A remarkable week of table tennis has drawn to a close, with continental champions crowned across four continents as the sport’s best teams battled for regional supremacy and London 2026 qualification.
From Bhubaneswar to Zadar, Tunis to Rock Hill, the world’s elite have delivered unforgettable performances, dramatic upsets, and historic triumphs that will resonate long after the final points were played.
Asia: China’s Dominant Double
Team China sweeps Asia winning both Men’s and Women’s titles. Photo: ATTU
Champions: China (Men & Women)
China swept both titles at the 28th ITTF-ATTU Asian Table Tennis Team Championships in Bhubaneswar, India, delivering a masterclass of dominance with identical 3-0 victories in Wednesday’s finals.
The reigning world champions successfully defended their men’s crown against Hong Kong, China. World number two Lin Shidong opened proceedings with a straight-sets victory over Wong Chun Ting, before top-ranked Wang Chuqin battled past Chan Baldwin in four games. Liang Jingkun sealed the triumph, maintaining China’s stranglehold on Asian table tennis.
In the women’s final, China dethroned defending champions Japan in commanding style. Wang Manyu recovered from dropping the first game to defeat Honoka Hashimoto, world number one Sun Yingsha eased past Miwa Harimoto in straight sets, and Kuai Man completed the sweep with a hard-fought victory over Hina Hayata.
The championships marked the return of Asia’s premier team event to India after a 16-year hiatus, with the Kalinga Stadium Athletics Centre in Odisha hosting its first Asian-level table tennis championship. All 16 qualification spots per gender for London 2026 were determined, with Japan’s strong showing throughout the tournament reaffirming their status as Asia’s second powerhouse.
Europe: France Men’s Team End 27-Year Wait as Germany’s Women Make History
The French Men’s team celebrating an historic European Championships title in Zadar. Photo: ETTU
Champions: France (Men), Germany (Women)
France captured their first men’s European team title since 1998 with a flawless 3-0 victory over Romania in Zadar, Croatia. In a dazzling display of power and precision, Olympic bronze medallists Alexis Lebrun, Felix Lebrun, and Simon Gauzy swept past Romania’s Iulian Chirita, Eduard Ionescu, and Ovidiu Ionescu.
“It was just a perfect match! We enjoyed every moment of this championship, and to win the gold is the perfect ending,” said Felix Lebrun. His brother Alexis added: “It’s crazy, European Champion! It’s unbelievable. We have such a great team.”
For Romania, reaching the men’s final marked a historic achievement, surpassing their previous best of three bronze medals and showcasing the rise of a new generation of Romanian talent.
Germany’s women made history with their tenth European title and third consecutive crown, defeating Romania 3-0 to equal the Netherlands’ record of four straight titles (2008-2011). The triumph was built on breakthrough performances and veteran composure.
Nineteen-year-old Annett Kaufmann delivered the shock of the final, stunning world number two Bernadette Szocs in the opening match. Having never won even a single game against the Romanian star in two previous encounters, Kaufmann seized her moment, recovering from losing the second game to dominate the decider 11-5.
“I didn’t go into the match confident because of our head-to-head record,” Kaufmann admitted. “But I told myself: I’ve got nothing to lose.”
Sabine Winter displayed growing composure against 2015 European champion Elizabeta Samara, taking the first two games before sealing victory 3-1. Nina Mittelham, returning from illness, completed the championship with a 3-1 win over Andreea Dragoman.
Germany completed the tournament without losing a single individual match, extending their remarkable unbeaten streak to 17 consecutive team victories and 12 straight 3-0 wins. All 16 teams per gender secured their qualification for London 2026, with defending champions Sweden and powerhouses Germany and Portugal amongst the men’s qualifiers.
Africa: Egypt’s Continental Sweep
Egypt’s Men’s Team claims the African Championships. Photo: ITTF Africa
Champions: Egypt (Men & Women)
Egypt dominated the ITTF African Championships 2025 in Tunis, claiming both team titles to add to their singles crowns won earlier in the week, cementing their status as the continent’s premier table tennis nation.
In the men’s final, Egypt defeated Algeria 3-1. Youssef Abdelaziz opened with a commanding straight-sets victory over Maheidine Bella, before Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa levelled the tie. Four-time African champion Omar Assar restored Egypt’s lead with a dominant performance against Milhane Jellouli, and Abdelaziz returned to seal the championship with victory over Bouloussa.
The women’s team delivered an even more emphatic performance, sweeping Uganda 3-0. Dina Meshref, Hana Goda, and Mariam Alhodaby dismantled the Ugandan challenge in straight sets, completing Egypt’s perfect week in Tunis.
Earlier in the championships, Assar had claimed the men’s singles title with a thrilling 4-3 victory over compatriot Abdelaziz in a seven-game final, whilst Goda captured the women’s singles crown with a 4-0 triumph over Meshref. Eight teams per gender secured their qualification for London 2026, with Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, and South Africa amongst those joining Egypt.
Americas: Puerto Rico and Argentina Claim Historic Firsts
Champions: Puerto Rico (Women), Argentina (Men)
The ITTF Pan American Championships in Rock Hill, South Carolina delivered dramatic finals as both titles were claimed in memorable fashion, marking historic firsts for the host event in the United States.
Puerto Rico’s women, led by singles champion Adriana Diaz, defeated the United States 3-1 in a thrilling final. Diaz claimed two crucial points, opening with victory over Sally Moyland before returning to defeat Lily Zhang in a five-game decider. Brianna Burgos sealed Puerto Rico’s triumph with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Jessica Reyes Lai, sparking celebrations for the Caribbean nation.
Argentina’s men staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the United States 3-2 in a nail-biting final. Kanak Jha gave the hosts the lead with a five-game victory over Santiago Lorenzo, but Horacio Cifuentes levelled with a straight-sets win over Sid Naresh. Francisco Sanchi then edged Jishan Liang in five games to put Argentina ahead. Jha fought back to defeat Cifuentes and force a decider, but Lorenzo held his nerve to claim the winner-takes-all fifth match 3-0, sealing Argentina’s continental crown.
Earlier in the week, Brazil’s Hugo Calderano had claimed the men’s singles title with a 4-1 victory over Jha, whilst Diaz captured the women’s singles crown with a commanding 4-0 triumph over Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi. Eight teams per gender secured their qualification for London 2026, with Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Chile, and Guatemala amongst those joining the champions.
The Road to London
With continental championships now concluded, 48 teams per gender have secured their places at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 through continental qualification. The remaining spots per gender will be determined through the November 2025 ITTF World Team Rankings.
[Check out the full list of qualified teams here]
From 28 April to 10 May 2026, London will host the ITTF World Championships, marking 100 years since both the event and the ITTF were founded in the British capital. As the centenary celebration approaches, the stage is set for a historic gathering of the world’s best teams in the city where it all began.
All qualification spots are subject to confirmation by the respective member associations.
The post
New Champions Crowned Across Four Continents on Road to London 2026 appeared first on
International Table Tennis Federation.
Continue reading...
