Europa knows new Champions
Liberec, June 25 - Amazing atmosphere, full hall, breathtaking matches. This is the final day of the 9th European Veterans Championships in Liberec.
Semi-final matches of all 8 categories of men and women started from 10 o'clock followed by final matches. Medal ceremonies closed the successful championships in the afternoon. Lovely Liberec left all participants with full heart and great memories, Championships came to the end and new champions celebrate their titles.
The youngest men category brought surprising results. Already on Thursday injuried back did not allow Steffen Speedy Fetzner to beat Hungarian Jozsef Szücs who reached the final. Number one seeded, Peter Franz of Germany, bronze from 1993 World Championships in Göteborg, lost 10:12 in deciding set against Slovakian Anton Kutis in semi-final battle. Kutis finished his unbelievale tour through the tournament draw with easy win against Szücz in final.
Elena Lamanos of Germany beated Larisa Lavrukhina of Russia in five epic games at the final hurdle of the top women’s category 40-49.
Men's category 50-59 brought the joy to hosting country. Miroslav Cecava faced Yi Ding of Austria in the replay of 2010 World Veteran Championship Final. Czech coach of women national team supported by frenetic hall won after full distance final. Batlle for each ball finished after 40 minutes with standing ovations for both the players. "Super atmosphere forced me to win. It was my strong demand to return defeat from China and I am happy I succeeded", said European Champion who crowned his succesfull week with the winning final match in doubles, together with his partner Jiri Vojtek.
Legendary „Vale“ Valentina Popova performed excellent table tennis from the championships' beginning. Her opponents did not find weapon against the clever game of 9-times European Champion. "It seemed to be easy win but it was very very hard. I have not faced any weak opponent since quarter-final. Especially final was difficult", said table-tennis icon who succeed to turn deciding set against Elmira Antonyan from 1:5 to 10:6. After the final ceremony Valentina commend organizers for their effort: "It was perfectly done event. I was satisfied with each detail from the very beginning."
Tour de force was introduced by danish Carl Pedersen in men 60-64 category. He did not lost any single set. Czech hearts were warmed by bronz medal of Jiri Fafek.
Regular Czech medal collector from veteran events, Ms. Jarmila Hummelova reached silver in women's singles of 60-64 category. Only Jutta Baron of Germany was strongest.
German expedition is always not only the largest but the most sucessful, too.
It is underlined also by three men's single titles in 65, 70 and 75 of Friedrich Rössler, Jaroslav Kunz and Horst Langer. "Jara" Kunz, standby of Czechoslovak national team of 70's reached both titles as in single as in double competition. " I always participate when I am youngest in the category, so see you in Tampere", joked the player who was said to have the best backhand in the world in mid 70's.
English ladies proved they belong to the top. They won three of four oldest categories. Sally Bax, Pamela Butcher and Nellie Penney are already well known names in veteran table tennis. She performed her vitality during the medal ceremony where she cheered the audience with a nice winning saltation.
The very last medal was symbolically addressed to Curt Österholm of Sweden. He added two more gold on hiss account that already has 14 medals. In oldest category Swede won both finals in doubles and in singles. Now he equals his record of gold medals on overall list with Leslie D’ARCY of England. And why symbolically? Though Sweden will host next major veteran event: 2012 World Veterans Championships! Liberec is over, long live to Stockholm!
