First ever married couple champions – Joao and Daniela

2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships

 

Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN of Romania become the first ever married couple to clinch the gold medal at the 2016 LIEBHERR European Championships. In the final they overcame Mattias KARLSSON and Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden (11-5 12-10 5-11 6-11 12-14).

 

In thrilling contest both sides fought hard but in close finished “family” prevailed.

 

“I started this journey as Joao as my colleague in a meanwhile when we faced great pressure he acted like my husband. The support helped ” said Daniela.

 

Two opening games went on Sweden’s account but in third the pendulum swung.

 

“It was important to we kept on fighting because we wer5er better today. We deserved to win ” said Joao.

 

In the semi final Mattias KARLSSON and Matilda EKHOLM beat top seeded pairings Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC of Serbia and Ruta PASKAUSKIENE of Lithuania 1:3 (9-11 11-8 12-14 9-11).

 

“It is was important to keep KARAKASEVIC away from the table; to prevent him of playing his game. We succeeded and we won ” explained KARLSSON.

 

Mattias and Matilda playing together for couple years; his partnership started in 2011 in Rotterdam at the World Championships.

“We are very good double but we always struggled with the draw. We were unlucky to have Japan’s and Korean’s players against us in early stages at the Championships ” said EKHOLM.

 

Joao MONTEIRO and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN needed three games to beat Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania (9-11 6-11 8-11) .

 

“It was not as easy as the result predicts. Both are very dangerous players. Tactically we nullify aggressive approach he could not move the way he wanted. Also we did not allowed SZOCS to settle in her rhythm with short balls ” said Joao Monteiro.

 

It seams that players are enjoying the return of the Event at the big Championships.

 

“This way we have much stronger competition the players are interested in playing it.’

 

 

 

 

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The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organization of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships.

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