The German table tennis women became the sole record winners at the European Team Championships in Zadar, Croatia, by successfully defending their title. Junior world champion Annett Kaufmann and Co. won the final against Romania 3-0 and achieved a hat trick at continental championships for the second time without losing any games with their tenth triumph in the 67-year history of the European Championship.
One day after the men’s semi-final knockout against World Cup runners-up France (1:3), national coach Tamara Boros’ team also extended Germany’s unique European Championship success streak: Since 2007, selections from the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) have always won at least one of the two team titles at European Championship tournaments.
In the home of the former World Cup third place Boros, Kaufmann and Co. were in a class of their own after marching through to the final with five 3-0 wins against Romania. Right at the start, the 19-year-old Olympic discovery Kaufmann made the decisive break with a 3-2 win against Romania’s top 20 ace Bernadette Szöcs and thus took the next step towards the European top. After anti-spin specialist Sabine Winter increased the score to 2-0 in four sets against former European champion Elisabeta Samara, former European Championship runner-up Nina Mittelham completed her triumph with a 3-1 win against Andreea Dragoman.