In an extraordinary exhibition of talent and resolve, Romanian junior table tennis players have captured a remarkable 11 medals at the European Championships in Malmö, Sweden.
Competing fiercely in both the U15 and U19 categories, these young athletes have not only demonstrated their exceptional skills but also brought significant honor to their nation.
Gold Medals (4):
Securing four gold medals, our outstanding players have underscored their superior abilities at the table. These victories are a testament to both individual brilliance and the formidable collective prowess of Romanian table tennis.
Silver Medals (3):
The three silver medals symbolize grueling battles and nail-biting matches. Our athletes exhibited remarkable resilience and unwavering sportsmanship, earning them well-deserved spots on the podium and further solidifying their reputations.
Bronze Medals (4):
The four bronze medals are indicative of the extensive talent within the Romanian team. These accomplishments reflect consistent high-level performances and an unwavering dedication to excellence.
Romanian Teams
In the U19 men’s singles, Darius Movileanu claimed the gold medal after a decisive 4-2 victory over Frenchman Flavien Coton, with set scores of 4-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6, and 13-11. Movileanu’s path to the final saw him overpower Croatian Leon Benko in the semifinals, winning 4-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5). Meanwhile, Andrei Istrate secured a bronze medal after falling to Coton in a 1-4 match (12-10, 7-11, 10-12, 2-11, 7-11).
In the U19 women’s singles, Bianca Mei-Roşu dominated Ukrainian Veronika Matiunina, winning the final 4-0 (14-12, 11-6, 14-12, 11-9). Mei-Roşu’s semifinal performance was equally impressive as she defeated Polish player Zuzanna Wielgos with a clear 4-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-6, 12-10).
Robert Istrate, competing in the U15 men’s singles, earned the silver medal after a challenging 2-4 loss to Poland’s Patryk Zyworonek (5-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 4-11, 4-11). Earlier, Istrate triumphed over Frenchman Sandro Cavaille in the semifinals with a 4-2 victory (11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3).
In the U19 men’s doubles, Andrei Istrate and Iulian Chiriţă secured gold, defeating the French duo Flavien Coton and Nathan Lam 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-5). Their semifinal match was a hard-fought 3-2 win against Sweden’s Isak Alfredsson and William Bergenblock (9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10), as reported by AGERPRES.
The U19 women’s doubles saw Bianca Mei-Roşu and Germany’s Mia Griesel settle for bronze after a narrow 2-3 semifinal loss to the Ukrainian-Italian pair Veronika Matiunina and Nicole Arlia (10-12, 10-12, 11-2, 13-11, 5-11). Andreea Băiaşu and Portugal’s Julia Leal also earned bronze in the U15 women’s doubles, following a 0-3 semifinal defeat against Spain’s Renata Shypsha and Irina Gimeno Font (3-11, 9-11, 7-11).
Additionally, in the U15 mixed doubles, Robert Istrate and Andreea Băiaşu took bronze after a 0-3 semifinal loss to Poland’s Aleks Pakula and Katarzyna Rajkowska (5-11, 1-11, 4-11).
Rounding out the impressive medal tally, the U19 men’s team (Dragoş Bujor, Iulian Chiriţă, Andrei Istrate, Darius Movileanu) won gold, while the U19 women’s team (Bianca Mei-Roşu, Alesia Sferlea, Andrea Teglas, Evelyn Ungvari) and the U15 men’s team (Matei Eparu, Robert Istrate, Mihai Nagy) each took silver. In the previous edition of this competition, Romania achieved a remarkable total of 17 medals, including six golds.
The European Championships provide a vital arena for young athletes to display their prowess, build international camaraderie, and inspire future champions. As Romania revels in this outstanding achievement, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to our table tennis stars and eagerly anticipate their continued triumphs on the global stage.
