For Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC, the 2026 European Championships will carry a significance unlike any previous edition. Competing at Arena Stožice in Ljubljana, the 28-year-old will have the opportunity to chase another major European medal in front of his home supporters.
JORGIC already has an impressive record on the continental stage. He came within one victory of the European Men’s Singles crown in Munich in 2022, where he took silver, and has two European Team bronze medals, from Luxembourg in 2017 and Zadar in 2025.
His record at the Europe Top 16 is even more remarkable. JORGIC won the title three years in succession, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, while finishing runner-up in 2020, 2025 and 2026.
This time, however, the setting will make the challenge different.
“Honestly, my goal and my wish is to win a medal in front of the home crowd – a medal I missed out on in Linz. Before that, I finished second in Munich, and I was just one step away from gold.”
Despite being among the leading European players, JORGIC knows that rankings offer few guarantees in a field where the margins have become increasingly small. His experience at the 2024 European Championships in Linz, when he found himself in serious difficulty early in the tournament, remains a useful reminder.
“If we remember Linz, when I was losing 3-1 and 7-2 to a Hungarian LEI who, if I remember correctly, was not even in the world’s top 50, then you realise that the world ranking doesn’t tell the whole story. I think this European Championship will be one of the strongest ever. I believe anyone can beat anyone.”
For JORGIC, arriving in the right condition will therefore matter more than his position on the entry list.
“The ranking is no longer the most important thing. What matters most is being in the right form and how you perform on the day. The first rounds are always the most difficult.”
There are encouraging signs in that respect. After a period in which he struggled to find the consistency he wanted, JORGIC believes his game is settling again.
“I have always said that I want to get back into the world’s top 10 as quickly as possible. I am currently 12th. For some time now, I have been going around in circles, moving one step up and one step down.”
The demanding international calendar has made that task more complicated. JORGIC believes the sport has moved increasingly towards a tennis-style schedule, with players travelling continuously between tournaments and continents and having less time for sustained periods of training.
“It is difficult mentally and physically. There is not enough time to train, and that is causing problems for all the players. You can also see it in the results, with Asian players losing matches against Europeans, especially the Chinese. I think Europe has closed the gap.”
Adapting his own programme has been part of the process. JORGIC moved away from the German Bundesliga in search of greater flexibility and more control over his competition schedule.
“I used to have a similar system. I trained a lot, prepared for competitions and then went to tournaments and played my best. At that time, I was ranked sixth in the world, and that approach helped me. Now I have to adapt to a different system. It is difficult, but as the years go by, you get used to it. And yes, I can say that I am back in good form now. I feel like I have really stabilised my game.”
There has also been an important development for Slovenian table tennis ahead of the Championships, with the opening of a new national training centre at Dolgi Most on the outskirts of Ljubljana.
For JORGIC, who left home for Novo Mesto at the age of 15 in order to pursue his career, having high-level training conditions available at home represents a significant step forward.
“I’m really, really happy that we finally opened it and that it has been built, because I think it is a fantastic opportunity for all the young table tennis players. The conditions are phenomenal. Training at home is the best – I’ve always said that.”
He hopes the centre will help the next generation of Slovenian players avoid some of the sacrifices he had to make at an early age, while also providing better conditions for the country’s established internationals.
“I left home for Novo Mesto when I was 15. It was difficult for my parents, but in the end, if you decide to pursue a professional career, it was the right decision. Now we all hope that the new centre in Ljubljana will help all the young players take the next step and reach a higher level. And not just them – hopefully it will also help me and all the other Slovenian players.”
JORGIC also won Men’s Singles and Team gold at the 2018 Mediterranean Games in Tarragona and added another Team title four years later in Oran. But a European Championships on home soil represents a different opportunity altogether.
“I am really happy and proud of the entire federation for organising this championship at home. It is something really special for me and for all Slovenian table tennis players.”
And there is one ingredient he hopes Arena Stožice will provide in abundance.
“I would also like to call on all the fans to come and support us. I think we will really need that support. I sincerely hope I can show my best form and put in some good performances. The result will only come with good play.”
