The 33rd Balkan Youth Table Tennis Championships came to a successful close in Elbasan, Albania, after five days of competition that showed the best young talents from across the region. Serving as the final major test before the 2026 European Youth Championships in Gondomar, the event offered players and coaches a valuable opportunity to measure their form against many of their future continental rivals. Romania, Türkiye, Serbia, Bulgaria emerged as the dominant nations on the medal table, underlining their strength ahead of Europe’s premier youth event.
In the Cadet Girls Team event, Türkiye claimed the gold medal ahead of Romania, while Greece and Serbia finished third and fourth. Bulgaria lifted the Cadet Boys Team title, finishing ahead of Türkiye, with Serbia and Romania finishing third and fourth.
The Junior Girls Team competition saw Türkiye capture the title by beating Romania in the final. Bulgaria won bronze after they overcame Bosnia and Herzegovina in the match for the third position. In the Junior Boys Team event, Bulgarija secured the championship, with Türkiye taking silver and Greece and Romania finishing third and fourth.
In the Junior Boys’ Singles event, Türkiye celebrated title thanks to Berk ÖZTOPRAK who defeated Robert PODAR of Romania in the final. The bronze medals were shared by Yoan VELICHKOV and Stefan DIMITROV of Bulgaria.
Bulgaria celebrated the Junior Girls’ Singles title thanks to Nina NIKOLOVA, who defeated Romania’s Patricia STOICA in the final. The bronze medals were awarded to Emina CERIĆ of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Alesia SFERLEA of Romania.
Bulgaria celebrated the Cadet Boys’ Singles title thanks to Miroslav SCHMIDT, who defeated Kuzey GÜNDOĞDU of Türkiye in the final. The bronze medals were awarded to David CAPANDA and Branko DRAGOLJEVIĆ of Serbia.
Türkiye dominated the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, with Ela Su YONTER claiming the title after defeating compatriot Belinay DAVUS in the final. The bronze medals were awarded to Lejla BOTONJIĆ of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kariss SERBAN of Romania.
