Europe Youth Top-10 | 6 Sep 2018
Cristian PLETEA seeks fourth title at the European Youth Top 10
Photo: ITTF
Last year’s winner in Junior Boys Category, Romania’s Cristian PLETEA is on duty again at the 2018 European Youth Top 10 in Portugal’s Vila Real. This weekend, he will fight for fourth overall title at the competition.
PLETEA is no. two seed behind his compatriot Rares SIPOS. On the list are also Irvin BERTRAND of France, Matteo MUTTI of Italy, Lev KATSMAN of Russia, Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK of Austria, Jules ROLLAND of France, Kay STUMPER of Germany, Laurens DEVOS of Belgium and Tiago LI of Portugal.
Currently he is in Germany, preparing for new season in Saarbrucken. After success at the European Youth Championships and broze medal at the Team’s Event, he had only short break.
“I was on holiday, but shortly after Championships I strted to train in Romania. In addition I played at the Bulgaria and Czech Open last month,” said Cristian.
In Romania’s Cluj Napoca PLETEA gained valuable experience.
“I am never fully satisfied, unless I am first, but European Championships was nice lesson for me and gave me the power to work harder. I learned to treat all pleyers equaly; never rest and to preapare the matches much better.”
In Portugal, PLETEA will have difficult task to defend his title.
“I am not under pressure and it is a good thing, I feel well prepared and I will enjoy playing my last top 10 in juniors. I won already three titles so I know how hard I have to work to reach the top. “
Elite players are listed once agin. How you see your chances?
“I will have to play nine best of seven matches against best European juniors except MOREGARDH and SGOUROPOULOS…all the matches will be open. “
No. one seed is Rares SIPOS your teammate?
“Rares was always a challenge for me and I hope he will be also in future. However, as I said I treat all players equaly and there will be no easy matches. I will just try to make some duels easier to preserve the energy for the final duels. Right now is hard to comment the level of other player’s shape. It will be clear only when we start. So far I expect that BERTRAND, REMBERT, SIPOS will be my main rivals in the fight for the top position.”
Asked to share most unforgatable moment on his way to three previous titles, PLETEA answered:
“First in 2014 in Tours, France. I played an incredibile match against BERTRAND 4-3 17-15 after saving 7 match balls for title.”
In Portugal’s Vila Real in Junior Girls Event will play Sabina SURJAN of Serbia Anna WERGRZYN of Poland, Franziska SCHREINER of Germany, Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania, her compatriot tania PLAIAN, Lucie GAUTHIER of France, Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic, Andrea PAVLOVIC of Croatia, Tijana JOKIC of Serbia and host nation representative celia SILVA.
Cadet Boys: Maciej KUBIK of Poland, Myshaal SABHI of France, Mike HOLLO of Germany, Adrien RASSENFOSSE of Belgium, Simon BELIK of Czech Republic, Andrea PUPPO of Italy, Arnau PONS of Spain, Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA of France, Ivor BAN of Croatia and David BESSA of Portugal.
Cadet Girls: Elena ZAHARIA of Romania, Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia, Kornelija RILISKYTE of Lithuania, Radmila TOMINJAK of Serbia, Prithika PAVADE of France, Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia, Sophia KLEE of Germany, Arina SLAUTINA of Russia, Anna HURSEY of Walles and Ines MATOS of Portugal.
More on https://www.ettu.org/en/events/europe-youth-top-10/general-information/
Links to the results & live scoring.
Watch the Europe Youth Top 10 live and for free on the following link: http://bit.ly/EYT10_LAOLA1tv
Additional links and information below:
- link to the general event website: http://bit.ly/EYT10_LAOLA1tv
- links to the tables for the special days:
http://bit.ly/EYT10_Table1_Friday
http://bit.ly/EYT10_Table2_Friday
http://bit.ly/EYT10_Table1_Saturday
http://bit.ly/EYT10_Table2_Saturday
http://bit.ly/EYT10_Table1_Sunday