Romania wins five, loses one match on first day of European Youth Championships

Romania won five and lost just one match on Friday, the first day of the European Youth Championships for U15 and U19 in Malmo (Sweden), Agerpres reports.

In Under-19, the Romanian men’s team scored two victories in Group A. They defeated Italy 3-2, the points being scored by Andrei Istrate, 3-1 (12-10, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6) with Federico Vallino and 3-2 (11-1, 11-5, 8-11, 11-13, 11-8) with Giacomo Allegranza, and by Iulian Chirita, 3-0 (11-7, 15-13, 11-9) with Giacomo Izzo. Darius Movileanu lost to Giacomo Allegranza, 0-3 (9-11, 4-11, 8-11), and to Federico Vallino, 1-3 (11-6, 10-12, 7-11, 10-12).

Romania then defeated Spain 3-0, with Iulian Chirita beating Hector Saavedra 3-1 (11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8), Andrei Istrate defeating Daniel Berzosa 3-1 (7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7), and Darius Movileanu winning against Francesc Carrera 3-1 (9-11, 11-4, 13-11, 11-6).In the Under-19 women’s competition, Romania defeated Belgium 3-0, with Bianca Mei-Rosu, 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-8) against Julia van Hauwaert, Alesia Sferlea, 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-8) against Lilou Massart, and Andrea Teglas, 3-1 (13-11, 9-11 11-9, 11-7) against Sara Devos. Romania’s U15 men’s team recorded one win and one defeat. They defeated Slovakia 3-1, with Robert Istrate scoring two points, 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) with Matus Deviatka and 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-1) with Pavol Kokavec. The other point was scored in the doubles by Robert Istrate/Mihai Nagy, 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-9) with Pavol Kokavec/Peter Polak. Mihai Nagy lost the match with Pavol Kokavec 1-3 (11-6, 13-15, 8-11, 3-11). In the second match Romania lost to Turkey 0-3. Gorkem Ocal defeated Matei Gabriel Eparu 3-2 (9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6), Kenan Kahraman defeated Robert Alexandru Istrate 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-9), and in the doubles Gorkem Ocal/Kenan Kahraman beat Robert Alexandru Istrate/Mihai Nagy 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4). In women’s, Romania defeated Italy 3-0, after victories by Alexandra Dicu, 3-2 (11-5, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 11-7) over Maria Picu, Andreea Baiasu, 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 12-10) over Laura Pinna, and Andreea Baiasu/Iarina Precup, 3-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 11-1) over Maria Picu/Marina Misceo. According to the Romanian Table Tennis Federation, Romania won the most medals, 17, at last year’s edition, including 6 gold medals.