What leaves the strongest impression from the European Championships is the fantastic enthusiasm and fighting spirit shown by the boys and girls in their team matches. The new system which includes boys and girls together and a new system of points distribution created an unbelievable atmosphere in the venue. Regardless of whether the players played in the final or the playoffs for lower positions or even if they were already losing 3-1 there was no lack of fighting spirit and mind-blowing cheering from the bench for each member of the team.It also brought out the best in the competitors and we all witnessed some very good matches.
Both Spanish coaches Francisco BERZOSA and Eduard MAYOROV gave the Championships in Zagreb a perfect score of “10” points.
The coaches participating in the tournament expressed their satisfaction overall but each had some ideas for future discussions and improvements.
“I am very happy with the system of mixed doubles and boys and girls playing together. It is a great idea to launch this kind of Championships. In all other aspects this tournament was a pure success with very good accommodation and a nice venue. My only remark is that the last matches of the day should start earlier since some teams had youngsters who were 10 or 11 years old ” said Hungarian coach Ferenc PASZY.
The European u13 Championships includes mixed teams and mixed doubles categories aiming to cultivate in players the importance of gender equality in sports from a young age. With mixed doubles being an Olympic event in table tennis this emphasis on inclusivity and diversity lays a strong foundation for the future. However some coaches agreed that playing doubles would be a great addition to the event as Romania’s coach Istvan GYORGY stated that the event structure and the system have both good and bad points.
“Definitely it is very important to have Championships for players at such a young age. At the World level you cannot be competitive if you do not work and train with sub-cadet categories. What I am missing is the doubles event. Mixed doubles are fine and it is good to have them but I think we should also have regular doubles. Additionally I am not a big fan of the points distribution in the Team’s mixed events. We had only one defeat in two stages and Germany had two but they played in the semis and we played the playoffs for 9th to 12th position ” stated GYORGY.
Greek coach Akis TSARSITALIDIS also pointed out the lack of doubles events.
“I really support this concept of play and I think that the points distribution in the Team’s event forces teams to come with equally strong boys and girls. However I think we should have regular doubles as well ” said TSARSITALIDIS.
England’s Vidal GRAHAM joined his colleagues from Romania and Greece also expressing a desire to see the Doubles events as part of the Championships. “However the combination of boys and girls playing together in a team is a very good idea.”
Poland’s coach Alan WOS spoke in favour of the system. “It is great for all players to have the opportunity to play a lot of matches. I hope there will be a chance for the Championships to last one day longer in the future.”
Coach Stephane HUCLIEZ of France praised the organization of the Championships especially the team matches which give equal importance to boys and girls. “The point distribution in the team event ensures that every match is important ” stated HUCLIEZ.
The host nation’s team coach Natasa SKOCILOVIC was also in Podgorica last year.
“From last year’s experience we knew this would be a good tournament. Giving youngsters an opportunity to play so many matches is a great initiative.”
Italy’s Emmanuelle DELSANTO pointed out a very interesting aspect:
“We have two best boys at the seedings but it was not their matches that launched us into the final. It was the mixed doubles and the points won in the girls’ matches. So in theory I am very supportive of this kind of point system. However I am afraid that we might have a situation where some teams do not have the motivation to play all five matches with the same enthusiasm because they have already lost their chance for a good place in the standings. And at the same time we might be in a position where each point will matter for us to move up…” said DELSANTO. “What I liked the most is the fantastic atmosphere that was created in the team event with boys and girls playing together.”
Portugal’s Sergio VIERA and Germany’s Richard HOFFMANN were satisfied with the opportunity for players to play a lot of matches. “It is very good for young players but maybe a one-day break would be helpful ” stated HOFFMANN
