The European Youth Championships commenced today in Malmö with the Sweden’s national teams gearing up for a challenging yet promising tournament. Coaches of the Under 15 and Under 19 teams share their insights and aspirations as they prepare their players for the competition.
Cadet Under 15 Team: Building on Diverse Strengths
Maria CHRISTOFORAKI the head coach of the Under 15 girls’ team emphasizes the strategic diversity within her team.
“We have four girls with different playing styles. They are young and have made fine performances in both Swedish and international competitions throughout the year ” she remarks.
CHRISTOFORAKI also highlights the players’ professional development and strong team spirit as key factors for their success.
“Another important thing for me is how much they have developed and how professional they are in all situations. Lastly we have good team spirit which is important both in preparations and during long days at the Youth European Championships.”
Reflecting on last year’s performance she adds “We are coming with the same team as last year so we come to Malmö with experience. Last year we performed well as a team when we made it from the second division to the quarterfinals. This year our goal is to do at least as well and why not aim for a medal.”
Under 15 Boys’ Team: Aiming for the Quarterfinals
Mattias EKDAHL the coach of the cadet boys’ team has clear objectives for his squad.
“The goal as a team is to reach the quarterfinals. Two of the players were with us last year where we lost in the round of sixteen. Now we aim as I said to go a step further. If we perform well together as a team we have the opportunity to go far ” EKDAHL asserts.
Under 19 Girls’ Team: Focusing on Team Dynamics
Kim NYLANDER responsible for the Under 19 girls’ team outlines a structured approach to team selection and development.
“Since December I have communicated that we intended to select in three types of groupings. Players 1–2 on playing level players 3–4 with a bit more focus on team cohesion professionalism social skills and players 5–6 with a bit more future perspective. It was not entirely simple ” NYLANDER admits.
He emphasizes the importance of building a cohesive team environment over immediate results.
“We should preferably talk about other things where I want to build up how a team can look. We base our approach on the ‘Swedish model’ including the advantages of working in tighter groups. The focus will be on performance objectives. Direct result goals however come second.”
Under 19 Boys’ Team: Underdogs with Potential
Pär GERELL the head coach for the Under 19 boys’ team expresses cautious optimism.
“We hope for a medal in some category. We are a balanced team internationally with other countries but we are a bit underdogs to go really far. It would be fun with a medal at home whether it’s in the team or another category. The capacity is there ” says GERELL.
His acknowledgment of the team’s underdog status is coupled with confidence in their potential to surprise and succeed on home soil.
With the experience of past competitions and a focus on team development Sweden’s young table tennis players are ready to make their mark at the Youth European Championships.
