by Ian Marshall, Editor

Just as in the earlier meeting Yu Khinhang beat both Maksim Grebnev (11-6, 11-9, 11-8) and Vladimir Sidorenko (5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8) but that was to prove the only success for Azerbaijan. Wang Chenxi was beaten in the third match of the fixture by Lev Katsman (12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6), Yang Xinyu lost to Vladmir Sidorenko in the opening match of the engagement and, in the vital concluding contest, to Maksim Grebnev (12-10, 12-10, 11-6).

Gold for Russia but in the counterpart junior girls’ team competition it was silver despite the efforts of Maria Tailakova. Facing Germany in the title deciding contest, she accounted for Anastasia Bondareva (11-3, 14-12, 11-5) and Franziska Schreiner (11-5, 11-9, 11-7) but those were her team’s only successes. Anastasia Kolish lost to both Franziska Schreiner (11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8) and Anastasia Bondareva (12-14, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7); in the third match of the fixture Elizabet Abraamian experienced defeat at the hands of Sophia Klee (4-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10).

One day earlier, with no changes to team selection. In the junior boys’ event, Azerbaijan had beaten Belgium, represented by Adrien Rassenfosse, Olav Kosolosky and Nicolas Degros; Russia had ousted the German trio comprising Dominik Jonack, Kay Stumper and Felix Wetzel.

Both fixtures had been resulted in 3-1 victory margins. Backbone of the Azerbaijan had been Yu Khinhang, he accounted for both Olav Kosolosky (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6) and Adrien Rassenfosse (11-3, 11-8, 11-4); for Russia, the man of the moment was Vladimir Sidorenko. He beat both Dominik Jonack (11-2, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7) and Felix Wetzel (11-6, 11-7, 11-7).

Similarly in the semi-final round of the junior girls’ team event, 3-1 was the favourite score-line. The same three players on duty as in the final, Russia overcame the Czech Republic’s Linda Zaderova, Zdena Blaskova and Klara Hrabicova; star of the show, as in the final, being Mariia Tailakova; she accounted for Linda Zaderova (11-9, 11-6, 11-5) and Zdena Blaskova (11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4).

Meanwhile, Germany overcame the French trio of Camille Lutz, Isa Cok and Marie Chapet to book their place in the final. The player to impress was Franziska Schreiner, she overcame both Camille Lutz (5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7) and Isa Cok (12-10, 11-9, 11-7).

Success for Maksim Grebnev, Lev Katsman and Vladimir Sidorenko in junior boys’ team event, there was also success for colleagues Vladislav Makarov, Denis Izumdrunov and Sergey Ryzhov in the counterpart cadet boys’ team competition. At the final hurdle, they recorded a 3-2 win against Romania’s Eduard Ionescu, Darius Movileanu and Andrei Tomica. France represented by Felix Lebrun, Thibaut Poret and Alexis Kouraichi alongside Germany’s Felix Kohler and Mike Hollo finished the respective bronze medallists.

Gold for Russia, in the cadet girls’ team event it was silver; Alina Zavarykina and Vlada Vornina experienced a 3-1 defeat in the final when facing the French partnership formed by Prithika Pavade and Charlotte Lutz. Romania’s Ioanna Singeorzan and Elena Zaharia in addition to the German trio formed by Annett Kaufmann, Naomi Pranjkovic and Jele Stortz concluded play, the bronze medallists.

Proceedings continue with the individual events, play concludes in Ostrava on Tuesday 16th July.

Stag 2019 European Youth Championships: Schedule of Play, Results