European Youth Championships | 13 Jul 2024

Poland safely through the Round 16 in Under 19 Girls Event

Last year's bronze medalists in the Under 19 Girls Event, the no. 1 seeds, team Poland, secured the round of 16 at the European Youth Championships in Malmö. Reiging champions, Romania, runners up Germany and semi finalsts France followed the suit.

Poland's Anna BRZYSKA, Zuzanna WIELGOS, Zuzanna PAWELEC and Natalia BOGDANOWICZ overcame Italy, Portugal and England.

Italy's Nicole ARLIA, Miriam CARNOVALE and Sofia MINURRI in the direct clash against Portugal in the last round of the Group Stage secured their spot in the main draw.

Nicole ARLIA expressed her emotions after the victory: "It's an amazing feeling, I just finished crying. It was an unbelievable match and it was so important to win today. Now we have secured our place in the first division. It was painful to play this match because of a lot of emotion, but we won and we are so, so happy. I cried at the end because of all the emotions and the happiness."

In group B Germany's Mia GRIESEL, Lorena MORSCH, eireen KALAITZIDOU and Maxi MERK beat Spain, Croatia and Türkiye. Spain's Maria BERZOSA, Silvia COLL and Eugenia SASTRE joined them with the one win less.

Silvia COLL shared her joy: "I'm feeling very happy, and very proud of my team and teammates. It was a difficult group, but we're happy to finish second and to continue believing in ourselves like this."

In group C Nina GUO ZHENG, Leana HOCHART and clea DE STOPPELEIRE secured all three wins to underlie their status. France overcame Czechia, Slovakia and Bulgaria. The progress of France is expected, but Bulgaria's Viktoria PERSOVA, Tsvetelina GEORGIEVA and Sidelya MUTLU success was not according to the rankings. Placed only as the fourth team in the group, Bulgaria, last year's quarterfinalists moved to the main draw with wins over Czechia and Slovakia respectevly.

In group D romania's Bianca MEI ROSU, Alesia Sofia SFERLEA and Andrea TEGLAS showed no mercy against the adversaries from Ukraine, Belgium and Lithuania. The second spot went to Ukraine's Daria KOVALOVA, Alina OVRIAKH and Veronika MATIUNINA.