Austrian Junior Open 2020: Ukrainian juniors return home with medals and first place overall!
From 6 to 8 March in the Austrian city of Vienna was held the European squash tournament of the Grand Prix category among juniors. The Ukrainian “delegation” (23 athletes) spent three days in Austria, collecting awards and medals.
For the first time, the Ukrainian team shares the first place in the overall medal standings at an international tournament of this level. In our piggy bank - 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals of European coinage.
Radionov Timofey, Shcherbakov Dmitry ml and Nikita Khlus. Trainer Denis Podvorny.
The best result at the current tournament in Austria is with the 1st seeded Dmitry Shcherbakov. The ward of Denis Podvorny, who participated in this tournament for the fifth time in his entire sports career, after 2 years from his triumph in the Austrian tournament in the boys' category under 13, has confirmed the status of the champion now in the category of up to 15 years. Recall that this year Shcherbakov has already managed to take 2nd place in the tournament in the Czech Republic and 4th place in the tournament in Germany.
The second award was brought to Ukraine by Timofey Radionov. 6 racket among juniors under 15 and 3/4 seeded Radionov returns home with prize silver. The athlete consistently beat Russians Ruslan Rakhimianov [17/32] and Petr Smekhov [2], as well as Austrian Daniel Lutz [17/32] one step away from the final with Dmitry Shcherbakov [1].
Two of our youngest squash players, competing in the youngest categories (Nikita Khlus and Elizaveta Suprun in the category up to 13), worked hard on conquering the Austrian courts during the 3 days of the tournament. In Sunday's final, the 12-year-old squash player, 3/4 seeded, took 3rd place in the tournament following the results of the matches played, losing to the Czech David Linhart (1st seeded) with a score of 11-8, 11-6, 11-3.
This is Nikita's second experience at the junior tournament in Vienna. In 2019, the junior became 15th in the boys' U13 category. While for Suprun Elizaveta this is the first tournament on the international arena.
12-year-old Elizaveta Suprun (category up to 13 years old), for the first time became the winner of international competitions. The pupil of the Kherson Squash Academy won the bronze medal, beating in a step from the 1/2 finals rivals from Slovenia, Ukraine and Austria with a score of 3: 0 in each of the matches played.
Yelizaveta Girik, the fifth racket of Ukraine in the category of "women", did not remain without awards in the under 17 category. Our sportswoman took the honorable 4th place in her age group. An experienced participant in international tournaments, 15-year-old Elizaveta not only ascended the prize-winning stage of the podium, but also improved her last year's result by 8 positions.
The results of the rest of the athletes from Ukraine at the Austrian Austrian Junior Open 2020 GP:
BU13
6. Panchenko Artem [5/8]
9. Kurilyak Danil [17/32]
10. Shcherbakov Egor [5/8]
12. Dzhandan Timur [5/8]
18. Samsonov Peter [9/16]
BU15
8. Glushchenko Lukyan [9/16]
18. Kaufman Ilya [17/32]
26. Anisimov Vladimir [17/32]
BU17
19. Tkachuk Andrey [17/32]
21. Zhivotovsky Yaroslav [17/32]
34. Nedilko Nikita [17 / 32]
GU13
6. Babiy Alexandra [5/8]
7. Brilenko Anna [5/8]
10. Sperchun Miroslava [5/8]
GU15
5. Begeba Christina [3/4]
7. Bugaeva Valeria [9/16]
GU17
5. Brilenko Elena [5/8]
12. Anisimova Yulia [9/16]
Our squash players did a great job during the preparation for the tournament and looked at a very high level in the matches themselves. The Hungarians (4 medals = 1 + 2 + 1) and the Ukrainians (4 = 1 + 1 + 2) won the medal standings in Vienna, dividing the laurels of the Austrian tournament championship.
Congratulations to the athletes and wish you continued success!
©Anna Tesleva
