Russia’s juniors took the crown from Romania

Anastasia KOLISH, Mariia TAILAKOVA, Kristina KAZANTSEVA, Anna KRASIKOVA and Daria SHADRINA of team of Russia are the newly crowned champions of the Junior Girls Team’s Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Portugal. They took the crown from Romania, the team they halted in the ultimate stage. Silver medal winners are Adina DIACONU, Andreea DRAGOMAN, Mihaela PLAEASU, Tania PLAIAN.

Semi -finalists and bronze medals winners are Serbia’s Tijana JOKIC, Izabela LUPULESKU, Sabina SURJAN, Dragana VIGNJEVIC, Angela MENGER and Azerbaijan’s CHEN Xingtai, DENG Simeng, Nazakat GARAYEVA.

Anastasia KOLISH put Russia under severe pressure by beating Adina DIACONU in the opening match. In the opening game, she was very aggressive forcing DIACONU into errors. Adina lost two opening games but recovered to force the match into the decisive game. Once she felt she is in control again, she started to attack but KOLISH preserved cold head and in superb style won the match.

“I never beat Adina and I know it will not be easy. I was ready for long fight,” said KOLISH.

Andreea DRAGOMAN won two opening games of her match against Mariia TAILAKOVA, but in third Mariia moved to another gear. Once again at the tournament she played full five games match and proved her maturity in edgy situations.

“I was two games in reverse before I started to play calmer. I rushed myself into mistakes so I had to slow down and try to wait for Andreaa’s errors. At the begging she was just superb. She put every ball at the table,” said TAILAKOVA.

Despite difficulties at the early stage of the match Kristina KAZANTSEVA managed to settle into the right rhythm against Tania PLAIAN, but even she could not escape nervous wrecking decisive game.

“At 2:2 I realized I am going to win. I got the energy to stood up to the enormous pressure,” said KAZANTSEVA.

Romania – Russia 0:3

Adina DIACONU – Anastasia KOLISH 2:3 (9:11, 9:11, 11:7, 11:9, 6:11)

Andreea DRAGOMAN – Mariia TAILAKOVA 2:3 (11:7, 11:9, 5:11, 11:13, 7:11)

Tania PLAIAN – Kristina KAZANTSEVA 2:3 (10:12, 6:11, 13:11, 1:11, 5:11)

ΠΗΓΗ:ETTU