by Ian Marshall, Editor
Prithika Pavade alongside Nolwenn Fort and Leili Mostafavi flew the flag for France; for Romania Cristian Pletea and Rares Sipos struck gold.
At the final hurdle of the men’s singles event, Vladimir Sidorenko accounted for Rares Sipos, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4), having one round earlier ousted Moldova’s surprise semi-finalist, Andrei Putuntica, the no.23 seed (11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-9).
In the counterpart semi-final Rares Sipos had beaten Belgium’s Laurens Devos, the no.6 seed (11-6, 7-11, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 14-12).
Two titles for Romania
Disappointment for Rares Sipos but there was success, he partnered colleague Cristian Pletea to men’s doubles gold, at the final hurdle the no.3 seeds, the pair accounted for Andrei Putuntica and the Czech Republic’s Jiri Martinko, the no.9 seeds (7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8).
Success for Romania, it meant a second gold; the previous day Cristian Pletea and Adina Diaconu, the no.3 seeds, had secured the mixed doubles title, beating the French pairing of Bastien Rembert and Nolwenn Fort, the no.6 seeds, in the final (11-7, 2-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8).
Different order
Medals for Adina Diaconu and Nolwenn Fort, it was the same on the concluding day of play but in a different order.
At the semi-final stage if the women’s singles event, Adina Diaconu, the no.2 seed and defending champion, was beaten by 15 year old Prithika Pavade, the no.9 seed (16-14, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5), who then promptly caused Romania more pain. She beat Andreea Dragoman, the top seed (11-7, 14-12, 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9) to arrest the title.
Earlier, in the counterpart semi-final, Andreea Dragoman had ended the progress of surprise semi-finalist, Sweden Christina Källbrerg, the no.22 seed (11-6, 11-7, 12-10, 11-9).
More French gold
Gold for Prithika Pavade contrary to expectations on the concluding day of play it was the same colour medal for colleagues Nolwenn Fort and Leili Mostafavi.
The no.6 seeds, they secured the women’s doubles title at the final hurdle overcoming Russia’s Mariia Tailakova and Kristina Kazantseva (11-5, 11-9, 11-4).
