For the first time, Christiane Ernst was at the start of a DM.
In Saarland, the table tennis player from Weilheim performed well - and was twice on the podium.
Völklingen – It was really bad luck for Christiane Ernst: The table tennis player from Weilheim had successfully completed her debut at the Bavarian senior championship with gold in doubles and bronze in singles and thus qualified for the senior championship.
But then the title fights in Dillingen were canceled due to Corona.
That was in spring 2020. Even the year after, when the DM for players over 40 should have taken place in Hamm, nothing worked.
So now it was possible to hold the event again.
Ernst had qualified again - in the end she had won two bronze medals.
"I'm super satisfied and happy with it," says the woman from Weilheim, who has been playing for TSV Schwabhausen in the Dachau district for years - a veritable table tennis stronghold.
Ernst's debut at a senior German championship was not only enjoyable in terms of sport.
"I got to know new people from all over table tennis Germany," reported the regional league player.
Almost 500 men and women came to the title fights in Völklingen (Saarland).
Champions were determined in ten age groups.
It is "the largest national event for seniors in the DTTB area," according to the German Table Tennis Association.
The game was played in two halls in Völklingen on a total of 36 tables.
Bronze in singles and doubles
In the "age group 40" (the division is made in five-year steps), 21 other athletes had qualified for the DM alongside Ernst.
The woman from Weilheim was number three.
Afterward, Ernst stated with satisfaction that she fulfilled the associated expectations of her skill level.
Ernst won her preliminary group with ease.
She won all three games 3-0 sets.
"My topspin balls often hit the bull's-eye," Ernst said happily.
After a bye in the round of 16, the Weilheim native played Monika Kiefer (TTC Pirmasens) in the quarterfinals.
She also won this duel 3-0.
Third division player Inka Dömges (TSV Langstadt/Hessen) then waited in the semifinals.
Especially in the first set, the two fought topspin duels that were well worth seeing.
"I had to take a big risk to even have a chance," says Ernst.
In the end, the player from Bavaria had to admit defeat with 11:13, 5:11, 6:11.
The disappointment was limited in view of the good performance and the bronze medal.
"The motivation to attack again next year has increased significantly as a result," says Ernst.
+
Bronze suits her well: Christiane Ernst was satisfied with the result at the DM.
© Private
In doubles, the woman from Weilheim competed together with Barbara Seiler (TTC Langweid).
In this competition, too, Ernst got bronze at the end.
After a bye and a 3-0 win in the quarter-finals, the semi-finals went against Tatiana Pokrovskaya/Birte Grensemann (Werder Bremen).
In this match "we didn't find our way into the game", says Ernst.
"In addition, our opponents took advantage of their chances." Ernst/Seiler had to admit defeat in four sets (8:11, 10:12, 11:8, 4:11).
For the mixed round, "I had a partner drawn from me," reported the woman from Weilheim.
Your game system and that of Gerald Nidetzky (TTC Burgkunstadt) "unfortunately didn't go together very well".
After a comfortable 3-0 win in the first round, the right-left combination lost 0-3 in the round of 16 (7-11, 7-11, 8-11).
Christiane Ernst successful with Schwabhausen III
Ernst had qualified for the senior championship with successful performances at the Bavarian senior championship in Ochsenfurt.
In the "Ak 40" she won the gold medal in the singles - among other things after two five-set successes.
In doubles, she won bronze alongside Sonja Neudecker (SV Essenbach).
Our Weilheim-Penzberg newsletter keeps you regularly informed about all the important stories from your region.
Sign up here.
The most recent season in the Regionalliga Süd (that is the fourth-highest German division) ended Ernst with TSV Schwabhausen III in third place (20:12 points).
This is a "sensational result," says the team leader happily.
The team - unbeaten at home - relied on several youngsters who presented themselves surprisingly well.
Ernst played the most games for the team (15) and came up with a 12:17 balance in the individual.
In the Oberliga below, she appeared twice for the fourth TSV set and shone with a 4-0 record.
