Andrei Putuntica and Ecaterina Siganovschi of Moldova won silver and bronze medals at the European Table Tennis Mini Championships, an event dedicated to players born in 1999 and 2000, which was held in Strasbourg-Schilmilten during August 26-28, Info-Prim Neo reports. At a Friday news conference, Youth and Sports Minister Ion Cebanu praised the youngsters, both aged 11, for their performance, saying that it demonstrates that Moldova has a valuable table tennis school and promising players. “This is an Olympic event in which we expect to have great results, if not at the 2012 Olympics, then in four or five years. We are pleased to see that the range of sports that yield good results is growing”, said the Minister. Andrei Putuntica and Ecaterina Siganovschi told the same news conference that they have been practicing table tennis for at least five years and are very hopeful to win more medals at international events. The youngsters and their coach, Vladimir Semipeadnyi, received a prize in the form of a €1,200-worth card allowing them access to a sporting complex in Chisinau. This year's Euro Mini Champs brought together 198 players from 40 countries.