Italy still has hope to also bring the fourth pair, the second in the women’s sector, to the Paris Olympic Games. The blue team, made up of Bianchin/Scampoli and Reka Orsi Toth/Bianchi, did complete route in the first part of the Nations Cup in Jurmala which qualifies a couple from the first-placed nation at the Games, today the semi-final is played against the Czech Republic.
The Italian pair first won the three-way group, always beating Austria and Slovenia in two games, without ever resorting to the decisive golden set. Against the Slovenians Orsi Toth/Bianchi dominated the first and third sets, surrendering a hard-fought second set and winning against Javornik/Marolt 2-1 (21-11, 20-22, 15-7). The victory of Bianchin/Scampoli 2-0 (21-19, 21-14) over Kotnik/Lovsin.
In the second match against the fearsome Austria the Italians Bianchin/Scampoli benefited from the waiver of the strong Klinger/Klinger to bring the point to Italy and Orsi Toth/Bianchi were good at overcoming the experts Schützenhöfer/Plesiutschnig .2-0 (21-19, 21-15), thus qualifying for the quarter-finals where Italy met Lithuania.
The blue team got it two more victories in last night’s match: Bianchin/Scampoli defeated the solid Dumbauskaite/Vasiliauskaite 2-0 (27-25, 21-16) with some trouble in the first set, while Orsi Toth/Bianchi dominated the challenge with Grudzinskaite/Grudzinskaite, winning with a clear 2-0 (21-15, 21-13). In the semi-final Italy will face the Czech Republic this afternoon, last resort to place at least one couple in Paris. These are the scheduled matches: Hermannova/Stochlova-Bianchin/Scampoli, Neuschaeferova/Svozilova-Orsi Toth/Bianchi. In the other semi-final they faced Holland and Austria.
MEN’S TOURNAMENT
Pool D. Sweden-Belgium 1-2: Hölting Nilsson/Andersson (SWE)-Vandecaveye/Vandecaveye (BEL) 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-12), Grahn/Isaksson (SWE)-Hendrikx/Vercauteren (BEL) ) 1-2 (21-14, 23-25, 13-15). Hölting Nilsson/Andersson (SWE)-Vandecaveye/Vandecaveye (BEL) 0-1 (11-15).
Latvia-Belgium 2-0: Plavins/Fokerots (LAT)-Vandecaveye/Vandecaveye (BEL) 2-1 (21-19, 28-30, 15-9), Bedritis/Rinkevics (LAT)-Hendrikx/Vercauteren (BEL) 2-1 (21-14, 15-21, 15-7).
Latvia-Sweden 2-1: Plavins/Fokerots (LAT)-Hölting Nilsson/Andersson (SWE) 1-.2 (21-15, 19-21, 13-15) Bedritis/Rinkevics (LAT)-Grahn/Isaksson (SWE) ) 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-7). Bedritis/Rinkevics (LAT)-Hölting Nilsson/Andersson (SWE) 1-0 (15-13)
Pool C. Switzerland-Poland 1-2: Krattiger/Breer (SUI)-Kantor/Zdybek (POL) 1-2 (21-18, 19-21, 15-17), Heidrich/Dillier (SUI)-Rudol/Lejawa (POL) 2-0 (21-16, 21-19). Kantor/Zdybek (POL)-Krattiger/Breer (SUI) 1-0 (15-13).
Norway-Poland 2-1: Mol/Berntsen (NOR)-Kantor/Zdybek (POL) 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-9), Mol/Sunde (NOR)-Rudol/Lejawa (POL) 0-2 (19-21, 19-21). Kantor/Zdybek (POL)-Mol/Berntsen (NOR) 0-1 (9-15).
Norway-Switzerland 2-1: Mol/Berntsen (NOR)-Krattiger/Breer (SUI) 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-12), Mol/Sunde (NOR)-Heidrich/Dillier (SUI) 0-2 (19-21, 18-21), Heidrich/Dillier (SUI)-Mol/Berntsen (NOR) 0-1 (8-15)
Pool B. Lithuania-Germany 1-2: Knasas/Stankevicius (LTU)-Pfretzschner/Winter (GER) 2-0 (21-19, 21-17), Juchnevic/Vasiljev (LTU)-Henning/Poniewaz (GER) 1-2 ( 21-18. 17-21, 9-15). Knasas/Stankevicius (LTU)-Pfretzschner/Winter (GER) 0-1 (13-15).
France-Germany 2-1: Rotar/Gauthier-Rat (FRA)-Pfretzschner/Winter (GER) 2-1 (16-21, 21-18, 17-15), Bassereau/Lyneel (FRA)-Henning/Poniewaz ( GER) 2-1 (21-15, 18-21, 15-12).
France-Lithuania 2-0: Rotar/Gauthier-Rat (FRA)-Knasas/Stankevicius (LTU) 2-1 (21-19, 16-21, 15-12), Bassereau/Lyneel (FRA)-Juchnevic/Vasiljev ( LTU) 2-1 (21-16, 22-24, 15-6)
Pool A. Portugal-Spain 2-1: Huerta/Huerta (ESP)-Pedrosa/Campos (POR) 1-2 (19-21, 21-14, 16-18) Saucedo/Viera (ESP)-Sousa/Sousa (POR) 2 -0 (21-10, 21-14). Huerta/Huerta (ESP)-Pedrosa/Campos (POR) 0-1 (11-15).
Austria-Portugal 2-0: Dressler/Waller (AUT)-Pedrosa/Campos (POR) 2-0 (21-19, 21-14), Hammarberg/Pristauz (AUT)-Sousa/Sousa (POR) 2-0 ( 21-8, 21-10).
Austria-Spain 2-0: Dressler/Waller (AUT)-Huerta/Huerta (ESP) 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-11), Hammarberg/Pristauz (AUT)-Saucedo/Viera (ESP) 2-0 (21-10, 21-18).
Quarter finals. Norway-Portugal: 10.20: Mol/Berntsen (NOR)-Pedrosa/Campos (POR), 9.30: Mol//Sunde (NOR)-Sousa/Sousa (POR),
France-Belgium. 12.50: Rotar/Gauthier-Rat (FRA)-Vandecaveye/Vandecaveye (BEL), 12.00: Bassereau/Lyneel (FRA)-Hendrikx/Vercauteren (BEL).
Lithuania-Germany. 8.20pm: Plavins/Fokerots (LAT)-Pfretzschner/Winter (GER), 7.30pm: Bedritis/Rinkevics (LAT)-Henning/Poniewaz (GER).
Austria-Poland 12.50: Dressler/Waller (AUT)-Kantor/Zdybek (POL), Hammarberg/Pristauz (AUT)-Rudol/Lejawa (POL)
WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT
Pool D. Ukraine-Lithuania 2-0: Hladun/Lazarenko (UKR)-Dumbauskaite/Vasiliauskaite (LTU) 2-0 (21-12, 21-13), Makhno/Lunina (UKR)-Grudzinskaite/Grudzinskaite (LTU) 2-0 ( 21-16, 21-14).
Latvia-Lithuania 0-2: Ozolina/Namike (LAT)-Dumbauskaite/Vasiliauskaite (LTU) 0-2 (12-21, 15-21), Ozolina/Skrastina (LAT)-Grudzinskaite/Grudzinskaite (LTU) 0-2 ( 14-21, 15-21).
Latvia-Ukraine 1-2: Ozolina/Namike (LAT)-Hladun/Lazarenko (UKR) 0-2 (18-21, 16-21), Ozolina/Skrastina (LAT)-Makhno/Lunina (UKR) 2-1 ( 12-21, 23-21, 15-13). Hladun/Lazarenko (UKR)-Ozolina/Skrastina (LAT) 1-0 (15-10)
Pool C. Norway-Finland 2-0: Ahtiainen/Lahti (FIN)-Helland-Hansen/Olimstad (NOR) 0-2 (19-21, 19-21), Parkkinen/Prihti (FIN)-Steinsvåg/Berntsen (NOR) 2- 0 (21-16, 21-16).
Netherlands-Norway 2-0: Piersma/Bekhuis (NED)-Helland-Hansen/Olimstad (NOR) 2-1 (21-8, 18-21, 15-7), Bröring/van Driel (NED)-Steinsvåg/Berntsen (NOR) 2-0 (21-9, 21-12).
Netherlands-Finland Piersma/Bekhuis (NED)-Ahtiainen/Lahti (FIN) 0-2 (22-24, 16-21),Bröring/van Driel (NED)-Parkkinen/Prihti (FIN) 2-0 (21-11) , 21-19), Ahtiainen/Lahti (FIN)-Piersma/Bekhuis (NED) 1-0 (15-8)
Pool B. Austria-Slovenia 2-0: Klinger/Klinger (AUT)-Kotnik/Lovsin (SLO) 2-0 (21-19, 21-15), Schützenhöfer/Plesiutschnig (AUT)-Javornik/Marolt (SLO) ( 2-0 (21-8, 21-13).
Italy-Slovenia 2-0: Bianchin/Scampoli (ITA)-Kotnik/Lovsin (SLO) 2-0 (21-19, 21-14), Orsi Toth/Bianchi (ITA)-Javornik/Marolt (SLO) 2-1 (21-11, 20-22, 15-7).
Italy-Austria 2-0. Bianchin/Scampoli (ITA)-Klinger/Klinger AUT 2-0 (21-0, 21-0), Orsi Toth/Bianchi (ITA)-Schützenhöfer/Plesiutschnig (AUT) 2-0 (21-19, 21-15)
Pool A. Czech Republic-Belgium 2-0: Hermannova/Stochlova (CZE)-Cools/Vd Vonder (BEL) 2-0 821-17, 21-16), Neuschaeferova/Svozilova (CZE)-Coens/Van Deun (BEL) 2- 0 (21-17, 21-14),
Poland-Belgium 2-0: Gruszczynska/Wachowicz (POL)-Cools/Vd Vonder (BEL) 2-0 (21-17, 21-17), Wojtasik/Kociolek (POL)-Coens/Van Deun (BEL) 2- 0 (21-16, 21-16).
Poland-Czech Republic 2-1: Gruszczynska/Wachowicz (POL)-Hermannova/Stochlova (CZE) 2-0 (22-20, 21-18), Wojtasik/Kociolek (POL)-Neuschaeferova/Svozilova (CZE) 1-2 (17-21, 21-15, 14-16), Hermannova/Stochlova (CZE)-Gruszczynska/Wachowicz (POL) 0-1 (12-15).
Quarter finals. Italy-Lithuania 2-0: Bianchin/Scampoli (ITA)-Dumbauskaite/Vasiliauskaite (LTU) 2-0 (27-25, 21-16), Orsi Toth/Bianchi (ITA)-Grudzinskaite/Grudzinskaite (LTU) 2-0 (21-15, 21-13)
Finland-Czech Republic 0-2: Ahtiainen/Lahti (FIN)-Hermannova/Stochlova (CZE) 0-2 (20-22, 22-24), Parkkinen/Prihti (FIN)-Neuschaeferova/Svozilova (CZE) 0-2 (24-26, 19-21)
Ukraine-Austria 2-1: Hladun/Lazarenko (UKR)-Klinger./Klinger (AUT) 0-2 (16-21, 18-21), Makhno/Lunina (UKR)-Schützenhöfer/Plesiutschnig (AUT) 0-2 (17-21, 15-21)
Netherlands-Poland 2-1: Gruszczynska/Wachowicz (POL)-Piersma/Bekhuis (NED) 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-12), Wojtasik/Kociolek (POL)-Bröring/van Driel (NED) ) 1-2 (13-21, 21-15, 15-17). Piersma/van Driel (NED)-Gruszczynska/Wachowicz (POL) 1-0 (15-11)
Semifinals. Italy-Czech Republic: 5.50pm: Hermannova/Stochlova (CZE)-Bianchin/Scampoli (ITA), 5.00pm: Neuschaeferova/Svozilova (CZE)-Orsi Toth/Bianchi (ITA).
Netherlands-Austria: 3.20pm: Piersma/Bekhuis (NED), Klinger/Klinger (AUT), 2.20pm: Bröring/van Driel (NED), Schützenhöfer/Plesiutschnig (AUT)
