Croatia & Hungary Win Maiden European Nations Challenge Cup Titles

The 2008 European Nations Challenge Cup - the European Squash Federation event in its 6th year - produced maiden title victories for Croatia and hosts Hungary at the Griff Squash & Fitness Club in Budapest.

Domagoj Spoljar led Croatia to success in the men's event. The 33-year-old from Zagreb needed five games to overcome fellow squad number one Anthony Brindle in the semi-final as Croatia beat Gibraltar 3/0 to reach the final.

In the final, Spoljar put Croatia in the lead against Serbia after despatching Dennis Drenjovski 11-7, 11-6, 11-9. But team-mate Robert Petrovic had to fight back from 2/1 down before beating the Serbian second string Ivan Djordjevic 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 to give Croatia the title for the first time.

Hungary swooped to a straightforward victory in the women's final - Zsuzsa Biro, Helga Kecse-Nagy and Krisztina Szekely all winning in straight games to beat Poland 3/0.

Men's Final:
CROATIA bt SERBIA 2-0
Domagoj Spoljar bt Dennis Drenjovski 11-7, 11-6, 11-9
Robert Petrovic bt Ivan Djordjevic 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9
Ozren Lapcevic v Goran Milicevic (dead rubber - match not played)

Women's final:
HUNGARY bt POLAND 3-0
Zsuzsa Biro bt Anna Jurkun 11-0, 11-4, 11-6
Helga Kecse-Nagy bt Dominika Witkowska 11-4, 11-6, 11-4
Krisztina Szekely bt Anna Sikorska 11-7, 11-9