ETTU - European Table Tennis Union - News

[Milica Nikolic]

ETTU is pleased to announce the second edition of the EUROSPINS development programme, continuing its successful cooperation with the Korea Table Tennis Association while expanding the initiative through the participation of two additional leading Asian associations Japan and Chinese Taipei.

Following the successful launch of the programme, the new cycle will once again consist of two training camps designed to provide Europe’s most promising young players with valuable international experience and high-level training opportunities.

The first camp will take place in Gangneung, Korea, from 3 to 12 September 2026, while the second camp is scheduled for Easter 2027 in Europe, with the host location to be confirmed.

The programme is open to players born after 1 January 2010.

A full presentation of the EUROSPINS programme will be delivered during the coaches’ meeting at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar on 11 July 2026. Player selection for the programme will be made immediately after the conclusion of the championships.

To further support participating athletes, ETTU will also cover the cost of an additional hotel night for players who decide to remain in Korea to compete in the subsequent WTT tournaments.

The detailed programme presentation and camp schedule are available in the attached documents.

ETTU looks forward to welcoming coaches in Gondomar and launching another exciting edition of the EUROSPINS development programme.

The post EUROSPINS Returns for Second Edition with Expanded Asian Partnership first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Under 15 Girls Team competition heads to European Youth Championships in Gondomar with Germany once again carrying the status of favourites after building an impressive dynasty in recent years. Chasing a fourth consecutive European title, the defending champions will face strong opposition from a talented field led by Czechia, Poland, Sweden, France and several emerging nations eager to end Germany’s reign.

Germany completed a golden hat-trick in Ostrava last year by capturing their third successive Under 15 Girls Team title. The triumph added to an already remarkable history in the event, with previous European crowns coming in 1994, 1998, 1999, 2009, 2012 and 2021.

The victorious squad featured Josephina NEUMANN, Koharu ITAGAKI, Amelie Guzi JIA and Anna WALTER. In the final, NEUMANN and ITAGAKI led the way as Germany defeated France, represented by Lou-Anne BOCQUET, Lisa ZHAO, Eva LAM and Albane ROCHUT, to retain the title.

Bronze medals were shared by Czechia, represented by Adéla BRHELOVÁ, Hanka KODET, Simona HOLUBOVÁ and Laura MARSICKOVÁ, and Italy, with Manon LOTH, Sofia EPISCOPO, Gioia Maria PICU and Matilde BUZZONI.

A year later, Germany once again arrive among the favourites, although with a refreshed line-up. Third seeds, they are represented by Chenhao CHEN, Amelie Guzi JIA, Lotta ROTHFUSS and Anna WALTER, with two members of last year’s championship-winning team returning to defend the title.

Top seeds Czechia lead this year’s draw with Adéla BARTOVÁ, Adéla BRHELOVÁ and Laura MARSICKOVÁ, while second-seeded Poland field Lucja KOBOSZ, Aleksandra NAWROCKA, Lena PUZIO and Natalia WSZOŁEK. No. 4 seeds Sweden rely on Siri BENJEGÅRD, Alicia ENBOM and Nike LUNDQVIST.

France, seeded fifth, continue to look among the strongest challengers with Chloé HUANG, Eva LAM, Albane ROCHUT and Lisa ZHAO, while Romania, the sixth seeds, rely on Nadalia IONAȘCU, Maya MADAR, Kariss ȘERBAN and Bianca TOMA.

Türkiye, represented by Belinay DAVUŞ, Ceren KAHRAMAN, Elvin KALE and Ela Su YONTER, are seeded seventh, followed by Croatia with Karla IVČIĆ, Lucija NOVAK and Sara RIVETTI.

Spain, Portugal and Italy all possess the quality to challenge for the latter stages. Spain field Eloisa BARREDA, Teresa CARRASCO VIEITO, Esther HASEK and Mireia PARAU, hosts Portugal are represented by Núria MADEIRA, Maria RUIVO, Irina SILVA and Matilde SOUSA, while Italy arrive with Claudia BERTOLINI, Alice BORSANI, Matilde BUZZONI and Carolina ROSSI.

The post Germany Target Fourth Straight U15 Girls Team Crown in Gondomar first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Under 15 Boys Team competition is set to usher in a new generation of European stars at the 2026 European Youth Championships in Gondomar. While defending champions Italy no longer feature the squad that retained the title in Ostrava, the race for gold promises to be one of the most open events of the Championships, with several ambitious nations boasting talented young line-ups.

Italy successfully defended their title last year after overcoming first-time finalists Türkiye in a thrilling final. It marked back-to-back European crowns for the Italians, whose previous triumph before their recent resurgence had come back in 1993.

The championship-winning team featured Danilo FASO, Francesco TREVISAN, Giulio CAMPAGNA and Pietro CAMPAGNA, while silver medallists Türkiye were represented by Kenan KAHRAMAN, Görkem ÖÇAL, Kuzey GÜNDOĞDU and Ahmet ŞAHAN.

Germany, represented by Jonas RINDERER, Lukas WANG, Samuel KUHL and Tian Nghia PHONG, and Poland, with Jan MRUGALA, Mateusz WISNIEWSKI, Piotr LACKI and Hubert KWIECIŃSKI, completed the podium with bronze medals.

A year later, the landscape has changed significantly, with many of last year’s protagonists having moved into the Under 19 category.

Top seeds Spain lead this year’s field with Marcos GOMEZ, Alexander MALOV, Ladimir MAYOROV and Roger QUESADA, while second-seeded Türkiye once again look among the strongest contenders with Emre BUCAK, Görkem ÖÇAL, Ali Enes SEREN and Kaan TUNA.

Germany, seeded third, rely on Jonathan KRAFT, Kirill MANALAKI, Tien Nghia PHONG and Lukas WANG, while fourth seeds Poland are represented by Olaf GLANERT, Hubert KWIECIŃSKI, Ignacy SŁAWIŃSKI and Jakub TURECKI.

Czechia, Sweden, Austria and France complete the top eight seeds. Czechia field Richard FEBER JR., Vojtěch LASTOVKA, Ondřej MORÁVEK and Oliver OLEJNÍK, Sweden are represented by Emil ELLERMANN, Joel ISAKSSON and Erik KOGERFELT, Austria by Benjamin BIAN, Sung Bing CHEN, Louis FEGERL and Joshua SAMS, while France arrive with Tim ESCUDIER, Nolan JOHNSTON, Quentin SANDONA and Noah TESSIER.

Defending champions Italy begin their title defence as the fifteenth seeds with Pietro ANDREOLI, Pietro CAMPAGNA, Tommaso SIMI and Jan SLAVEC. Although only one member of last year’s winning squad returns, the Italians have shown repeatedly that they know how to rise to the occasion in this competition.

With a fresh generation eager to make its mark, traditional powerhouses seeking to establish new dynasties and several emerging nations ready to challenge, the Under 15 Boys Team event promises to produce another memorable chapter in the European Youth Championships.

The post New Generation Ready to Challenge as U15 Boys Team Title Race Begins in Gondomar first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Home advantage, unfinished business and history on the line. The ingredients are all in place for a captivating Under 19 Boys Team competition at the 2026 European Youth Championships in Gondomar. Portugal will look to turn last year’s silver medal into gold in front of their own supporters, but standing in their way is defending champion Romania, a team seeking an unprecedented fifth consecutive European title. With France, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and several other contenders fielding strong line-ups, the fight for the crown promises to be one of the most competitive events of the Championships.

Last year in Ostrava, Romania completed a dramatic campaign by defeating Portugal in a thrilling final to secure a fourth consecutive European title. The triumph matched the four-title winning streaks previously achieved by Germany (1995–1998) and the Soviet Union (1975–1978), leaving only France’s record of five straight championships standing above them.

Despite being seeded only fifth in 2025 and introducing several new faces, Romania once again proved their championship pedigree. Led by Iulian CHIRITA alongside Dragoș BUJOR, Robert Alexandru ISTRATE and Luka OPREA, they navigated a demanding knockout draw before edging Portugal in one of the most memorable finals of recent years.

Romania have now remained unbeaten in the Under 19 Boys Team event since Belgrade 2022 and will be determined to make history in Gondomar by capturing an unprecedented fifth consecutive title.

This year, however, the challenge looks stronger than ever.

Top seeds France arrive with Nathan DOUSSINET, Nathan LAM, Antoine NOIRAULT and Nathan PILARD, while second seeds Poland field a talented squad led by Marcel BLASZCZYK, Samuel MICHNA, Jan MRUGALA Mateusz SAKOWICZ and Patryk ZYWORONEK.

Slovakia, bronze medallists a year ago, return as the third seeds with Damian FLORO, Samuel ARPAS, Pavol KOKAVEC and Jakub HOLUBCIK once again leading their challenge, while Spain complete the top four seeds.

Defending champions Romania begin this year’s event seeded ninth, with Robert ISTRATE now leading a new generation that also includes Mihai NAGY, Robert PODAR, Andrei TIBIRNA and Luca TRASCU. They will once again rely on their trademark fighting spirit as they attempt to continue an extraordinary winning run.

Hosts Portugal, seeded tenth, will also attract plenty of attention. After reaching their first-ever Under 19 Boys Team final last year, Tiago ABIODUN returns to spearhead another ambitious squad, joined by Guilherme CARDOSO, Carlos GONÇALVES, Lourenço SARDINHA and Dinis YE. Playing in front of home fans, Portugal will be eager to take one step further after last year’s silver medal.

Several other nations look capable of mounting a serious challenge. Italy, led by Danilo FASO, Hungary with Balázs LEI, Austria featuring Julian RZIHAUSCHEK, Belgium with Matt CLOSSET, Sweden, Czechia and Switzerland all possess the quality to upset the favourites, while Germany, despite starting from Stage 2, will also be looking to re-establish themselves among Europe’s elite.

With established stars, emerging talents and a packed field of ambitious teams, Gondomar promises another unforgettable chapter in the rich history of the European Youth Championships. Whether Romania can complete a historic five-title streak or a new champion emerges will be one of the biggest stories of the week.

The post Home Hopes Meet History: Portugal, France and Romania Lead the Race for U19 Boys Team Gold first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Under 19 Girls Team event promises another fascinating battle at the 2026 European Youth Championships in Gondomar, with defending champions France returning in pursuit of a third consecutive European crown. Yet, with Romania, Portugal, Poland and several other ambitious nations fielding talented line-ups, the road to gold is expected to be anything but straightforward.

France arrive as the team to beat after successfully defending their title in Ostrava last year, overcoming Ukraine in a hard-fought final to retain the European crown. Their victory added to the title won in 2024 and reinforced France’s status as one of Europe’s leading forces in the category.

The championship-winning squad featured Nina GUO ZHENG, Leana HOCHART, Alexia NODIN and Jade HUYNH, with HOCHART producing victories in the final against Olha PONKO and Veronika MATIUNINA. GUO ZHENG, then only 15 years old, also played a pivotal role with a crucial success over Daria KOVALOVA as France completed another memorable campaign.

Ukraine, represented by Veronika MATIUNINA, Olha PONKO, Daria KOVALOVA, Alina OVRIAKH and Veronika VASYLENKO, claimed silver, while Portugal, represented by Júlia LEAL, Matilde PINTO and Mariana SANTA COMBA, and Spain, with María BERZOSA, Camila Renata MOSCOSO, Mariona MUNNÉ, Sofía COUCE and Irina GIMENO FONT, shared the bronze medals.

As the competition moves to Gondomar, France once again head the seeding list. GUO ZHENG, HOCHART, HUYNH and NODIN return with the experience of defending champions and will be aiming to extend France’s remarkable run.

Second seeds Romania look well equipped to challenge for the title with Andreea BAIASU, Bianca MEI ROSU, Alesia Sofia SFERLEA, Maria STOIAN and Patricia STOICA. Poland, seeded third, rely on Natalia BOGDANOWICZ, Matylda HADRYS, Karolina HOLDA, Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA and Zofia SLIWKA, while hosts Portugal complete the top four seeds with Leonor GOMES, Júlia LEAL, Beatriz PINTO, Joana PINTO and Mariana SANTA COMBA hoping home support can inspire a deep run.

Spain, seeded fifth, field María BERZOSA, Sofía COUCE, Irina GIMENO FONT, Camila MOSCOSO and Renata SHYPSHA, while sixth-seeded Germany are represented by Rhea Zhu CHEN, Koharu ITAGAKI, Lorena MORSCH, Elisa NGUYEN and Lisa-Sophie WANG. Austria complete the top seven with Julia DUR, Elina FUCHS, Mariia LYTVYN, Sophia PICHLER and Nina SKERBINZ, while Belgium round out the top eight through Kathe DE MEYER, Lilly LAFFINEUR, Lessia LEWYCKYJ, Lilou MASSART and Lotte NUYTTENS.

Further down the draw, last year’s finalists Ukraine, represented by Daria KOVALOVA, Alina OVRIAKH, Olha PONKO, Tetiana PUKALO and Veronika VASYLENKO, remain one of the most dangerous unseeded teams despite starting as the tenth seeds. Hungary and Italy also possess the quality to challenge for the latter stages, while Serbia, Bulgaria and Türkiye will all be aiming to upset the established order.

With reigning champions eager to extend their dominance, hosts dreaming of a breakthrough on home soil and a host of talented challengers ready to seize their opportunity, the Under 19 Girls Team event is set to deliver another thrilling chapter in the history of the European Youth Championships.ampionships.

The post France Aim for Three in a Row as Home-Hungry Contenders Gather in Gondomar first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The wait is almost over. On Friday, the 2026 European Youth Championships get underway in Gondomar, Portugal, where Europe’s brightest young table tennis talents will compete for ten days of action in one of the flagship events on the ETTU calendar.

The opening five days will be dedicated to the team events before the focus switches to the singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions from 15 to 19 July. A total of 39 associations will compete in the Under 19 Boys Teams, while 34 nations have entered the Under 19 Girls Teams and Under 15 Girls Teams, with 37 teams contesting the Under 15 Boys event.

The team competitions promise compelling storylines across all four categories. In the Under 19 Boys, Romania arrives chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive European title, but hosts Portugal will hope home support can help them go one better than last year’s silver medal. France, Poland, Slovakia and Spain are also expected to be among the leading contenders.

France begin the Under 19 Girls event aiming for a third successive crown, while Romania, Poland and host nation Portugal all look capable of mounting a serious challenge. Last year’s finalists Ukraine, despite entering as the tenth seeds, remain one of the teams to watch.

The Under 15 competitions signal the arrival of Europe’s next generation of stars. Germany seek a fourth consecutive Under 15 Girls Team title despite a refreshed squad, while Czechia, Poland, France and Romania headline a highly competitive field. In the Under 15 Boys event, the picture is even more open. Defending champions Italy have undergone major changes, leaving top seeds Spain, Türkiye, Germany and Poland among the favourites to battle for gold.

Several players also arrive in Gondomar full of confidence after impressive performances at the recent European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca. Danilo FASO, Bianca MEI ROSU, Tiago ABIODUN, Robert ISTRATE, Leana HOCHART, Koharu ITAGAKI and Natalia BOGDANOWICZ are among the names looking to continue their excellent form on the youth stage.

The Multiusos de Gondomar is no stranger to major table tennis events, having previously hosted the Europe Top 16 Cup, the European Under 21 Championships and the ITTF World Team Olympic Qualification Tournament. Now, another generation of Europe’s future stars is ready to write its own chapter in the venue’s history.

As the first balls are struck on Friday morning, history, home hopes and the pursuit of European glory will combine to launch what promises to be another unforgettable edition of the European Youth Championships

The post History, Home Hopes and New Dreams Await in Gondomar first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Top seeds Spain recovered from dropping the opening match to defeat ninth seeds Romania 3-1 in their first Group A encounter of the Under 15 Boys Teams event at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar.

Romania made an excellent start through David TORO, who overcame Alexander MALOV in five games. TORO won the opening game before MALOV fought back to lead 2-1, but the Romanian regained control by taking the final two games 11-7 to secure the first point of the tie.

Ladimir MAYOROV quickly brought Spain level with a commanding straight-games victory over Mihai IORDAN, conceding only 15 points.

Marcos GOMEZ and MAYOROV then put Spain ahead in the doubles. They defeated Tudor SAFTOIU and TORO in three games, although the Romanian pair pushed them all the way before falling 13-11 in the second game.

MAYOROV returned to seal Spain’s victory, beating TORO in straight games to complete the top seeds’ successful start in Gondomar.

“We lost the first match, but we did not panic. We know each other very well because we play against each other very often. I am very happy with my performance and with the way I beat TORO. We are going for all the wins here,” said MAYOROV confidently.

Last year, Spain, represented by MAYOROV and Tianxiang ZOU, were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Italy.

France also made a winning start in Group A by overcoming England 3-2. Noah TESSIER gave France the opening point with a four-game victory over Dimitar DIMITROV. The French player recovered after dropping the second game and held his nerve to claim the fourth 13-11.

Nolan JOHNSTON then doubled France’s advantage with a straight-games victory over Pablo RAMIREZ RIOJA. Although RAMIREZ RIOJA pushed him hard in the closing stages, JOHNSTON prevailed 13-11 and 11-9 in the final two games.

England responded in the doubles as RAMIREZ RIOJA and Oscar NIKOLLI defeated TESSIER and Quentin SANDONA in three games to reduce the deficit.

RAMIREZ RIOJA then levelled the tie by overcoming TESSIER in four games. After taking the opening two games, he recovered from losing the third to send the match to the deciding fifth rubber.

JOHNSTON proved the hero for France, dominating DIMITROV in straight games while conceding only ten points to secure a 3-2 victory.

In Group B, second seeds Türkiye were pushed all the way by hosts Portugal before prevailing 3-2. Rodrigo ANDRADE gave Portugal the lead with a four-game victory over Emre BUCAK, but Görkem OCAL restored parity by defeating Eric PEREIRA in straight games. ANDRADE and PEREIRA then put the hosts back in front with a 3-1 doubles victory over OCAL and BUCAK. Türkiye fought back once more, with OCAL overcoming ANDRADE in straight games before BUCAK defeated PEREIRA 3-1 in the deciding match.

Seventh seeds Austria also made a winning start, beating 14th seeds Denmark 3-1. Sung Bing CHEN and Louis FEGERL established a 2-0 lead with convincing straight-games victories over Julius FREDENSBORG and Noah SIMONI, respectively. Denmark stayed alive when Zacharias AL MOALEM and Elias SKAJEM edged FEGERL and CHEN in a dramatic five-game doubles contest, but FEGERL returned to defeat FREDENSBORG in straight games to secure Austria’s victory.

In Group C, third seeds Germany enjoyed a comfortable start, defeating 12th seeds Hungary 3-0. Tien Nghia PHONG opened the tie with a four-game victory over Peter ZUBOR, edging a tight third game 12-10 before closing out the match 13-11 in the fourth. Lukas WANG then doubled Germany’s lead, recovering from losing the opening game to overcome Simon ZSIGMOND in four games. WANG and PHONG completed the sweep with a straight-games doubles victory over ZSIGMOND and ZUBOR.

Fifth seeds Czechia also opened with a 3-1 victory over Switzerland. Oliver OLEJNIK and Ondrej MORAVEK both recorded convincing singles wins to put Czechia firmly in control. Switzerland responded through Arthur LOUSTALOT and Charlie HURTADO, who edged MORAVEK and OLEJNIK in a dramatic five-game doubles encounter. After recovering from 2-1 down, the Czech pair held a 9-4 lead in the deciding game but were unable to convert it.

Martin MERKER, coach of the Czech Under 15 boys’ team, reflected on the performance:

“It was an important start to the tournament and it is good that we won. It is a great shame that the boys did not extend their lead in the fifth set after leading 9-4. Doubles is very important in this competition, and I believe they will learn from it. Ondra MORÁVEK is not yet playing at the level I expected, but I am pleased with how he improved in his second singles match. Hopefully, next time he will be even better.”

MORAVEK quickly put the disappointment behind him, returning to defeat LOUSTALOT in straight games and secure the tie for Czechia.

In Group D, fourth seeds Poland opened with a 3-1 victory over Ukraine. Hubert KWIECINSKI put Poland ahead with a dominant straight-games win over David DROBOV, but Volodymyr NEVIZHYN levelled the tie by defeating Jakub TURECKI in four games. KWIECINSKI and TURECKI restored Poland’s advantage with a 3-1 doubles victory over NEVIZHYN and Mark VORONOI, before KWIECINSKI completed the win by edging NEVIZHYN in a hard-fought five-game encounter.

Sweden produced one of the opening day’s standout results by sweeping Italy 3-0. Emil ELLERMANN and Erik KOGERFELT both recorded convincing straight-games victories in the singles before combining to overcome Tommaso SIMI and Pietro CAMPAGNA in a thrilling five-game doubles contest to complete the clean sweep.

The post Top Seeds Spain Recover to Beat Romania in Group A Opener first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Under 19 Boys Team Event at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar opened with thrilling contests across all groups, highlighted by ninth seeds Romania upsetting second seeds Poland 3-2. Top seeds France survived a major scare against Austria, while Slovakia, Hungary, Czechia, Italy, Spain and Sweden all opened their campaigns with victories.

Top seeds France were given a stern examination by 11th seeds Austria before emerging with a 3-2 victory in their opening Group A match. Nathan LAM edged Petr HODINA in four games to put France ahead, but Julian RZIHAUSCHEK responded with a four-game victory over Antoine NOIRAULT to level the tie. Nathan PILARD restored France’s advantage with a convincing straight-games win against Patrick SKERBINZ. Austria fought back once more as RZIHAUSCHEK held his nerve in a dramatic fourth game before defeating LAM 19-17 in the decider to force the fifth match. NOIRAULT then secured victory for the top seeds, overcoming HODINA in four games.

Seventh seeds Hungary opened with a 3-0 victory over 13th seeds Norway, although the scoreline did not fully reflect the battle. Botond VARGA survived a thrilling five-game encounter against Noah Khai LAM, recovering from deficits twice before pulling away in the deciding game. Balazs LEI doubled Hungary’s advantage with a straight-games victory over Jonas FROSETH, before Mark GERGELY wrapped up the tie by defeating Mathias HALVORSEN in four games.

Group B produced the opening day’s biggest surprise as ninth seeds Romania stunned second seeds Poland 3-2. Robert ISTRATE recovered from two games down to defeat Samuel MICHNA and give Romania the perfect start, but Marcel BLASZCZYK responded with a straight-games victory over Robert PODAR to level the tie. Andrei TIBIRNA restored Romania’s advantage by overcoming Patryk ZYWORONEK in four games, before BLASZCZYK edged ISTRATE in a dramatic five-game encounter to force the decider. PODAR then completed the upset, recovering from a two-game deficit to beat MICHNA in five games and seal a memorable victory for Romania.

Eighth seeds Czechia also opened their campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Belgium 3-0. Jindrich MORAVEK overcame Per GEVERS in four games before Jan SKALDA beat Charles JANSSENS by the same margin to put Czechia firmly in control. Jakub KABELKA then completed the clean sweep with a straight-games victory over Maxime DEGIVE.

In Group C, third seeds Slovakia overcame 10th seeds Portugal 3-2 in one of the most entertaining ties of the opening round. Tiago ABIODUN gave the hosts the perfect start with a commanding straight-games victory over Pavol KOKAVEC, but Samuel ARPAS quickly levelled the match by defeating Dinis YE in straight games. Damian FLORO then put Slovakia ahead with another convincing victory, beating Carlos GONCALVES in three games. ABIODUN kept Portugal’s hopes alive by overcoming ARPAS in four games, but KOKAVEC responded superbly in the deciding match, defeating YE in straight games to seal the victory for Slovakia.

“I am happy that I managed to recover after the opening match defeat against ABIODUN and to play at a really high level. I overcame the stress by telling myself that it was not the end of the world. It was only the group stage and there was still room to recover from the defeat,” said KOKAVEC.

Italy also made a winning start in Group C, defeating Israel 3-0. Francesco TREVISAN recovered after losing the opening game to overcome Natanel ABRAMOV in four games, before Danilo FASO produced a remarkable comeback against Or MAGEN. Trailing by two games, FASO fought back to win the next three, including a tense fourth game 12-10, to double Italy’s advantage. Giacomo IZZO then completed the clean sweep with a straight-games victory over Yali MOR, edging the third game 14-12.

In Group D, fourth seeds Spain recovered from an opening-match defeat to overcome Switzerland 3-1. Noe KEUSCH gave the Swiss the perfect start with a four-game victory over Francesc CARRERA, but Luca KHIDASHELI responded emphatically, defeating Lowis VOGLER in straight games. Dario SALCEDO then edged Levi ULRICH in a dramatic five-game contest to put Spain ahead before KHIDASHELI completed the comeback with a straight-games victory over KEUSCH.

Sweden also made an impressive start, defeating England 3-0 despite two fiercely contested encounters. Noa DAHLSTROM put Sweden ahead with a four-game victory over Abraham SELLADO, while Adam WALLIN battled past Max RADIVEN in five games after twice surrendering the lead. William BERGENBLOCK then sealed the tie, overcoming Isaac KINGHAM in another five-game thriller to complete Sweden’s clean sweep.

The post Romania Stun Poland, Italy Fight Back as Under 19 Boys Team Event Opens first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Under 19 Girls Teams event got underway at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar with all four groups in action. Second seeds Romania produced the day’s most dramatic comeback by recovering from 2-1 down to defeat last year’s runners-up Ukraine, while top seeds France, Poland, Germany and Spain all opened their campaigns with convincing victories.

Top seeds France began their title bid with a commanding 3-0 victory over 12th seeds Croatia. Alexia NODIN was tested by Leeloo HAN VUKELJA, but recovered after dropping the third game to claim the opening point in four games. Leana HOCHART then dominated Franka MISKIC, conceding just 14 points, before Jade HUYNH completed the clean sweep with a straight-games victory over Lana BENKO.

Austria also enjoyed a comfortable start, defeating Serbia 3-0. Nina SKERBINZ overcame Maja VANJO in straight games, while Elina FUCHS defeated Teodora GOJKOV in four games after briefly being pegged back in the second. Mariia LYTVYN then sealed Austria’s victory with a convincing straight-games success over Sladana KNEZEVIC.

In Group B, second seeds Romania had to come from behind to overcome last year’s runners-up and 10th seeds Ukraine 3-2. Fresh from the Under 21 European title, Bianca MEI ROSU gave Romania the perfect start with a straight-games victory over Tetiana PUKALO, but Daria KOVALOVA and Olha PONKO responded with consecutive straight-games wins over Alesia Sofia SFERLEA and Patricia STOICA to put Ukraine within one point of victory. MEI ROSU kept Romania alive with another commanding straight-games success, this time against KOVALOVA, before SFERLEA defeated PUKALO in three games to complete Romania’s comeback.

Eighth seeds Belgium also opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over 16th seeds Türkiye. Kathe DE MEYER recovered from the loss of the opening game to defeat Busra DEMIR in four games and put Belgium ahead. Aybuke SIMSEK levelled the tie for Türkiye with a four-game victory over Lilou MASSART, but Lotte NUYTTENS restored Belgium’s advantage by overcoming Nil BASARAN in four games. MASSART then wrapped up the victory with a straight-games win over DEMIR.

In Group C, third seeds Poland recorded a convincing 3-0 victory over 11th seeds Italy, although the second singles proved far closer than the scoreline suggested. Natalia BOGDANOWICZ recovered after dropping the opening game to defeat Manon LOTH in four games and give Poland the lead. Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA then survived a five-game battle against Sofia MINURRI, regaining control in the decider after Italy had recovered from two games down. Karolina HOLDA completed the sweep by overcoming Francesca SEU in four games.

Fourth seeds Germany were equally impressive, allowing Slovakia just 40 points across three matches in a commanding 3-0 victory. Lorena MORSCH set the tone with a straight-games win over Vanda VANISOVA, before Koharu ITAGAKI overwhelmed Emma MOLNAROVA, conceding only 14 points. Lisa-Sophie WANG completed the clean sweep with another dominant straight-games victory over Sara HABAROVA.

In Group D, Portugal opened with a 3-1 victory over Hungary. Mariana SANTA COMBA gave Portugal the lead with a straight-games win over Judit NAGY, before Julia LEAL doubled the advantage by defeating Rebeka NAGY, also in three games. Hungary stayed in contention through Nora DOHOCZKI, who edged Beatriz PINTO in a five-game battle. LEAL returned to the table to overcome Judit NAGY in straight games and secure Portugal’s victory.

Spain also made a strong start, defeating Bulgaria 3-0. Maria BERZOSA opened with a straight-games victory over Nina NIKOLOVA, while Camila MOSCOSO survived a tense opening game against Sidelya MUTLU before taking control of the match. Irina GIMENO FONT then completed the sweep by edging Anita PETKOVA 13-11 in the deciding game of a dramatic five-game encounter.

The post Romania Rally Past Ukraine as Favourites Make Winning Starts in Under 19 Girls Teams first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The second round of the Under 15 Girls Teams event at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar produced a series of closely contested encounters, with Spain and hosts Portugal both emerging victorious after dramatic 3-2 battles. Top seeds Czechia maintained their winning start, while Germany, France, Romania and Türkiye all recorded convincing victories.

In Group A, top seeds Czechia defeated Hungary 3-1 after prevailing in two dramatic five-game encounters. Adela BARTOVA recovered from 2-1 down to overcome Zsófia FEGYVER in the opening match, before Adela BRHELOVA doubled Czechia’s lead with a four-game victory over Borbala VASS. Hungary reduced the deficit through FEGYVER and Izabell IVANICS, who edged Laura MARSICKOVA and BRHELOVA in a five-game doubles contest. BRHELOVA, however, returned to secure the tie, defeating FEGYVER in another hard-fought five-game battle.

Belgium also made it two wins from two, defeating Croatia 3-1. Karla IVCIC gave Croatia the perfect start with a convincing straight-games victory over Amandine RIFFLART, but Temperance TANG levelled the tie by overcoming Lucija NOVAK in four games. TANG and RIFFLART then defeated IVCIC and Sara RIVETTI in a hard-fought five-game doubles match before TANG completed Belgium’s comeback with a straight-games victory over IVCIC.

In Group B, Spain edged Poland 3-2 in one of the most dramatic ties of the round. Aleksandra NAWROCKA gave Poland the lead with a convincing straight-games victory over Esther HASEK, but Eloisa BARREDA battled past Lena PUZIO in five games to level the tie. Poland regained the advantage as NAWROCKA and Lucja KOBOSZ defeated HASEK and BARREDA in four games in the doubles. BARREDA then kept Spain alive with a four-game victory over NAWROCKA before HASEK sealed the comeback by defeating PUZIO in four games.

Türkiye also made a winning start, defeating Italy 3-0 despite two closely contested singles. Elvin KALE recovered from two games down to overcome Claudia BERTOLINI in five games, before Ela Su YONTER defeated Matilde BUZZONI in four games to double Türkiye’s advantage. Ceren KAHRAMAN and YONTER then completed the clean sweep by beating BERTOLINI and Alice BORSANI in four games.

In Group C, Germany recorded a 3-0 victory over Israel, although the opening two singles were far more competitive than the final score suggested. Amelie Guzi JIA overcame Ofek NAHUSHI in straight games, surviving two tense games that both finished 15-13. Anna WALTER then battled past Gali BEZALEL in five games before WALTER and JIA combined to defeat BEZALEL and NAHUSHI in straight games to complete the clean sweep.

France also impressed, sweeping Ukraine 3-0. Lisa ZHAO set the tone with a commanding victory over Veronika PRYSHCHEPA, while Albane ROCHUT overcame Mariia DROBOVA in straight games, edging a close second game 13-11. Eva LAM and ROCHUT then wrapped up the tie with a comfortable doubles victory over Yuliia SLIESARENKO and Sofiia BOIKO.

In Group D, hosts Portugal edged Sweden 3-2 in another thrilling contest. Nike LUNDQVIST gave Sweden the lead by defeating Irina SILVA in five games, but Maria RUIVO responded with a straight-games victory over Siri BENJEGARD. SILVA and RUIVO then put Portugal ahead by defeating LUNDQVIST and BENJEGARD in four games. BENJEGARD levelled the tie with a straight-games victory over SILVA, winning a thrilling opening game 18-16, before RUIVO sealed Portugal’s victory with a convincing straight-games success against LUNDQVIST.

Romania also enjoyed a convincing start, defeating Greece 3-0. Maya MADAR recovered after dropping the second game to overcome Anastasia MICHALAROU in four games, before Kariss SERBAN comfortably defeated Anthi TOULIA in straight games. SERBAN and Nadalia IONASCU then completed the sweep by recovering from two games down to beat Elpida TASIOU and MICHALAROU in a dramatic five-game doubles encounter.

The post Spain, Portugal Prevail in Thrillers in Under 15 Girls Teams in Gondomar first appeared on European table tennis union.

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