David Martinez (19), hunting for new international success

ATHENS - The European junior title he won last year in Hoogeveen, came as a big surprise. ,,It was an incredible success, that I never expected'', David Martinez Bosch from Spain says in the days before the new European Junior championships in Athens. David Martinez defends hi title from Friday until Sunday in a battle with some fearsome competitors like Glenn Hofman, David Zapata, the current Spanish champion, Joao Ferreira, Olmer Karakurt and Kenny Miatton.

David Martinez played the final last year against the Belgian Kenny Miatton. They left the huge Dutch favorite Glenn Hofmann behind, but Martinez sees Hofman again as his great opponent. ,,He is a formidable competitor too and Glenn is in great forme, I know. But David Zapata from my country is a strong player too. And I don't underestimated the Turkish and Portuguese player.''

The very talented David Martinez, who grew up with his parents and now 14-year-old sister Ana in Moncada nearby Valencia and in the preparatory year of his university study in Murcia is combining study and sport, expects a thrilling championship in Athens. ,,We have with the young players in Spain José Maria Quetglas as our trainer. We started the training for this European championship in January. I would have liked to be longer in Moncada, because I lived only twenty minutes away from the club of Javier Palazón and Toni Ortiz. It would have been nice to train with them.''

David Martinez (Bosch is the surname of his mother) is a member of the Club Billar Caisson de Cartagena. His favorite athlete is Ronnie O'Sullivan. At the European championships he's the first seeded player in a group with Kenny Miatton, also finalist last year, Elvers Baris from Turkey and a second Greek player.

The group classifications are further:
Group A: David Zapata (Spain), Dustin Jäschke (Germany), Nikos Christoforidis (Greece) and Gregor Karner (Austria).
Group B: Glenn Hofman, Andy de Bondt (Belgium), Eric Tromas (France) and Vrastislav Berid (Czech Republic).
Group D: Olmer Karakurt (Turkey), Joao Ferreira (Portugal), Vuk Brajovic (Macedonia) and Bryan Tempelers (Luxembourg).

The championships will be played in the Barrage Club in Athens.