Tiraspol, 28 February. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Dubossary's international master Denis Tserna has topped the standings and become the main candidate for the national team following three qualification tournaments (TOP Moldova, the cup and championship of Moldova).
The Table Tennis Federation of Moldova has established four tournaments to select the country's best players for the national team, the website of Pridnestrovie's Sports Agency reports.
After winning the Cup of Moldova on 29 January, Denis Tserna took part in an individual tournament which took place in Balti from 24 to 26 February. There the Pridnestrovian athlete took a bronze medal, having lost in the final to Moldovan players Andrei Putuntic and Vadim Ursul, who has long trained in German table tennis centres.
Besides the bronze medal, Denis also gained 12 points. After the three qualifications rounds, he has topped the standing with 34 points, four points ahead of Kishinev's Victor Kissa. Denis Tserna has certainly secured a place in the national team for the upcoming championships of Europe and the world.
Another trainee of the Dubossary school, who with 26 points shares third place with Kishinev player Afanasii Mutcoglo, really claims a place in the national team.
From 4 to 5 March, Kishinev will host the last qualification competition — the Cup of Federation — which will finally compose the roster of Moldova's men's national team.
The roster of the women's national team will also be determined following the Cup of Federation in Kishinev. During the championship of Moldova in Balti, the trainee of the Dubossary school, Yekaterina Smyganovskaya, won a silver medal in singles, gaining 14 points, which has taken her into second place with 42 points in the overall standings.
Another ticket to the national team will be contested during the Cup of Federation between Dubossary's 12-year-old Alexandra Kiryakova, who has won a bronze in singles, and Natalia Brinza from Balti.
