European Games | 19 Jun 2019

Minsk ready for 2019 European Games: Alexander PETKEVICH and Viktoria PAVLOVICH among torchbearers

2nd European Games to be held from June 21 to 30 (table tennis June 22-29)

 

Two great names of Belarus table tennis, Alexander PETKEVICH and Viktoria PAVLOVICH were among torchbearers in the Flame of Peace torch relay of the 2019 European Games, as torch arrived in the host city of Minsk this Monday, June 17th, four days prior to an exceptional sport event to be held in the Belarus capital from June 21 to 30.

 

The torch relay began on May 3rd in Rome, covering 7,700 km with 450 torchbearers who carried torch (1.7 kg and 0.81 m) through some breathtaking places of Europe, including the top of Mont Blanc. It will end its journey in the Dinamo Stadium on 21 June. Four-time Olympic champion, biathlete Darya DOMRACHEVA was among world class host athletes who carried the torch to State Flag Square in Minsk.

 

Host nation will be represented with 221 athletes and 149 coaches, aiming to surpass 43 medals (10 gold) won at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. Over 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete in 200 medal events (15 sports) to be held at 12 sport venues.

 

Tennis Olympic Center, with a capacity of 1,000 seats, will host five table tennis events in Minsk, from 22nd to 29th June. A total 122 players are going to fight for the spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: three medalists in the men's and women's singles events will secure their places, while the gold medalists in the men's and women's team events and mixed doubles event will get an Olympic quota. That’s why all best European players will travel to Minsk.

 

This European Games will be last international competition at home soil for two-time former individual European champion Viktoria PAVLOVICH who will replace Daria TRIGOLOS in Women's Singles event. Belarus National Team started its preparation on June 12th in Minsk.

 

Vladimir SAMSONOV, Pavel PLATONOV, Alexander KHANIN will perform at the Men’s Team event, announced earlier this month Belarus Table Tennis Federation. Women's Team will be represented by Viktoria PAVLOVICH, Daria TRIGOLOS and Nadezhda BOGDANOVA, while Vladimir SAMSONOV, Pavel PLATONOV, Viktoria PAVLOVICH and Nadezhda BOGDANOVA are selected to compete for medals in the singles events. Pavel PLATONOV and Nadezhda BOGDANOVA will play in the mixed doubles event.

 

The coaching staff includes Alexander PETKEVITCH, the head coach of the National Team, Andrei VOROBIEV, the senior coach of the Men's National Team, Tatiana PETKEVITCH, the senior coach of the Women's National Team.

 

More information: here