In a stunning upset at the European Youth Championships in Ostrava, the Romanian U19 Boys’ table tennis team, despite being seeded fifth, defeated top-seeded France in the semifinals. This victory marks the first time since 2019 that France will miss the medal rostrum in this event, continuing Ostrava’s reputation as an unlucky venue for the French favorites.

Romanian Resilience: Defending Champions Overcome Odds

Romania, the reigning champions, entered the tournament with a significantly revamped lineup, leading to their lower seeding. Only two players from last year’s winning squad remained, yet the new team demonstrated remarkable cohesion and skill, proving their ability to uphold the legacy of their predecessors. Notably, Iulian Chirita once again led the charge, repeating his crucial performance against France from the previous year’s semifinals.

Key Match Highlights

The Romanians secured their semifinal spot with a dominant 3-0 performance against France. The individual match results were:

  • Iulian Chirita defeated Flavio Mourier.
  • Dragos Bujor prevailed against Nathan Pilard.
  • Robert Alexandru Istrate won a dramatic five-game battle against Nathan Lam.

Player Perspectives: Chirita’s Insights

Iulian Chirita, a pivotal player for Romania, shared his thoughts on the challenging match:

  • Respect for Opponent: "We knew that France has great players, all of them, and that it would be really difficult — they are the first seeds."
  • Mental Approach: "But we went into the match with a clear head. We beat them in the last two years, so we just focused and played our best."
  • Personal Performance: "My match against Mourier was important, especially for me, because at the beginning of the tournament I didn’t feel great and wasn’t playing my best. Against him, I knew I had to be careful with his long serves – but I prepared for that in practice. The tactic during the match remained the same the whole time. I didn’t change anything."
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Chirita also praised his teammates’ performances:

  • Bujor’s Close Victory: "Bujor beat Pilard – it was a really close match, and both played very well."
  • Istrate’s Breakthrough: "The last match was Istrate against Nathan Lam. We’re really proud of him because he’s the youngest player on our team and he did a great job. He was up 2-0, but I think he got nervous and was afraid to win — this is his first European Youth Championships as a junior, but he managed to keep his head and win."

Looking Ahead: Semifinal Showdown

Romania is now set to face Slovakia in the semifinals. Despite never having played against them before, the teams are familiar with each other. The Romanian squad plans to strategize with their coach to prepare for this upcoming challenge, aiming to continue their impressive run in the tournament.

Sources

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