Croatian girls and Slovenian teams undefeated after opening matches at #EuroBeachVolleyU18

Izmir, Turkey. The eagerly anticipated 2020 edition of #EuroBeachVolleyU18 started on Thursday in Izmir at Pamucak Beach, right on the shores of the Aegean Sea, thus accounting for the very first international sporting competition held in Turkey since the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis this past March.

The opening day of the tournament was an extremely exciting experience for many players making their debut at an international event of this calibre.

Vladislav Panchenko and Ivan Chuprinov of Russia, the no. 2 seed in the men’s competition, caught an ideal start to their journey as they beat Turkey’s local heroes Nazim Gurkan and Hikmet Gurkan 2-0 (21-5, 21-10). Arthur Canet and Teo Rotar of France, who earlier this summer competed at a World Tour 1-Star event on home soil in Montpellier, showed their determination to shine in Izmir as well, with a comprehensive 21-13, 21-16 victory against Sweden’s Linus Isaksson/Hampus Ekstrand.

A panoramic view of the venue hosting the U18 continental tournament in Izmir

In the women’s competition, Croatia’s Ema Mrkic and Ana Sverko (pictured above) came out with all guns blazing, after signing two triumphs against Czech Republic’s Klara Selicharova/Jana Fixova 2-1 (15-21, 21-17, 15-5) and Romania’s Alexia Ioana Bradatan/Ioana Teodora Radu 2-0 (21-8, 21-16). “We are so happy with this amazing start to the tournament. It is great to start the competition by playing at our best level,” Mrkic stated.

Meanwhile, Turkish rookies Tuana Dincer and Melisa Ozsar learned the hard way the difficulty of international competition, as the local squad lost its opening match to France’s Lou Gouin/Célia Gaston 2-0 (21-7, 21-16) in 32 minutes.

“We had no expectations and have only focussed on ourselves and our game. It would be great to play in front of our fans at home if that was possible,” commented Dincer. Unfortunately, in compliance with the rules in place in Turkey to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, no fans can attend the competition on site.

Seven teams, including two from Ukraine, completed the first day of action with a perfect record of two wins in as many matches.

The competition will resume on Friday with the second day of pool play, with a place in the knockout phase at stake.

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MEVZA Teams, Day 1:

Women:
Alrod Ben Naim/Havia ISR vs Jashari/Avdullahu KOS 0-2 (17-21, 12-21)
Selicharova/Fixova CZE vs BYE
Selicharova/Fixova CZE vs Mrkic/Sverko CRO 1-2 (21-15, 17-21, 5-15)
Bradatan/Radu ROU vs Mrkic/Sverko CRO 0-2 (8-21, 16-21)
Tšuhnenkova/Chukhnenkova EST vs Tomasova/Koblizkova CZE 1-2 (13-21, 21-10, 5-15)
Chechelnytska/Romaniuk UKR vs Tomasova/Koblizkova CZE 2-0 (21-13, 21-15)
Gubik/Vecsey HUN vs Gavrilova/Salmanova RUS 0-2 (18-21, 9-21)
Gubik/Vecsey HUN vs Dreimane/Vasiljeva LAT 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 15-10)
Šen/Kadunc SLO vs Cikuc/Cikuc SRB 2-0 (21-11, 21-17)
Šen/Kadunc SLO vs Kielak/Kruczek POL 2-1 (22-24, 21-19, 15-12)

Men
Udvarhelyi/Dóczi HUN vs Van Langendonck/De Hert BEL 0-2 (17-21, 18-21)
Okorn/Marovt SLO vs Keskin/Tur TUR 2-0 (21-14, 21-10)
Laus/Voit EST vs. Zajc/Bracko SLO 0-2 (16-21, 12-21)
Nemec/Malik CZE vs. Berzins/Teteris LAT 0-2 (16-21, 17-21)
Boiko/Omelchuk UKR vs Jurkovic/Repek CRO 2-0 (21-13, 21-13)
Cuzmiciov/Yellin ISR vs Kosinski/Tanase ROU 1-2 (21-19, 18-21, 10-15)
Fokerots/Abelitis LAT vs Polednik/Pohl CZE 2-0 (21-15, 21-15)