The table tennis national team of Montenegro failed to reach the final of the team part of the European Championship for people with disabilities in Helsingborg.
The Montenegrin team, consisting of Filip Radović, Luka Bakić and Dejan Bašanović, was defeated in the semi-final match by Poland 2:0.
The Montenegrin trio secured a bronze medal by placing in the semi-finals.
The team, led from the bench by coach Nicolae Lupulescu, qualified for the semi-finals as second in the group, with two wins and a loss.
At the start of the team part, it was defeated by France 2:1, while in the next two rounds it won against Russia and Spain 2:0 each.
Coach Lupulescu said that he was satisfied with the result and the performance of the Montenegrin table tennis players, stating that he did not expect to win two medals.
"Great success was achieved with good work and excellent players. Thanks to the Paralympic Committee for the conditions provided. The first goal has been achieved, the fight for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo remains. Two more final tournaments await Radovic in Finland and the Netherlands, if he does well in them he will be qualified for Tokyo. Bakić is left with the final tournament to try to get to the Games. With good preparations, I believe that both of them can reach Tokyo", Lupulescu told the MINA agency.
The official European and world champion in the team competition led with the triumph of doubles Patrik Čojnovski and Igor Mištal against Filip Radović and Luka Bakić 3:0 (11:8, 11:9 and 11:2).
Igor Mištal, who defeated Dejan Bašanović 3:0 (11:1, 11:4 and 11:1), solved all the dilemmas surrounding the placement in the final.
Bašanović, who made his debut in major competitions, said that it was an honor for him to play for the Montenegrin national team in Helsingborg.
"It is an honor to be in the team next to the trophy-winning Radović, who once again proved that he is a great player and the bright future of Montenegrin table tennis, Luka Bakić, who together in the coming period will represent Montenegro and win medals at major competitions. The medal is a success for the entire Montenegrin Paralympic movement," said Bašanović.
The Montenegrin expedition ended its performance in Helsingborg with two medals.
In the individual competition, Radović won the silver medal, his third at the European Championships in his career.
He won bronze at the previous two championships, in Vail in 2015 and in Laško two years later.
Other Montenegrin representatives, Luka Bakić and Dejan Bašanović, in their debut individual performance at the European Championship for Persons with Disabilities in Helsingborg, finished in the group.
The president of the Paralympic Committee, Igor Tomić, said that he was proud of everything that the Montenegrin table tennis players had done in Helsingborg.
"Radović once again showed his brilliance and exceptionality, all that makes him one of the best players in the S10 class in the world. In the team part, we created another historic moment of Montenegrin Paralympic sports. The first team medal at the major competitions was won. Radović, Bakić and Bašanović showed how to fight for the Montenegrin flag, how to help and that only team work can achieve a result," Tomić said.
He pointed out that the medals are not only the success of the Paralympic Committee, but of Montenegrin table tennis, Montenegrin sports and Montenegro.
"Many thanks to the professional team led by coach Nikolaj Lupulescu", said Tomić.
The European Championship brought together 296 competitors from 35 European countries.
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