European Youth Championships | 9 Jul 2016

Italy finished safe at the top

European Youth Championships

 

Top seeds in the Cadet Boys Teams Event at the European Youth Championships in Zagreb, Russia, beat all adversaries in Group A in straight matches. After Belgium and Poland, Greece also failed to halt their progress. Lev KATSMAN, Vladislav MAKAROV and Maksim GREBNEV showed no mercy.

 

“I played very good, I am full of self-confidence. We are first in our Group as everyone expects. Of course it is not easy to keep with the pressure when you are no. one, but we have very strong team” said KATSMAN.

 

Belgium is second, whilst Poland and Greece finished at the positions three and four respectively.

 

In Group B Sweden beat Lithuania to improve they perfect record. In previous two rounds Truls MOREGARDH, Martin FRIIS and Jonathan THIMON overcame Spain and Germany.

 

“Yesterday we had really tough matches. But I won both singles and it was enough for the win,” said Truls. “We are aiming gold, but it will be very hard to beat Russia here. They have many good players.”

 

Germany beat Spain in the third round of the group stage. Germany is second in the group followed by Spain and Lithuania.

 

“We were very focused on our tactics. Unfortunately, we could not expect much today since we lost yesterday against very strong team of Sweden,” said Sven HENNIG.

 

In Group C France recorded three straight matches victories. They are first , Romania second, Moldova third and England at the bottom of the group.

 

In Group D, Italy recorded three victories. Today they beat Portugal, but that match was still under shadow of yesterday’s marathon against Hungary that made them stay in the hall until the very late hours. The thrilling performance in four matches against Hungary proved Carlo ROSSI is in good shape after his victories over Csaba ANDRES and Patrik JUHASZ.

 

Against Portugal John OYEBODE gave Italy good start today.

 

“There are still something we have to improve in our game, but for sure the hard earned victory over Hungary helped us build our confidence,” said OYEBODE.