European Youth Championships | 16 Jul 2014

Heavy burden for favorites

Before France took the gold in Junior Boys Team’s Event Europe’s no. 2 Can AKKUZU lost only one individual match at the STERILGARDA European Youth Championships. Yesterday, everything was set for a final, but suddenly AKKUZU was nowhere around. Coach Davi

Before France took the gold in Junior Boys Team’s Event Europe’s no. 2 Can AKKUZU lost only one individual match at the STERILGARDA European Youth Championships. Yesterday, everything was set for a final, but suddenly AKKUZU was nowhere around. Coach David JONHSTON started to look for the player and found him lying on the floor. He could not move his hand. “I guess it was too much stress for him. It happened few minutes before the match.”

Alexandre CASSIN opened the duel against Poland, and Can was next in line. He faced Patrick ZATOWKA. “Poland is extremely dangerous team. They reached the semi final at the World Championships. They overcame Korea to win the bronze. Safranek PIOTR is very good coach. I know him from the playing days,” explained JONHSTON.

AKKUZU proved too strong for ZATOWKA and that gave space for Paul GAUZY. “Can and Alexandre were under pressure all the time. There was no space for their failure. We are not that strong at the position of the third player. However after he lost first game, GAUZY’s game rose. He managed to score.”

Against Sweden France was stretched to full distance. “AKKUZU was injured before the Championships, so the level of his game increased match by match. It will be even better in the singles event. Since Can is seeded no. 2 and CASSAN no. 11 our hopes are very high.”

Beside Poland, Coach JONHSTON praised very nice performance of Denmark team. “They won bronze and they have very good players. However every team has someone very good. PUCAR, ZELJKO from Croatia, KALLBERG of Sweden, ISMAILOV, CHERNOV of Russia…”

Andrea LANDRIEU is the player that was missing here. “He had a surgery. I hope he will recover completely soon and join the team.”