European Championships | 7 Mar 2020

Gold in Mixed Doubles for Cristian PLETEA and Adina DIACONU

European Under 21 Championships

 

The winners of the first edition of the Mixed Doubles Event at the European Under 21 Championships in Croatia's town of Varazdin are Cristian PLETEA and Adina DIACONU of Romania. In the final they prevailed against Bastien REMBERT and Nolwenn FORT of France (11:7, 2:11, 11:9, 6:11, 11:8).

 

DIACONU played only shortly after seven games matches in singles, but she overcame tiredness.

 

“Fortunately for Mixed Doubles, but unfortunately for my Singles, I had a little bit more time to prepare because I lost in earlier stage of Men's Singles. However in this match the confidence in each other and our experience of playing together for a long time proved as a key moment,” said PLETEA.

 

In the semi final Bastien REMBERT and Nolwenn FORT overcame Laurens DEVOS and Lisa LUNG of Belgium in full distance encounter (9:11, 12:10, 8:11, 9:11, 7:11).

 

“At some points I was putting so much pressure on my strokes. The tactics where man must play much stronger in the mixed doubles does not works every time. If you push too hard there is also a greater chance for mistakes. When I started to play more safe it was better in this semi final,” said Bastien REMBERT.

 

The pairings that had been played from cadet's category together, Cristian PLETEA and Adina DIACONU overcame Irvin BERTRAND and Leili MOSTAFAVI of France in second penultimate stage match (11:9, 10:12, 11:8, 11:9).

 

“We had a break of year and a half. Elizabeta SAMARA and I tried to qualified for the Mixed Doubles at the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, we failed. However, Adina and I playing together again,” explained PLETEA.

 

Against French pairings Romania's duo played close match.

 

“We had a chance to finish the match earlier, but we were playing to risky. That is why we lost the second game and the fourth was also very close. We were 2:7 down,” explained PLETEA.

 

Adina added: “ I had a problem with the receive. I lost my focus, but then I started to play less risky and everything was all right.”

 

 

 

Results here

General information here

Official site here

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: M. NOVOSEL