European Youth Championships | 24 Jul 2021
Gold for Samuel KULCZYCKI and Maciej KUBIK at the Under 19 Boys Doubles Event
Poland's Samuel KULCZYCKI and Maciej KUBIK are the newly crowned champions of the Under 19 Boys Doubles Event at the GAZPROM European Youth Championships in Varazdin. At the final hurdle they overcame Romania's Darius MOVILEANU and Eduard IONESCU (12:14, 11:5, 11:5, 11:6). The third position at the medal rostrum was reserved by Kay STUMPER and Daniel RINDERER of Germany and Ivor BAN of Croatia and Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary.
“We are very happy. This is my second gold after the Mixed Doubles. The match was not easy we had worthy adversaries,” said KULCZYCKI.
“It was amazing, big match with many great rallies,” said KUBIK.
Darius MOVILEANU and Eduard IONESCU needed four games in the semis to overcame Ivor BAN and Csaba ANDRAS (-5, 13, 7, 5).
“We knew before the match that it would be very difficult. We managed to recover after we lost the opening game and to win the second after 10:10. After losing my match in singles competition I concentrated more on doubles,” said Darius.
IONESCU added: “I am very proud of us. We did not get well into the match, but we kept our focus and match ended well for us.”
Samuel KULCZYCKI and Maciej KUBIK overcame Kay STUMPER and Daniel RINDERER of Germany in other semi final match after full five games (7, -4, -5, 6, 5)
“Our adversaries performed at the top levelt, but at the end of the match we played very well, played very good points,” noted KULCZYCKI.
KUBIK was happy that he managed to recover after he has been defeated in the singles.
“I kept my mental strength. We won and I am very happy about that.”
Three quarterfinal duels concluded in straight games. Among the fast winners were top seeds Kay STUMPER and Daniel RINDERER of Germany who overcame Italy's Andrea PUPPO and Marco CAPPUCCIO (9, 9, 8).
“Two opening games were very close. We were more clever at 9:9 and after we beat them twice by same way in close finish it opened the door for the easier third game,” said STUMPER.
Samuel KULCZYCKI and Maciej KUBIK overcame French duo Alexis LEBRUN and Thibault PORET (6, 8, 8)
“We had a good preparations. We woke up early and we were ready. We did not want to give them any chance here,” said KUBIK.
Darius MOVILEANU and Eduard IONESCU halted another French pairings to their way to the medal rostrum. Alexis KOURAICHI and Benjamin FRUCHART lost in straight games (5, 9, 7).
“Even it was 3:0 it was hard to win. We were constantly under pressure. We were very focused. It is first time that we play together and this is big achievement for us,” said IONESCU.
Ivor BAN of Croatia and Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary secured the medal in the full distance match against Simon BELIK and Tomas MARTINKO of Czech Republic (3, -8, 5, -7, 7).
“They are so good in double. They forced us to change the tactics,” said BELIK.
BAN explained : “This match was difficult because they have very good blocks but we managed to level it down with strong rotations.”
