Europe Youth Top-10 | 9 Oct 2020
The young Elite ends the drought - Top 10 kicks the playing season
Europe Youth Top-10 in Berlin starts today
The 36th edition of the Europe Youth Top-10 will have greater significance than usual. The gathering of the elite youth players in Europe is more than a test for the generation; it is the first ETTU event after long brake caused by the Pandemic. The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) as organiser, the German Table Tennis Federation (DTTB) as host and local club ttc berlin eastside accepted the challenge to make it happen in Berlin from 9th to 11th October.
"It is a blessing that with the Europe Youth Top 10 an international competition is finally taking place again. In Corona times, this means an enormous effort for all those involved in the organisation, so our thanks to all staff cannot be big enough. Despite all the organisational effort, the hosting of the tournament is also a very important sign that international tournaments are organisable. I hope that the holding of the Europe Youth Top 10 will encourage the organisation of further events," said ETTU Vice President Heike Ahlert.
On behaf of host, Alexander Teichmann, President of ttc berlin eastside said:"We are pleased about the suport of the Berlin Goverment. It is remarkable how the Senate and the administration support the organisation in every way."
Richard Prause, Sports Director DTTB: "We are very happy that this important European junior tournament can be held at all, because the situation caused by the Corona pandemic is still unsettled. The test results of this tournament show that. But it is a good and important sign that this tournament is taking place".
Top seed in the Junior Boys Singles Event is Ivor BAN (Croatia) and in Germany will also play Olav KOSOLOSKY and Nicolas DEGROS (Belgium), Kay STUMPER (Germany), Filip DELINCAK (Slovakia), Tomas MARTINKO (Czech Republic), Adam KLAJBER (Slovakia).
Host nation representative Kay STUMPER clinched the title last year and he did not hide that he has same aspiration this time.
"At Europe Youth Top 10 in Berlin I wish to win a medal," stated STUMPER. "My competitors have to watch out for me because I have already won once."
He was satisfied with his shape before the start of the tournament.
"I have been able to train normally in the corona time. So I am hoping to show my best performance possible. All competitors are dangerous, especially, now when we do not know the level of their play. In the corona time without competitions it is hard to make any predictions."
Playing at home field gives extra pressure and advantage.
"It is something very special to play in Berlin because it is my first and last Europe Youth Top 10 in Germany in boy's category."
In Junior Girls Singles Event in Berlin will play: Isa COK and Prithika PAVADE (France), Sophia KLEE and Anastasaia BONDAREVA (Germany), Darya KISEL (Belarus), Elena ZAHARIA (Romania), Linda ZADEROVA (Czech Republic), Helga DARI (Hungary) and Reka BEZEG (Serbia).
List of the cadets starts with Darius MOVILEANU (Romania) and goes on with his two compatriots Iulian CHIRITA and Andrei Teodor BERZOSA ISTRATE. From the fourth position to tenth position are Daniel BERZOSA (Spain), Mateusz ZALEWSKI (Poland), Jakub GOLDIR (Slovakia), Lleyton ULLMANN (Germany) and Felix LEBRUN (France).
In Cadets Girls Event will play:Sophie EARLEY (Ireland), Charlotte LUTZ (France), Annett KAUFMANN (Germany), Helena SOMMEROVA (Czech Republic), Anna HURSEY (Wales), Dominika WILTSCHKOVA and Julie VAN HAUWAERT (Belgium), Jele STORTZ (Germany), Bianca MEI ROSU (Romania).
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