Baden, Austria, June 16, 201. The final competition day of the CEV U18 Beach Volleyball European Championship sponsored by SPORT.LAND.NÖ started with wind, asking the young players to adapt their strategy in the semifinals and matches that eventually ranked teams 5 - 8. In the afternoon, the weather improved and the centre court was ready for the medal matches and eventually for the crowning of Mariia Bocharova/Elizaveta Gubina and Leon Meier/Lui Wüst as the new U18 European champions.
Women's gold went to Russia as Mariia Bocharova claimed gold together with the 14-year-old Elizaveta Gubina. Bocharova, only 17 years old herself, already has an impressive resume - she is the 2018 Youth Olympic champion and 2018 U19 World Champion to only name a few of her titles. This was the third time she claimed a medal at the U18 European Championship - in 2017 she won gold with her usual partner Maria Voronina, but last year she claimed silver with Elizaveta Ludkova. In the gold medal match the Russians had a close fight against Tania Moreno Matveeva and Ana Vergara from Spain, which they eventually won 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 16-14).
Mariia Bocharova giving the thumbs up for another gold medal.
Czech Republic's Marketa Svozilova and Eliska Tezzele used the support of the fans on the centre court to win the bronze medal match against Anna Chechelnytska/Daria Romaniuk of Ukraine 2-0 (21-17, 21-18).
The German rising stars Leon Meier and Lui Wüst will travel home with gold from the men's tournament. With the help of the fans and a strong performance, the Germans won a three setter against Slovenia's Rok Mozic/Rok Bracko 2-1 (20-22, 21-19, 15-12). Leon Meier said: “This is a dream come true.” Lui Wüst: “I can’t believe it, it is incredible.” The boys were ecstatic after their accomplishment. Last year it was the girls Svenja Müller/Lea Sophie Kunst, who claimed U18 gold for Germany in Brno, Czech Republic, while Leon Meier together with Simon Pfretzschner had to settle for the fifth place.
Mozic and Bracko secured the first medal for Slovenia in the competition since Tine Urnaut and Nejc Zemljak won bronze a way back in 2005 in Illichivsk, Ukraine.
The gold medallists thank their supporters in Baden.
Ivan Osipov and Anatolii Vasilenko grabbed bronze for Russia after a really tight match against Spain’s Alejandro Yuste and Antonio Saucedo Amodeo, 2-0 (27-25, 22-20).
It is the fourth year in a row Beach Volleyball powerhouse Russia earn at least two medals at the continental U18 championship, with their most successful year being 2017, when the competition was held in Kazan and four out of six medals at stake stayed with Russian athletes.
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Next week young Beach Volleyball stars from Europe will travel to Udon Thani, Thailand for the U21 FIVB World Championship. Mariia Bocharova/Maria Voronina are obviously one of the top contenders for glory.