European Youth Championships | 16 Jul 2024
Germany Clinches Gold in Under 15 Girls Team Event Again
Photo: Manfred SCHILLINGS, DTTB
Germany defended their title in the Under 15 Girls Team's event at the European Youth Championships in Malmö, securing their 26th title in the history of the EYC. In the final, they overcame Poland, while Portugal and Czechia won bronze.
Koharu ITAGAKI maintained her unbeaten status in singles, though she experienced her first loss in doubles in Sweden 2024. Itagaki defeated both Maja LAKOMA and Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA, while Lisa-Sophie WANG also prevailed against RAJKOWSKA. In doubles, ITAGAKI partnered with Josephina NEUMANN, but they lost to the Polish pair.
“I’m really happy now! We won last year, also in teams, but this year was different. It’s not easy to win and we are really happy about the victory. My first match was good, but in the last one, I was really, really nervous. It was a tough match that I could have lost because the score was 18-16, 11-9, 11-9 for me. I'm happy that I did it,” said ITAGAKI.
When asked about their celebration plans, Koharu replied, “We won’t celebrate too much because we have Mixed Doubles tomorrow morning.”
The complete list of players in Team Germany includes Koharu ITAGAKI, Lisa-Sophie WANG, Josephina NEUMANN, and Elisa NGUYEN. Team Poland comprised Maja LAKOMA, Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA, Wanessa KULCZYCKA, and Emilia TWARDAWA. Team Portugal consisted of Beatriz PINTO, Julia LEAL, and Joana PINTO, while Czechia was represented by Simona HOLUBOVA, Hanka KODETOVA, and Adela BRHELOVA.
Final Under 15 Girls teams event
Germany – Poland 3-1
Koharu ITAGAKI - Maja LAKOMA 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-2)
Lisa-Sophie WANG - Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-3)
Koharu ITAGAKI, Josephina NEUMANN - Maja LAKOMA, Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA 0-3 (9-11, 7-11, 5-11)
Koharu ITAGAKI - Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA 3-0 (18-16, 11-9, 11-9)
