SLAVKOV STAGES CEV CHALLENGER

CEV Challenger

Slavkov/Luxembourg, August 5, 2004. Hosting the CEV Challenger in Slavkov from 6-8 August the Czech Republic stands the highest chance of all 16 participating European nations to get hold of the CEV Challenger title and €2'000 in prize money, having registered 7 men’s teams and 6 in the women’s brackets.

With this year’s Italian Open winners Eva Celbová and Sona Novakova leading the ladies’ draw followed by their Czech compatriots Lenka Felbabova and Petra Novotná, who finished first at the proceeding CEV Challenger event in June in Zagreb (CRO), it may even come to an all-Czech final. Another home favourite aiming to climb the podium are the Tychnova sisters who claimed the Under 23 European Championships title in 2003. However, third-seed Inguna Minusa/Inga Pulina from Latvia as well as the strong Ukrainian pairings Svitlana Baburina/Galyna Osheyko and Olena Lysenko/Natalya Shumeyko will do everything possible to spoil the Czech dream.
To view the complete women’s registration list please click here.

Even though Michal Biza and Igor Stejskal as number one seed will have the whole crowd support on their side, they face strong opposition in the two experienced pairings from the Netherlands, namely Boudewijn Maas/Bram Ronnes and Bram’s elder brother Gijs Karel Michiel Ronnes partnering Jochem Pieter De Gruijter. Further formations representing the hosting country in the men’s main draw are Jaroslav Pavlas/Miroslav Svoboda, Josef Benes/Petr Benes, and the 2002 Under 20 European Champions Pavel Kolar and Pavel Rotrekl, who will be challenged by Ukraininans Sergiy Mykhaylov/Oleg Nikolayev (5th place in Zagreb), Harald Dobeiner/Matthias Mellitzer from Austria, Georgios Knapek/Panagiotis Mourtzios (GRE), as well as the seven teams still to qualify.
To view the complete men’s registration list please click here.

Confédération Européenne de Volleyball

SLAVKOV STAGES CEV CHALLENGER

CEV Challenger