams are gearing up for the 2023 STUPA European Table Tennis Championships in Malmö. The men’s and women’s teams are both poised for success with their eyes set on advancing far in the tournament.
The Czechia men’s team comprises players Lubomír JANČAŘÍK Tomáš POLANSKÝ Pavel ŠIRUČEK and Jiří MARTINKO. Two years ago in Cluj the team secured a fifth place finish after a challenging quarterfinal loss to Germany with a scoreline of 1:3.
In Malmö the Czechia men’s team will commence their campaign in the group stage where they will face tough opponents in Sweden and Italy.
Coach Josef PLACHÝ expressed his ambitions stating “Our goal is of course to advance to the top sixteen. The Swedes are clear favorites in the group but we should vigorously contend for the second spot with Italy. We are bringing our best players to the tournament and I firmly believe our goal is achievable. Two years ago we made it to the top eight without Pavel ŠIRUČEK. There’s no reason we can’t set similar ambitions this year. Pavel ŠIRUČEK the national singles champion will undoubtedly elevate the team’s overall performance.”
The Czechia women’s team is represented by a formidable lineup featuring Hana MATELOVÁ Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ and Helena SOMMEROVÁ.
Coach Renáta ŠTRBÍKÓVÁ highlighted their initial goal stating “Our first objective is to advance beyond the group stage.”
Their opening matches are against Slovakia and the Netherlands with a potential twist depending on the participation of the experienced Dutch player Britt EERLAND.
“Britt EERLAND is an excellent player who could significantly elevate the entire Dutch team. However our match against Slovakia holds great intrigue as well. They are not just opponents; they are our friends. For instance Hana MATELOVÁ and Barbora BALÁŽOVA have been playing doubles together for several years. But once we step behind the table we become rivals like any other and our aim is to secure victory. Mentally it will be a challenging contest.”
One significant psychological advantage for the Czechia team is their previous success in Stage 1 where they outperformed Portugal.
“This achievement holds great importance for us ” emphasized Renáta ŠTRBÍKÓVÁ. “Each player secured a singles win against Portugal demonstrating that even the favorites can be defeated. Additionally the championship schedule aligns favorably for us. On the first day Slovakia and the Netherlands will face each other allowing us to assess their form and devise a winning strategy.”
