GARDOS and HABESOHN or FEGERL and MONTEIRO clinch the title tomorrow
Whatever the outcome tomorrow will be whether Robert GARDOS and Daniel HABESOHN or Stefan FEGERL and Joao MONTEIRO wins Austria will clinch the gold medal in the Men’s Doubles Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships.
In the semi final Robert GARDOS and Daniel HABESOHN of Austria overcame Alexander SHIBAEV and Kirill SKACHKOV 4:2 (14:12 11:5 11:7 9:11 6:11 11:6) to upset the host nation second time today. Top seeds at the tournament and pairings who already won silver and gold medals at the European Championships in 2012 and 2013 had a perfect start against host nation.
“We were better at the beginning but they put some extra pressure after we were 3:0 up. They had to give their best in front of home crowd. We lost two games but we were not in danger zone ” said GARDOS.
Being at the top of the seedings was not a problem from HABESOHN.
“We are playing together for a long time. We are aware that we have to fight for each victory. No one will give up easily just because we are the favorites.”
Stefan FEGERL of Austria and Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal on their first appearance as a pairings reached the final. In the semis they overcame Kristian KARLSSON and Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden 1:4 (11:6 8:11 8:11 6:11 9:11).
“In past five years we are working together in the Werner SCHLAGER Academy. We know each other very well. We know how the other thinks what he will play. I play closer to the table MONTEIRO moved very well. It is a good combination ” said FEGERL
Against pairings from Sweden they faced difficulties.
“Their style of play is very unusual. We found it difficult at the beginning to adjust ” said MONTEIRO.