Benedikt Duda: First European Championship and silver medal for Bergneustadt!

Von WOM

At the European table tennis championships in Linz, Austria, Benedikt Duda beamed like never before. The 30-year-old player of the TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt secured his first individual medal after six participations in this prestigious tournament. Duda reached the final, where he had to compete against the French athlete Alexis Lebrun. Despite a clear defeat with 5:11, 8:11, 6:11 and 2:11, the joy of the silver medal was undisputed. "I am very happy that I won silver," said Duda after the game.

An important point for Duda was his return after a long injury break that had spoiled his performance in the league. In Linz, however, the player impressed with his constant improvement and his ability to fight through the rounds. His quarter-final match against Felix Lebrun, the Olympic third and number one player was particularly noteworthy. Duda made a remarkable turn after he was 1: 3 back, and ultimately won in seven sets. This gave him the necessary self -confidence for the final.

a promising performance despite difficulties

The most exciting moments for Duda came in the quarter -final round. He never gave up during many setbacks in this tournament top. It was a triumph about Dimitrij Ovtcharov, another big favorite for the title that Duda defeated 4-2 in the semi -finals. This victory underlined Duda's impressive form and his potential in competition. After the redeeming final against Lebrun, Duda had to admit: "My opponent had a better answer to everything I had planned."

Unfortunately there were not only highlights for the Bergneustädter players. In the double competition, Benedikt Duda and his partner Dang Qiu could not meet their medal hopes. Despite multiple title winnings, the duo lost to the Swedish title holders Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson in the quarter -final round. "We definitely wanted a medal," said Duda disappointed. "We have made good progress, but our impact setback game has to be safer."

The way to the silver medal for Benedikt Duda shows the strength of the athlete, especially after a difficult time. His comeback and performance at the European Championships in Linz not only reflects his own determination, but also the aspiring quality of table tennis in Germany. More details on Dudas Journey and his time in Linz can be found in a detailed report www.rundschau-online.de .