It has been seven years since the last time a team reached the final of the teams event coming from level two. In the Under 15 Boys teams event at the 2023 ORLEN European Youth Championships Portugal secured their place in the final after coming a long way from level 2. In the match for gold they will meet Austria.
Portugal beat the odds once again after prevailing against Romania in the semifinal tonight.
“It was a difficult match especially the duel between Dinis and ISTRATE who is a left-hander. We had the same problem in the doubles which ended very close in our favor ” explained Tiago ABIODUN.
The team reached the final after winning in the group at level 2 against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cyprus. In the playoffs they prevailed against Belgium and in the knockout stage they prevailed against Slovakia and Montenegro.
The last time a team from level 2 reached the final was in 2016. Then the junior team of Serbia had a fantastic run until Romania halted their progress.
Austria beat France in three matches but the two opening singles were very close. Peter HONDA overcame Nathan PILARD 3-2 before Julian RZIHAUSCHEK prevailed against Sandro CAVAILLE by the same margin.
“It was very good for me that Petr opened the match with the victory. It helped me play a little bit more relaxed ” said Julian RZIHAUSCHEK.
Speaking about the final Julian said “I played against Tiago ABIODUN before and he beat me 2-4. I will try to do better tomorrow.”
Semifinals
France – Austria 0-3
Nathan PILARD – Petr HODINA 2-3 (14-16 11-9 11-9 6-11 7-11)
Sandro CAVAILLE – Julian RZIHAUSCHEK 2-3 (8-11 6-11 11-8 12-10 10-12)
Nathan PILARD rija WARIN – Petr HODINA Julian RZIHAUSCHEK 0-3 (9-11 9-11 5-11)
Portugal – Romania 3-1
Tiago ABIODUN – Robert PODAR 3-0 (12-10 11-2 11-8)
Dinis YE – Robert ISTRATE 0-3 (7-11 7-11 6-11)
Tiago ABIODUN Carlos GONÇALVES – Robert PODAR Robert ISTRATE (11-5 12-10 11-9)
Tiago ABIODUN – Robert ISTRATE 3-0 (11-3 11-1 12-10)
