Europe Cup Women | 27 Apr 2024

Budaörsi Sport Club Clinches First-Ever Europe Cup Title

Since 2003, the Budaörsi Sport Club has been a fixture in the ETTU club scene. In their 21 appearances, the Hungarian giants have finished among the top three clubs six times, and they finally clinched the trophy tonight. In the second leg of the Europe Cup final, they lost to Spanish side MUSEO DE LA ALMENDRA FRANCISCO MORALES 2-3, but with a 3-1 victory in the opening leg, they concluded the season with the trophy presented by ETTU Vice President Sonja GREFBERG.

Their previous accolades include a third-place finish in the Champions League in 2012, a final appearance in 2013, a semi-final berth in the ETTU Cup in 2019, a final in the Europe Cup in 2021, and another final in 2023.

Tonight, Marija GALONJA gave the hosts a hard time at the beginning with a 2-0 lead against Dora MADARASZ. The Hungarian Olympian recovered to win the next three games by the narrowest of margins. Meng JIAQI brought the Spanish club back into the game with a win over Helga DARI, but Georgina POTA was not in the mood for charity. She overcame Patricia SANTOS in straight games to put the Hungarian club back in the lead.

However, it did not last for long. Meng JIAQI nullified Budaörsi's advantage with a win over MADARASZ, launching the match to the decisive clash. Marija GALONJA did not let the chance slip away. She beat Helga DARI to secure the win for her side.

"We had an important lead from the opening leg, and we were prepared for the changes in tonight's match. I was playing in the number three position tonight and secured a very important win. Dora also gave us a valuable win over GALONJA at the beginning. It is our first trophy, and we are going to celebrate it tonight," said POTA.

"It was amazing feeling to win this final in front of the home crowd. I am very happy that we could win this Europe Cup at home with this amazing team, team spirit was a key point for our gold medal," stated MADARASZ.

'It was 19 years ago that a Hungarian team won the cup organized by the European table tennis association. the 100-year-old Budaorsi Sport Club is the first non-Budapest team to win an international cup. We are very proud of that,” said Team Manager Krisztina SZVITAN.

SH-ITB Budaörsi Sport Club - MUSEO DE LA ALMENDRA FRANCISCO MORALES 2-3

Dora MADARASZ – Marija GALONJA 3-2 (5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 15-13, 6-4)

Helga DARI - Meng JIAQI 1-3 (11-8, 4-11, 9-11, 7-11)

Georgina POTA - Patricia SANTOS 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-5)

Dora MADARASZ – Meng JIAQI 1-3 (1-3 11-8, 7-11, 6-11, 5-11)

Helga DARI – Marija GALONJA 0-3 (10-12, 6-11, 7-11)

Opening leg

Museo De La Almendra Francisco Morales - SH-ITB Budaörsi Sport Club 1-3

Meng JIAQI - Georgina POTA 2-3 (11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 3-6)

Patricia SANTOS - Dora MADARASZ 2-3 (5-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 5-6)

Marija GALONJA - Maria FAZEKAS 3-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-6)

Meng JIAQI - Dora MADARASZ 0-3 (9-11, 8-11, 7-11)