After the break at the 021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Belgium’s Spa Romania’s Cristian PLETEA will play his first tournament in national team’s jersey since March. He is topping the list of the seeds in Men’s Singles Event in one of the most competitive European Under 21 Championships since ETTU launched it in 2017.
Speaking about his return and current shape Cristian said:
โI gave my best to stay in good form. I played for TTC Zugbrรผcke Grenzau in the Bundesliga and it kept me in good shape so I am ready for the challenge here. The competitions is really fierce there are top players like Rares SIPOS Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS Vladimir SIDORENKO but the list is far from over. I think we can look for the winner of the tournament even between the names of all top 16 players. It will be much harder than it was last year in Varazdin โ said PLETEA.
Being at the top of the list is a hard task.
โI am not under great pressure. I will give my best to enjoy the games. I already won the silver in Minsk three years ago and I am looking forward good result again. I am also looking forward the Mixed and Doubles Event โ explained PLETEA who won gold medals in both events last year in Varazdin.
PLETEA will try to defend his title in Doubles with his teammate Rares SIPOS. They are seeded at the position no. two below Russia’s pairings Lev KATSMAN and Maxim GREBNEV. Third seeds are Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece and Vladimir SIDORENKO of Russia.
In Mixed Doubles Cristian is also at the position no. two with Tania PLAIAN. SIDORENKO and Mariia TAILAKOVA are the top seeds. Last year CRISTIAN clinched the title with Adina DIACONU.
