Danilo FASO of Italy crowned a breakthrough week at the European Youth Championships by fighting back from two games down in the final to lift the Under 19 Boys Singles trophy. The 15-year-old defeated France’s Nathan PILARD 4-2 (10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5), while Bulgaria’s Yoan VELICHKOV and AIN’s Aleksei SAMOKHIN finished with bronze medals. After losing the opening two games, FASO once again demonstrated the resilience that had defined his tournament. He edged a pivotal third game to stay alive before taking complete control of the match, winning the final three games to complete another impressive comeback. Reflecting on his triumph, the Italian highlighted what the title meant at such a young age. “It was a very good match and I’m really happy with the way I played. Most of the players in this event are about three years older than me, and I’m only 15, so reaching the final means a lot. Over the past few months I’ve been playing at a really high level, and I think I showed that again today. Coming back after losing games is something I’ve managed to do quite often. In a final you know your adversary is going to play really well, so it’s important to stay calm, keep believing in yourself and try to raise your level as the match goes on. That’s what I managed to do today. Looking back over the whole singles event, I think there were two matches that were especially difficult for me. They both demanded everything I had, so I’m very pleased to have come through them.” PILARD, seeded No. 13, reached the final by defeating Bulgaria’s No. 14 seed Yoan VELICHKOV 4-1 (9-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-7, 12-10). After dropping the opening game, the French player recovered strongly, edging a crucial third game before sealing victory in five. “I’m really happy to have reached the final. To be honest, I didn’t even expect to make the semi-finals, so to win this match and book my place in the final is an amazing feeling. It was a very difficult match because my adversary made things extremely challenging throughout.” PILARD explained that maintaining his concentration proved decisive. “The key was to stay mentally strong from the first point to the last. He’s the kind of player who takes a lot of time between points and tries to disrupt your rhythm and concentration. I managed to stay focused on my own game, not let that affect me, and I think that was the key to the victory.” The second semi-final produced one of the most dramatic encounters of the championships, with No. 26 seed FASO recovering from a two-game deficit to overcome No. 20 seed Aleksei SAMOKHIN of AIN 4-3 (2-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 11-9). “It was a very difficult match. I made a poor start and quickly found myself 2-0 down because my adversary was playing really well, and I lost those first two games quite easily. After that I told myself to stay calm, give everything I had left and keep fighting for every point. In the third game I led 10-7 and managed to stay in the match. From there my confidence grew. I won the sixth game comfortably to level the score before coming through a very close deciding game 11-9. I’m really, really happy with the victory.” FASO also revealed the tactical adjustment that sparked his comeback. “The biggest change was in my receive. At the beginning I was giving my opponent too many easy balls, which allowed him to attack with confidence. Later in the match I became much more aggressive on the receive, and I think that tactical adjustment made the difference.” Final Semi-finals

Nina GUO ZHENG of France lived up to her seedings as the tournament favourite, overcoming every challenge on her way to the Under 19 Girls Singles title at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar. The top seed defeated Zlata TEREKHOVA of AIN 4-1 (11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7) in the final, while France’s Alexia NODIN and AIN’s Aleksandra BOKOVA shared the bronze medals. The final was close game, with GUO ZHENG edging the opening two games before TEREKHOVA reduced the deficit by claiming the third. The French player responded with strong performances in the fourth and fifth games to secure the title and complete a demanding tournament. Reflecting on her victory, GUO ZHENG admitted the road to the title had been far from straightforward. “To be honest, I still can’t quite believe I’ve won the title. Even though I was the top seed, every single match in this competition was incredibly difficult. I was very close to being eliminated in the Round of 16. I was leading 3-2 and 6-3, but my opponent came back and I lost that advantage. It was a very tough moment mentally, but I managed to stay focused, fight through it and keep believing in myself. Looking back at everything I’ve been through in this tournament, I can honestly say I’m very proud of myself.” GUO ZHENG reached the final by defeating French teammate Alexia NODIN 4-1 (11-13, 16-14, 11-6, 11-3, 11-1). After dropping a close opening game, she survived a crucial second game before gradually taking control of the contest. “I’m very happy to have reached the final. Playing against Alexia is always difficult because she’s a good friend, we’ve known each other for a long time and we’ve faced each other many times before. It is also the last day of a very long tournament, so physically and mentally it was a really demanding match. I had some difficulties at the beginning, but I eventually found the right solution and I’m delighted to have won.” She explained that patience was the decisive factor against her defensive-style teammate. “Against a defensive-style adversary, patience is the key. At the start I wasn’t patient enough, but as the match went on I became more disciplined, focused on keeping the ball on the table and waited for the right opportunity to attack. Once I found the right ball to finish the point, I was able to take control of the match.” TEREKHOVA booked her place in the final with a convincing 4-0 victory (11-9, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5) over teammate Aleksandra BOKOVA, continuing an impressive run through the draw. “I was playing against a teammate whom I’ve known for a long time, and we train together regularly. I’m really happy that I managed to come through such a difficult match because she’s a very challenging adversary with a unique style of play. Her game is unusual and very awkward to face, so I knew I had to be fully prepared.” She also highlighted the strengths of her semi-final opponent. “I fought for every point because Aleksandra BOKOVA is an extremely powerful player. She has very strong serves and generates a lot of spin, and even many of the top players struggle to cope with her game. She has already beaten some very strong players, which shows how talented and promising she is. Now I’ll focus on preparing for the final.” Final Semi-finals

After overcoming the top seed and then one of her most familiar adversaries, Amina ILIMBETOVA emerged as the Under 15 Girls Singles champion at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar. She defeated her AIN teammate Varvara TOLMACHEVA 4-1 (12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8) in the final, while Sweden’s Siri BENJEGARD and AIN’s Alisa USMANOVA completed the podium. The final brought together the two AIN representatives after both had impressed in the semi-finals. ILIMBETOVA made a strong start by edging a tight opening game before taking control of the match. Although TOLMACHEVA responded by claiming the third game, ILIMBETOVA quickly regained the initiative to secure the European title. Reflecting on her success, ILIMBETOVA underlined just how demanding the tournament had been. “The matches were all very difficult, none of them were easy. Playing the final against Varvara was a great honour. We’ve faced each other many times at home, where we’re the number one and number two players, so our matches are always very close. That’s why I would say this was one of the toughest matches of the entire tournament. Varvara played extremely well, and I’m equally happy for both of us. The previous match was also very difficult because I was playing against the top seed. I’m pleased that I managed to come through both challenges and win the title.” ILIMBETOVA booked her place in the final by producing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, defeating top seed Siri BENJEGARD of Sweden 4-1 (12-10, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5). Seeded No. 35, she displayed remarkable composure throughout the contest to overcome the tournament favourite. “I was playing against the top seed, so of course I felt a little nervous before the match. But that’s something you have to overcome. She’s the top seed, while I’m nowhere near the top of the rankings, so it was definitely a difficult challenge. In the end, though, it came down to character and mentality. Maybe she made a few mistakes, maybe I had a bit of luck at certain moments, but I think matches like this are decided more by psychology than anything else. I’d say it’s 50 per cent mental strength, 25 per cent table tennis, and 25 per cent physical fitness.” The second semi-final saw No. 23 seed TOLMACHEVA defeat teammate Alisa USMANOVA in straight games, 4-0 (13-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-8). Despite the scoreline, the match demanded complete concentration from both players, who know each other’s games extremely well. “Because we’re from the same team, we play against each other quite often at different tournaments. That actually makes these matches very difficult because we know each other’s game so well. Fortunately, I managed to come out on top today. Alisa has a defensive style of play, and I generally feel more comfortable playing against that type of adversary than against an attacking player. I stayed patient, waited for my opportunities, and that helped me secure the win.” Final Semi-finals

A year of development culminated in European gold for Türkiye’s Gorkem OCAL, who delivered a commanding performance to secure the Under 15 Boys Singles title at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar. The top seed overcame Sweden’s Emil ELLERMANN 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9) in the final, with Spain’s Ladimir MAYOROV and Ukraine’s Volodymyr NEVIZHYN completing the podium. Although the final was decided in straight games, every game was competitive, with OCAL producing a mature performance to secure the biggest singles title of his young career. Reflecting on his triumph, the Turkish player highlighted both his progress over the past year and the challenges he had overcome during the tournament. “This match was easier than the semi-final. I am so proud of myself. The most challenging moment was actually the Round of 32, when I had to play against my doubles partner. I won that match 4-3, and then the semi-final was also very difficult. Compared with last year’s European Championships in Czechia, I have improved a lot. I have matured in every aspect of my game, both mentally and tactically, and that helped me win the title.” OCAL had earned his place in the final by producing an impressive comeback against fourth seed Ladimir MAYOROV of Spain. After trailing by two games, he recovered to win 4-2 (6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3, 11-9), gradually taking control of a contest between two players who know each other well. “I’m very happy to have reached the final. I have known MAYOROV for about two years, and we sometimes practise together, so we know each other’s game very well. He played an excellent match today and had a great singles tournament. After I fell 2-0 behind, though, I managed to change the momentum and started playing with much more control, which made the difference.” OCAL revealed that crucial advice from his father helped him reverse the match. “At 2-0 down, my father advised me to stop trying to play cross-court so much and start using the parallel more often. I followed that advice, won a lot of important points down the line, and that tactical adjustment helped me turn the match around.” The second semi-final produced an even more dramatic encounter, with ninth seed Emil ELLERMANN recovering from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Ukraine’s Volodymyr NEVIZHYN 4-3 (11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6). ELLERMANN admitted his coach’s intervention proved decisive. “It was a very tough match. I was trailing 3-1 and my adversary had all the momentum. My coach told me that I had to try something different because if I kept playing the same way, he was simply playing better than me and would go on to win.” The Swedish player explained how a tactical adjustment completely changed the flow of the match. “That’s when I started using more chop blocks. My adversary prefers fast topspin rallies, and by changing the rhythm with those shots I managed to disrupt his game. That completely changed the momentum, gave me confidence and created the opportunities I needed. After winning two games in a row, I felt the pressure had shifted to him. He became a little more nervous, especially on his serve, and I was able to take advantage of that to complete the comeback.” Final Semi-finals

Top seeds Nina GUO ZHENG and Leana HOCHART of France successfully defended their Under 19 Girls Doubles title at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar, defeating Poland’s Natalia BOGDANOWICZ and Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA in four games. The bronze medals went to AIN’s Aleksandra BOKOVA and Anastasiia IVANOVA, together with France’s Jade HUYNH and Alexia NODIN. The French pair prevailed 3-1 (15-13, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6) in a high-quality final. After surviving a dramatic opening game, GUO ZHENG and HOCHART quickly took control of the contest before the Polish duo extended the match by claiming the third game. France regained the initiative in the fourth to seal back-to-back European titles. GUO ZHENG admitted they had expected another close encounter. “We had played them before and won 3-2, 11-9 in the deciding game, so we knew it was going to be another very difficult match. They’ve been playing together for a long time and have great understanding, so we expected a tough challenge. They were in front for much of the match, but we stayed patient, kept believing in ourselves and, in the end, we’re really happy to have defended our title from last year.” The champions had earned their place in the final with a straight-games victory over Aleksandra BOKOVA and Anastasiia IVANOVA of AIN, seeded No. 21. Although the scoreboard read 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 12-10), the French pair had to withstand a determined fightback in the third game before completing the win. GUO ZHENG explained that previous meetings with the AIN pair proved valuable. “We had already played against this pair before, so we knew what we had to do. Léana had faced one of them previously, which also helped us with our preparation. Tactically, our plan against BOKOVA was to play long to her forehand because we felt she had some difficulties in that area. We managed to execute our game plan well, and we’re very happy with the win.” She also made the pair’s ambitions clear before the final. “Now we’re looking forward to the final. We really want to defend the title.” BOGDANOWICZ and RAJKOWSKA secured the second place in the final by recovering from a difficult opening game to defeat seventh seeds Jade HUYNH and Alexia NODIN of France 3-1. After losing the first game heavily, the Polish pair responded impressively to prevail 2-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-6. BOGDANOWICZ attributed the turnaround to the work done before stepping to the table. “I think it was a great match for us. We gave everything we had from the first point to the last. We prepared really well beforehand, watched videos of our opponents and came into the match with a clear tactical plan. I think our preparation was one of the keys to the victory.” Final Semi finals

Only a year after joining forces, Nathan LAM and Antoine NOIRAULT of France celebrated their first major title together by winning the Under 19 Boys Doubles crown at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar. The French pair overcame Austria’s Julian RZIHAUSCHEK and Bulgaria’s Yoan VELICHKOV 3-1 (15-13, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6) in the final. Sweden’s Noa DAHLSTROM and Adam WALLIN, and France’s Nathan DOUSSINET and Nathan PILARD, completed the podium. The final began with a dramatic opening game, eventually won by the French pair 15-13. That breakthrough allowed LAM and NOIRAULT to dictate much of the contest, although RZIHAUSCHEK and VELICHKOV fought back by taking the third game before France sealed victory in four. NOIRAULT reflected on a memorable triumph. “It was an incredible final. To win the title together is an amazing feeling. A year ago we had never even played together, and now we’re European champions. I’d like to congratulate Nathan and also ourselves because we’ve worked hard for this. We’ve shared so many moments together throughout the season, so to experience this success as a team is really special. When they came back to make it 2-1, we just tried to forget that game and focus on the next one. We knew it is never easy to close out a European final, so we stayed calm, kept fighting and trusted each other. We have a great team spirit, and in the end it was enough. We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved.” The eventual champions had been seriously tested in the semi-finals by Sweden’s Noa DAHLSTROM and Adam WALLIN before prevailing 3-2 (11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-3). After surrendering the lead, the French pair responded emphatically, dominating the final two games to book their place in the title match. LAM admitted the opening stages had not gone according to plan. “We’re very, very happy to have won this match. The beginning wasn’t easy because I felt a bit of pressure, but Antoine gave me a lot of confidence and motivation during the match. We complemented each other really well, and we’re delighted to have reached the final.” NOIRAULT explained how tactical adjustments changed the momentum. “It was a very difficult match because our opponents played really well. At the start we weren’t at our best in the short game or when opening the rallies, but as the match went on we made the right tactical adjustments and started making better decisions. That made the difference. It’s another opportunity to play in a doubles final with Nathan and fight for the title, so we’re really happy to be there.” The second semi-final saw sixth seeds RZIHAUSCHEK and VELICHKOV overcome France’s Nathan DOUSSINET and Nathan PILARD 3-1 (11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9), earning their first appearance together in a European Youth Championships final. VELICHKOV revealed that thorough preparation had laid the foundations for victory. “We were expecting a tough match because our adversaries had just come through a 3-2 quarter-final, so we knew they would be full of confidence. But we had a very clear tactical plan and knew exactly what we wanted to do. It was important for us to make a good start and build confidence early in the match, and everything worked really well.” He also admitted the closing stages required composure. “The last game became a bit tense. We were leading 8-4, but they came back to 9-9. In the end we decided to take a few risks, and they paid off, so we’re really happy to be in the final.” Speaking about their long-standing partnership, RZIHAUSCHEK added: “We’ve been playing together for many years. The first time we partnered each other was in our last Under 15 season, four years ago, when we reached the semi-finals. Last year we also finished with a bronze medal, so this time we wanted to go one step further. We’re very happy that we managed to do that.” Final Semi finals

Louis FEGERL of Austria and Ladimir MAYOROV of Spain captured the Under 15 Boys Doubles title at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar after overcoming Germany’s Tien Nghia PHONG and Lukas WANG in a thrilling five-game final. The bronze medals went to Onur GULUZADE of Azerbaijan and Gorkem OCAL of Türkiye, together with Sweden’s Emil ELLERMANN and Ireland’s Peadar SHERIDAN. The fourth seeds prevailed 3-2 (11-7, 12-14, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8) in a final that featured several momentum swings before the Austrian-Spanish pairing held their nerve in the deciding game to complete an impressive championship. For FEGERL, the victory was especially satisfying after last year’s disappointment. “Last year we also reached the final, but we lost 3-0 and did not play particularly well. This time we knew we were the younger and smaller pair, so the match was always going to be difficult for us. We simply kept fighting, trusted our game and did what we had prepared. We are extremely happy to have won.” MAYOROV admitted that the title match proved to be their toughest challenge of the tournament. “I think the final was the most difficult match for us in the whole competition.” Earlier in the day, FEGERL and MAYOROV had booked their place in the final by ending the run of top seeds Onur GULUZADE of Azerbaijan and Gorkem OCAL of Türkiye, prevailing in a hard-fought five-game contest, 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 3-11, 11-7). After twice seeing their opponents draw level, they regrouped to take the deciding game and secure a place in the gold medal match. MAYOROV believed the semi-final was worthy of being the tournament’s showpiece encounter. “I think this semi-final could easily have been the final because of the level of the players and the quality of the match. It was a spectacular contest. I think we played very well as a pair. My partner was outstanding, and I also felt good. Of course, we missed a few balls, but that’s part of the game. The important thing is that we kept fighting, and I hope we can continue to give everything we have. The key to winning the semi-final was staying positive and playing with discipline from the first point to the last.” The second semi-final saw third seeds PHONG and WANG produce another composed display as they defeated eighth seeds Emil ELLERMANN of Sweden and Peadar SHERIDAN of Ireland in straight games, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6, to reach the final. PHONG admitted the result exceeded the German pair’s expectations. “I’m really happy that we won. Reaching the final is a great feeling and, to be honest, a bit of a surprise for us. I think we played a really strong doubles match. From the first day of the tournament we’ve been trying to improve with every match, and today we produced our best performance so far.” He also credited their mental approach for carrying them through. “I don’t think the key was just the tactics, it was our mentality. We stayed positive throughout the match and always made sure my partner felt confident and supported. We trusted each other, knew we could both contribute and win points, and I think that made the difference.” Final Semi Finals

After overcoming every challenge throughout the week, Amina ILIMBETOVA and Varvara TOLMACHEVA (AIN) sealed the Under 15 Girls Doubles title at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar. Germany’s Chenhao CHEN and Lotta ROTHFUSS finished as runners-up, while Poland’s Lucja KOBOSZ and Aleksandra NAWROCKA, together with France’s Eva LAM and Albane ROCHUT, took bronze. Seeded No. 14, ILIMBETOVA and TOLMACHEVA continued their outstanding run by defeating the German pairing 11-9, 11-5, 11-5. After edging a closely contested opening game, the AIN duo took complete control of the match. ILIMBETOVA credited the team’s mentality as the decisive factor behind their triumph. “Every match is difficult, so we prepared carefully for each one. A lot depends on your mindset before the match, and today we were mentally ready. I think that was the key to our 3-0 victory.” The champions had already underlined their title credentials in the semi-finals by eliminating third seeds Lucja KOBOSZ and Aleksandra NAWROCKA of Poland in straight games, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6. Although the scoreline suggested a comfortable victory, both players stressed that the match had been anything but easy. TOLMACHEVA explained that careful preparation had made the difference. “Our adversaries were very strong, so we prepared carefully for this match. In the end we won 3-0, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. We knew we had to be fully focused from the very beginning, and everything came together for us today.” ILIMBETOVA praised both her opponents and her partner after securing a place in the final. “It was a very difficult match, but we managed to prove we were the stronger doubles pair. Our adversaries kept fighting until the very end and never gave up, but we stayed composed and managed to get the win.” The second semi-final also ended in straight games as CHEN and ROTHFUSS produced another outstanding performance to defeat eighth seeds Eva LAM and Albane ROCHUT of France 14-12, 11-8, 11-5 and book their place in the title match. CHEN revealed that the German pair had entered the match determined to play freely. “We were very motivated for this match and wanted to give our best. We went into it without any fear, just focused on playing our game and not overthinking things. We fought for every point, and in the end everything worked out for us.” ROTHFUSS admitted she had not expected such a convincing victory. “We didn’t expect to win as comfortably as we did. Our focus was simply to put every ball on the table, stay consistent and keep the pressure on our opponents. It worked really well, and we’re very happy with the result.” Final Semi-finals