Member Associations | 24 Aug 2011

In memory of Brone BALAISIENE, Lithuania restarting in style

25/08/2011 – First Lithuanian cadet&mini cadet open in Memory of coach Brone Balaisiene was held on 19-21st of August in Utena, small but very nice city of Lithuania. Tournament in Memory of coach Brone BALAISIENE first time was held in 1987, b

25/08/2011 – First Lithuanian cadet&mini cadet open in Memory of coach Brone Balaisiene was held on 19-21st of August in Utena, small but very nice city of Lithuania. Tournament in Memory of coach Brone BALAISIENE first time was held in 1987, but cause of hard economical situation was suspended in 2008. Now, Mironas KREJERIS graduate of Brone BALAISIENE and her son, president of Lithuanian table tennis association Rimgaudas BALAISA has promised to organize tournament at a high level every year.

For the first time we are happy to have more than 100 participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Belarus and Russia. Competition provided on 16 new JOOLA tables in “Utenos arena” which were built in 2009 and got award as best sports project of Lithuania.

First Lithuanian cadet&mini cadet open in Memory of coach Brone Balaisiene took three days to find out best teams and players in boys and girls groups under 15 years (born 1996 and younger) and under 12 (born 1999 and younger).

Between cadet girl’s, strongest team was Lithuanian national team with players Egle ORLOVAITE and Jolita SOKOLOVSKYTE who also took gold medal in singles. Vilnius -1 (Jok?as BIVEINIS, Erikas SVEISTYS) took gold in boy’s teams. Singles title won Benas SKIRMANTAS (Siauliai, Lithuania).

In younger, mini cadet group, winners of the girl’s team competition became Lithuanian selection (Jogail?UDZINSKAITE, Neta ALON). Singles tournament won Julia SLAZAK from Poland. Boy’s gold won Lithuanian team (Medardas STANKEVICIUS and Rimas LESIV) as singles cup won M.Stankevicius as well.

(by Ieva JUCEVICIUTE, courtesy Lithuanian Table Tennis Association)

Photo: the nice playing hall in Utena