OPENING DAY OF THE EUROPEAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS – MIXED FORTUNES IN OSTRAVA
This week Team Ireland is competing in the 56th European Youth Championships in Ostrava in the Czech Republic. 44 countries are currently competing in the team event across four categories, Junior and Cadet Boys and Girls. The Event is taking place in Sareza, a multi-purpose sports hall with capacity for 5,000 spectators.
In the Juniors matches contain 5 Singles (A v X, B v Y, C v Z, A v Y, B v X) and the Cadets matches contain 4 singles and 1 Doubles (A v X, B v Y, the doubles, A v Y, B v X)
Junior Girls – Ashley Givan (European Ranking: 162), Hannah Lynch-Dawson (ER: 274), Emma Ludlow
Started yesterday morning against Finland, Hannah got Ireland off to a great start with a 3-2 win over Anna KIRITCHENKO (ER:119), then it was the turn of Ashley but she was defeated in straight sets by Pinja ERIKSSON (ER:172). Emma faced Elli RISSANEN (ER:266) however she lost 3-1, leaving the girls 2-1 down. Ashley was up next and she levelled the match at 2-2 when she defeated KIRITCHENKO 3-1. The deciding match was Hannah against ERIKSSON, Hannah got off to a great start winning the first game 13-11, however ERIKSSON came back to win the next 3, which meant Finland won 3-2
Their next match was yesterday evening where they played Portugal, Rita FINS (ER:51) beat Hannah 3-0, Ashley lost 3-1 to Joana Mota (ER:147) and Emma lost 3-0 to Patricia Maciel (ER:184) The final score was 3-0 to Portugal.
Ireland 2 Finland 3
Hannah LYNCH-DAWSON beat Anna KIRITCHENKO (ER:119) 3-2 (12-10, 11-13, 11-9, 12-14, 9-11)
Pinja ERIKSSON (ER:172) beat Ashley GIVAN 3-0 (11-1, 11-8, 11-4)
Elli RISSANEN (ER:266) beat Emma LUDLOW 3-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5)
Ashley GIVAN beat Anna KIRITCHENKO 3-1 (11-8, 8-11, 13-11, 12-10)
Pinja ERIKSSON beat Hannah LYNCH-DAWSON 3-1 (11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7)
Ireland 0 Portugal 3
Rita FINS (ER:51) beat Hannah LYNCH-DAWSON 3-0 (11-6, 11-2, 11-7)
Joana MOTA (ER:147) beat Ashley GIVAN 3-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5)
Patricia MACIEL (ER:184) beat Emma LUDLOW 3-0 (11-6, 11-3, 11-1)
Cadet Girls – Katie McGlone, Chloe O’Halloran, Rebecca Finn
Cadet Girls played their match yesterday afternoon, they played Slovakia. Katie got things underway against Katarina BELOPOTOCANOVA (ER:77) but the Slovakian showed her experience coming through with a 3-0 win. Up next was Chloe who played some outstanding table tennis to beat European Cadet Girls Number 22 Karolina FURKOVA 3-2 with some very close games. Rebecca stepped up to the plate to join Katie in the Doubles against FURKOVA and Ema LABOSOVA (ER:161) but they lost 3-1. Next up FURKOVA showed why she was ranked 22 by beating Katie 3-0 meaning the girls lost 3-1 to Slovakia.
Ireland 1 Slovakia 3
Katarina BELOPOTOCANOVA (ER:77) beat Katie MCGLONE 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-6)
Chloe O’Halloran beat Karolina FURKOVA (ER:22) 3-2 (9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-9)
FURKOVA / Ema LABOSOVA (ER: 161) beat MCGLONE / Rebecca FINN 3-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3)
Karolina FURKOVA beat Katie MCGLONE 3-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-3)
Cadet Boys – Zak Wilson, Alexander Gillen, Owen Cathcart
First up for the Cadet Boys was fellow Home Nation England However with some highly ranked members on their team they were a tough match for our boys beating them 3-0.
Next for the Cadet Boys was the Ukraine with Zak playing some impressive table tennis to take the first match against European Cadet Boys Number 55 Ilia KANUNNIKOV 3-1. Alex was then up against Bogdan SINKEVYCH (ER:77) putting up a good fight against a strong opponent losing the game 3-1. The doubles was up next but after some close games the boys lost 3-2, then Zak faced SINKEVYCH but he proved too tough beating Zak 3-0. The match ended 3-1 to Ukraine.
Ireland 0 England 3
Luke SAVILL (ER:154) beat Alexander GILLEN 3-1 (11-4, 11-9, 11-13, 11-4)
Marcus GILES (ER:57) beat Zak WILSON 3-0 (11-5, 13-11, 11-9)
SAVILL / Tom JARVIS (ER:24) beat GILLEN / WILSON 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-5)
Ireland 1 Ukraine 3
Zak WILSON beat Ilia KANUNNIKOV (ER:55) 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10)
Bogdan SINKEVYCH (ER:77) beat Alexander GILLEN 3-1 (11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9)
SINKEVYCH / Ostap RIZNYCHENKO beat WILSON / GILLEN 3-2 (11-5, 11-13, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7)
Bogdan SINKEVYCH beat Zak WILSON 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-6)