The ETTU is proud to unveil EUROSPINS, a brand-new development initiative designed to support Europe’s most promising young table tennis players. The program will offer selected athletes the unique opportunity to train in a high-performance environment alongside top-level Asian sparring partners. EUROSPINS aims to bridge the training gap between continents by providing intensive, high-quality practice conditions that mirror the standards of elite international competition. This initiative forms part of ETTU’s long-term commitment to nurturing emerging talent and strengthening Europe’s competitive position on the global stage. The first EUROSPINS activity is scheduled to take place from 10 to 22 December 2025. Participation will be based on a selection process taking place in October 2025, shortly after the conclusion of the European Youth Top 10 event.
Eurotalents Selection Camp II Set for August in Riga
The ETTU Eurotalents Selection Camp II powered by JOOLA will take place in Riga, Latvia, from August 3 to 9, 2025, gathering Europe’s most promising young table tennis players. Hosted at the O. Kalpaks Riga Folk-Art Primary School sports hall, the camp will feature 20 tables and involve top coaching staff including VALLOT Vainula and Zvonimir KORENIC alongside physical coach Tatiana GARNOVA.. Each member association nominated up to 3 boys and 3 girls born in 2013 or later, alongside their national or personal coaches. The best evaluated players will earn direct selection into the Eurotalents Program 2026. The Hanza Hotel will serve as the official accommodation, located within walking distance from the venue. The participation fee covers full board and local transport, with ETTU subsidizing one boy and one girl per association.
Novi Sad to Host Stage 1 of ETTU Champions League Men and Women
The ETTU is pleased to announce that Stage 1 of the ETTU Champions League Men 2025/26 will take place in Novi Sad, Serbia, from 29 to 31 August 2025. The event will be held alongside Stage 1 of the ETTU Champions League Women, marking an exciting joint launch of Europe’s premier club competitions for the new season.
ETTU Announces New Development Support for Member Associations in 2025
The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) has unveiled a new wave of development support for its Member Associations in 2025, as part of a broader collaboration with the ITTF Participation Program. Member Associations interested in participating are invited to submit their expressions of interest via email to projects@ettu.org by Monday, 18 August 2025. Following the deadline, selected applicants will be notified about the specific form of support they will receive. This initiative is part of a three-year development strategy (2025–2027), through which 18 Member Associations will benefit annually from one of three tailored development opportunities: 1. Member Association Activities On-site, co-funded activities such as coach education courses, regional training camps, or other hands-on projects aimed at developing players and coaches. These are delivered with the support of independent or ETTU/ITTF experts. 2. National Projects/NAAP Member Association-led national projects such as youth or women’s development programs, school-based initiatives, or national team training, are designed and managed locally with financial support from ETTU. 3. ITTF Online Services Up to 10 hours of tailored online support from ITTF experts. Topics can include governance, strategic planning, talent identification, event management, or coach development. These remote sessions are especially beneficial for smaller associations and are adapted to the local context. All Member Associations are welcome to apply and are eligible to be part of the program. However, priority will be given to associations in Categories 3 and 4 that are not receiving NAAP support in 2025. ETTU will assess each application and assign the type of support to ensure a balanced distribution. This project is delivered in collaboration with the ITTF Participation Program, which helps expand services and reduce the administrative burden for associations. More information about the ITTF Participation Program and online services is available here. We look forward to receiving your expressions of interest.
EYOF Table Tennis Crowns New Champions in Skopje
The table tennis competition at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), held at the Sports Hall Partizan N.N. Borce in Skopje, concluded with thrilling finals across all three events. In the Boys’ Singles, Patryk ZYWORONEK of Poland captured the gold medal after a hard-fought seven-game battle against France’s Noah VITEL. ZYWORONEK reached the final after a commanding 4-0 victory over Turkey’s Gorkem OCAL, while VITEL defeated Sweden’s Mark USOV 4-2 in the semifinal. The Girls’ Singles title went to Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ, who overcame Poland’s Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA 4-2 in the final. In the semifinals, SKERBINZ outplayed Ukraine’s Diana KOLIENNIKOVA 4-1, while RAJKOWSKA eliminated Czechia’s Hanka KODET with the same score. Poland also triumphed in the Mixed Doubles, where the duo of ZYWORONEK and RAJKOWSKA dominated Czechia’s SKALDA and KODET in straight games (3-0) to claim gold. The bronze medals went to Austria’s TISCHBERGER/SKERBINZ and Romania’s BAIASU/ISTRATE. More than 4,000 athletes and officials from 50 delegations participated across 15 sports in the biggest edition of the EYOF to date, which served as a celebration of the Olympic Values of excellence, respect and friendship.Competitions were streamed through EOC TV, which received an impressive 1.36 million views throughout the EYOF.Italy finished top of the medal table for the third consecutive Summer EYOF with 19 golds, 19 silvers and 12 bronzes, followed by France with 15 golds and five nations who each won 10 golds – Spain, Türkiye, Great Britain, Poland and Hungary.
European Youth Championships 2025 – Medals Table
Nr Assoc Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 France 4 1 3 8 2 Italy 3 3 6 3 Romania 2 2 4 8 4 Germany 2 2 3 7 5 Portugal 1 3 3 7 6 Ukraine 1 3 4 7 Spain 1 1 3 5 8 Wales 1 1 1 3 9 Hungary 1 2 3 10 Türkiye 2 1 3 11 Czechia 1 2 3 12 Austria 1 1 2 13 Sweden 3 3 14 Poland 2 2 14 Slovakia 2 2 16 Bulgaria 1 1 16 Slovenia 1 1
SZANTOSI Claims Emotional Under 19 Boys Singles Title
David SZANTOSI of Hungary has been crowned champion in the Under 19 Boys Singles Event at the European Youth Championships in Ostrava. In the final, he overcame Poland’s Marcel BLASZCZYK, while the bronze medals went to Dragos BUJOR of Romania and Tiago ABIODUN of Portugal. The final between 4th seed SZANTOSI and 9th seed BLASZCZYK was a somewhat unexpected matchup, but it delivered plenty of excitement and intensity. “I’m speechless, I still can’t believe it,” said SZANTOSI after the win. “I can’t even describe how I feel. I went into the match determined to win because I had played really well in the earlier rounds. Honestly, I didn’t play my best table tennis in the final, but I believed in myself, and I managed to pull through. I had lost to him 0-3 in the team event, but it’s a big difference playing in a final, there’s much more pressure. Back then I was tired, but this time I felt fresh! This is my first medal in singles, and in my last year in Under 19, it’s the perfect way to finish this category. It’s definitely the biggest achievement of my career.” In the semi-final, SZANTOSI lived up to his seeding by defeating Dragos BUJOR, who had earlier stunned the top seed Daniel BERZOSA of Spain. “This was my first Under 19 singles final, so I was really excited,” said SZANTOSI. “The fourth game was the most difficult—it’s always tough to win four games in a row. But I won 4-1, and I’m really happy. I hoped I could win, especially knowing that BUJOR had played a doubles semi-final earlier, which might have made him a bit tired. We know each other well, we were teammates in Romania. The last time we played, I won 4-3, so I knew it would be close.” On the other side of the draw, Poland’s Marcel BLASZCZYK pulled off a surprise by defeating second seed Tiago ABIODUN of Portugal in the semi-final. “I don’t even know what to say, I still can’t believe it. This is the best tournament of my career,” said BLASZCZYK. “Before the match, I was a bit nervous, but I knew I was ready, and after yesterday I felt great and confident. I played against Tiago before and won 3-2, and today I think I was just better. My coach and I had a tactic, though that stays a secret! This was my first final, and I can’t even describe how happy I am. I faced SZANTOSI in the team event and beat him 3-0, but I know a final is a different story, and the pressure is much higher. Still, I believed I could win and gave it my all.” Final Semi final
HURSEY Repeats U21 Success, Claims U19 Crown
Anna HURSEY of Wales underlined her dominance in the Under 19 Girls Singles Event at the European Youth Championships by defeating top seed Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine, repeating her triumph from earlier this year at the Under 21 European Championships. Leana HOCHART of France and last year’s champion Bianca MEI ROSU of Romania took bronze. HURSEY needed six games to seal victory in the final, limiting MATIUNINA’s chances with a composed and focused performance. “I’m really happy. Every time I play against MATIUNINA it’s always a tough and demanding match, she’s a great player who keeps a lot of points alive, so I knew I had to stay fully focused. The last game was especially difficult because I started thinking I might actually win. It’s an amazing feeling to be champion!” said HURSEY. In the semi-finals, a much-anticipated rematch unfolded between last year’s finalist MATIUNINA and defending champion Bianca MEI ROSU. As expected, it was a tightly contested encounter. MEI ROSU took the early lead, forcing MATIUNINA to come from behind in a full-distance seven-game battle. “Bianca is a really good friend of mine, so it was emotionally tough to compete against her. But table tennis is table tennis, and friendship is friendship, so I had to put that aside,” MATIUNINA explained.“I lost to her 0-4 in last year’s final, so honestly I didn’t believe in myself that much beforehand. She’s very strong, and I felt like I had no power. We always have long rallies, it’s 50/50 on who wins the point. I really want to thank my coach, she pushed me after every ball and supported me the whole match. That gave me so much energy. I can say this was one of the best matches of my career. In the final, I played against HURSEY again. I lost to her in the U21 final this year, but I went into this one with a clear head and gave it everything I had.” In the other semi-final, 8th seed Anna HURSEY overcame 3rd seed Leana HOCHART in straight games. “I won 4-0 against HOCHART, and I think I played really well—especially tactically. I’ve played her a few times before and knew she’s a strong opponent, but today I was just better,” said HURSEY.“I stayed focused, especially because in my previous match I was 3-0 up and it ended up 3-3—that was still on my mind a bit. But I stayed calm and stuck to my game plan. Compared to the U21 event, this U19 tournament is definitely more demanding. There are more matches, and I also played in the team event. I just hope to keep doing my best.” Final Semi final
FASO Completes Golden Treble with Singles Triumph in Under 15 Boys Event
Top seed Danilo FASO of Italy lived up to expectations in the Under 15 Boys Singles Event at the European Youth Championships in Ostrava, capturing the gold medal with a strong performance against second seed Görkem ÖÇAL of Türkiye. The Italian star added this singles title to the gold he had already claimed in the team and doubles events, completing a remarkable treble. Bronze medals were awarded to Jonas RINDERER of Germany and Francesco TREVISAN of Italy. In the final, ÖÇAL started better and took the opening game, but FASO responded immediately and soon took control of the match. Although ÖÇAL managed to narrow the gap with a tight fourth game, FASO proved too strong and sealed a 4-2 victory. “This was by far the most difficult match of the tournament for me. ÖÇAL played really well. I lost the first game 9-11 and started to feel the pressure, but then I adjusted my tactics. I played more aggressively and changed the rhythm of the game,” said FASO. “I feel great, I’m proud to have won three gold medals here: in the team, doubles, and now singles.” FASO reached the final by defeating Germany’s Jonas RINDERER in straight games, though the match was tighter than the scoreline suggested. “I won 4-0, and I feel really good about my performance. The second game was the toughest, it ended 13-11, and I think it was the key moment. I’ve played him before on the WTT circuit and won 3-2, so I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I was well prepared and knew exactly how to play him.” An all-Italian final was a possibility, but it wasn’t to be. In the other semi-final, second seed Görkem ÖÇAL overcame Francesco TREVISAN in what was a significant personal victory. “It was a tough match. I had never beaten TREVISAN before, so I’m even happier with this win,” said ÖÇAL.“I knew he plays with a lot of control and safe balls, so I had to be patient, slow down a bit, and make sure I kept every ball on the table. This was my first U15 final—I’ve been U13 champion before—and I really wanted to give my best. I’ll always try to win!” Final Semi final
ITAGAKI Ends KODET’s Reign to Win Under 15 Girls Singles Title in Ostrava
Koharu ITAGAKI of Germany captured the gold medal in the Under 15 Girls Singles Event at the European Youth Championships in Ostrava, ending the remarkable run of two-time defending champion Hanka KODET of Czechia. The bronze medals went to Lou-Anne BOCQUET and Albane ROCHUT of France. ITAGAKI reached all four finals in Ostrava and secured gold in both the Team and Singles events. Lou-Anne BOCQUET clinched gold in the Under 15 Doubles and Mixed Doubles and silver in Team’s. In the final, the German player faced a tough battle against the home favourite KODET, with the local crowd passionately supporting their player. Despite the pressure, ITAGAKI held her nerve and sealed the win. “I lost to her the past two years. To be honest, I still can’t believe I did it. In the last game, I was leading 8-4 and then 10-7, but she won a few amazing points, and suddenly it was 10-10. I just stayed focused and managed to win. I had to fight for every ball, she never gives up. Throughout the match, I stuck to my tactics, because I knew that if I changed anything, she would take control. I’m really proud of myself. My coach told me before the match: just enjoy it and fight for every ball,” said ITAGAKI. Both semi-finals ended in straight games. ITAGAKI reached her fourth final at the event, having already won gold in the Team event and silver in Mixed Doubles and Girls Doubles, by defeating 12-year-old Albane ROCHUT of France. ROCHUT had already made headlines by reaching the doubles podium alongside 12-year-olds Louis FEGERL (Austria) and Ladimir MAYOROV (Spain). “It wasn’t an easy match. I knew from the start that she’s a very strong player. I spoke with my coach beforehand, she told me to play more to her forehand because her backhand block is really solid, so I avoided playing to that side. Now I’m going to face KODET in the final. She’s a really strong player, she’s won the U15 title twice already. For me, this is my first final. Last year, I lost to her in the semis, and the year before that, in the quarterfinals. But I’ll give it my best and fight for the gold!” said ITAGAKI. To book her place in the final, Hanka KODET overcame Lou-Anne BOCQUET in straight games. “I lost to her 0-3 in the team event, I couldn’t return her serves. So I knew this would be a really difficult match. Still, I stayed confident and focused the entire time. I knew what I had to do and came in well-prepared. It might look like an easy 4-0 win, but it definitely wasn’t. For the final, I’ll approach it like any other match—focused and ready to play my best table tennis. Whether it’s a semifinal or final, I just go out there and try to win,” said KODET. Final Semi final
