Following the official draws held on Tuesday, 17 March, preparations are complete for the 2025-2026 Greek National Championships, the premier domestic event organised by the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation (HTTF). The tournament will take place from 20 to 22 March at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF) in Piraeus. A total of 90 athletes representing 39 clubs from across Greece will compete. The entries include 59 players in the men’s singles, 31 in the women’s singles, 27 pairs in men’s doubles, 16 in women’s doubles, and 29 pairs in mixed doubles. As always, the championships will feature a strong field of established stars and experienced titleholders. Six players who have previously won at least one national singles title are set to compete once again. In the men’s singles, four-time consecutive champion Yiannis SGOUROPOULOS returns as the leading name, alongside two-time champion Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS and former winners Giorgos STAMATOUROS and Tasos RINIOTIS. In the women’s singles, five-time champion Katerina TOLIOU will defend her title, while Ioanna GERASIMATOU, the 2023 national champion, is also among the top contenders. Several other notable players will also be in action, including finalists and doubles title winners such as Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS, Elisavet TERPOU, and Dimitra-Thomais TSECOURA. Two former national champions will compete exclusively in doubles events. Yiannis VLOTINOS, the record holder with 14 national singles titles, and Filareti EXARCHOU, women’s singles champion in 2012, will feature in the doubles competitions, also joining forces in mixed doubles. One notable absence is Konstantina PARIDI, but for a joyful reason. The two-time national champion and last year’s finalist recently became a mother, welcoming a baby girl in Rethymno, Crete. The competition format includes a group stage followed by knockout rounds. In the men’s singles, players are divided into 12 groups, while the women’s singles features 6 groups, with top seeds entering directly into later stages. Matches up to the round of 16 are played in a best-of-five format, while from the quarterfinals onwards, matches are decided in best-of-seven. All doubles events follow a single-elimination system from the start. Adding further prestige to the event, the final day of the championships will be broadcast live by ERT, the Greek public broadcaster. Coverage will take place on Sunday, 22 March, via ERTFLIX, the free digital platform accessible both in Greece and internationally. With a strong lineup, competitive depth, and national television coverage, the 2026 Greek National Championships promise an exciting showcase of Greek table tennis at its highest level.
Mosonmagyaróvár to Host 2026 Hungarian National Championships
The 2026 Hungarian National Championships will take place from 20 to 22 March in Mosonmagyaróvár, marking the first time the city will host the country’s premier national event. The tournament will be staged at the UFM Arena, a venue that reflects the steady growth and development of table tennis in the region in recent years. The men’s singles competition is expected to be one of the highlights of the championships. Defending champion Csaba ANDRÁS will return with the goal of retaining his title, but he will face strong opposition from some of Hungary’s top players. Among the main contenders are Ádám SZUDI and Bence MAJOROS, while the younger generation is also eager to make its mark. Talents such as Balázs LEI and 2025 European Youth Champion Dávid SZÁNTOSI will look to challenge the established names and potentially reshape the title race. In the women’s singles, the experienced Georgina PÓTA once again enters the tournament as the leading favourite. The multiple-time national champion continues to perform at a high level and remains a key figure in Hungarian table tennis. However, Dóra MADARÁSZ and Mercédesz NAGYVÁRADI are expected to provide strong competition, while younger players could also influence the outcome of the event. The doubles competitions promise an unpredictable battle for national honours. Alongside several well-established partnerships, a number of newly formed pairs will be aiming to claim the titles, making the outcome in these events particularly difficult to forecast. Last year’s champions include Csaba ANDRÁS (men’s singles) and Georgina PÓTA (women’s singles). In the doubles events, Nándor ECSEKI and Ádám SZUDI captured the men’s doubles title, Bernadett BÁLINT and Mercédesz NAGYVÁRADI won the women’s doubles, while Szandra PERGEL and Ádám SZUDI secured victory in the mixed doubles.
ITTF Launches “My Gender. My Strength” – Programme to Empower Female Coaches
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) continues its commitment to promoting gender equality in sport with the launch of the 2026 edition of the “My Gender. My Strength.” programme, an initiative designed to support and empower female coaches across the global table tennis community. Recognising sport as one of the most powerful platforms for advancing equality and strengthening the role of women and girls, the programme focuses on creating opportunities for women not only as athletes but also as leaders and coaches within the sport. The project aims to enhance women’s participation in table tennis by helping ambitious and dedicated female coaches advance their careers while contributing to the development of the sport within their Member Associations and beyond. Through the initiative, ITTF encourages Member Associations to identify talented female coaches who have the potential to grow in their roles and actively contribute to the development of table tennis in their countries. Three-Stage Development Programme The programme will be implemented over a two-year period, with the first two phases taking place in 2026 and the final phase scheduled for the first half of 2027. Stage 1 – Theoretical Knowledge Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experienced international experts in coaching and sports development, gaining valuable theoretical insights to strengthen their coaching foundation. Stage 2 – Practical Experience In the second stage, selected coaches will enhance their practical experience by participating in high-level training activities such as the Hopes Programme or Youth Training Camps, where they will work alongside experienced head coaches and gain hands-on learning opportunities. Stage 3 – Leadership and Legacy The final stage focuses on leadership development and creating a long-term impact. Each participant will organise a minimum three-day Women and Girls Training Camp within their Member Association, including educational sessions for other female coaches, helping to expand the network of women involved in coaching. The programme provides comprehensive support, including: mentoring sessions with experienced experts, travel and accommodation for development activities, organisational support for Women and Girls Training Camps. Member Associations are invited to nominate one female coach for the programme through the following link. Eligible candidates should: be active coaches or retired elite athletes with coaching experience, hold a national coaching qualification or ITTF coaching certification, have at least two years of experience at regional, continental, or international level, possess a communicative level of English. Priority may be given to coaches who have previously participated in ITTF development programmes such as the Hopes Programme, Youth Training Camps, or scholarship initiatives.
Borussia Düsseldorf Sign Olympic Champion FAN Zhendong
Borussia Düsseldorf have announced the signing of Chinese superstar FAN Zhendong, one of the most decorated players in modern table tennis. The Paris 2024 Olympic singles champion has agreed a one-year contract for the 2026/2027 season, joining from German league rivals 1. FC Saarbrücken. Fan will arrive in Düsseldorf on 1 July 2026, strengthening a squad that already features Dang QIU, Anton KÄLLBERG, Kanak JHA, and Li YONGYIN. His move comes one year after the retirement of club legend Timo BOLL, whose legacy remains closely tied to the club. At 29, FAN Zhendong is among the most successful players of his generation. A nine-time World Champion and former world number one for more than 250 weeks, he crowned his career with Olympic gold in singles and team events in Paris 2024. He has also claimed 34 ITTF/WTT Tour singles titles and numerous major international trophies. Despite stepping away from international competition at the end of 2024, FAN remains highly competitive, recently winning the Chinese National Games, defeating leading players such as WANG Chuqin and LIN Shidong. Former Borussia Düsseldorf star Timo BOLL, who played for the club for 18 years and now serves as an ambassador, welcomed the move: “Fan Zhendong wants to experience Germany and the Bundesliga, and his popularity will bring global attention to the league. His move to Düsseldorf is a logical step, this is where the heart of table tennis beats.” FAN Zhendong also expressed gratitude to his current club and excitement about the next chapter: “I am very grateful to Saarbrücken for giving me the opportunity to start my journey in the TTBL. Now I feel a special connection to Borussia Düsseldorf, the club where my friend Timo BOLL built such an impressive legacy. I look forward to supporting the team and it is an honour to follow in his footsteps.” Borussia Düsseldorf manager Andreas PREUSS described the signing as a landmark moment for the club: “FAN is our absolute dream player and a huge enrichment for our team and the entire club. He is a global star and an exceptional sports personality. It is a great honour for us that an Olympic champion will play for Borussia Düsseldorf.”
Swiss Championships Return to Tenero with HARDMEIER and MORET Leading the Field
The 2026 Swiss National Table Tennis Championships will take place on 21–22 March at the Centro Sportivo Tenero in Tenero-Contra, where the country’s leading players will compete for national titles across several categories. The two-day event promises intense competition as established champions and rising talents meet in one of Switzerland’s most important domestic tournaments. In the men’s singles, defending champion Elias HARDMEIER returns as one of the main favourites after claiming last year’s title. He will face strong opposition from players such as Elia SCHMID, Noe KEUSCH, Yoan REBETEZ, Loïc STOLL, Pedro OSIRO, and Barish MOULLET, all aiming to challenge for the national crown. The women’s singles competition will once again feature Rachel MORET, last year’s champion and the clear favourite for the title. MORET’S experience and consistency make her the player to beat as she seeks to defend her championship. The championships will also highlight the strength and diversity of Swiss table tennis through several additional categories. In the Para singles, defending champion Rolf ACKLIN is expected to be among the leading contenders alongside Elvir SELIMOVIC and Markus JUTZI. The Standing singles category will feature competitors such as Leon SCHÜEP, Fabian LICHTIN, and Valentin KNEUSS, while Dirk KRETZSCHMAR and Silvio KELLER will be among the players to watch in the Tetra singles event. The action begins on Saturday, 21 March, when the venue opens at 08:30, followed by the official welcome at 10:15. Competition starts shortly after with mixed and group matches, alongside the Para and Tetra doubles events. The afternoon programme includes the opening rounds of the men’s and women’s singles competitions. On Sunday, 22 March, the decisive stages of the tournament will unfold. The day will feature semifinal matches across several categories before culminating in the singles finals, with the women’s singles final scheduled for 15:30 and the men’s singles final at 16:15, followed by the final awards ceremony at 17:00.
Media accreditation open for ETTU Champions League Final 4 events
The European Table Tennis Union has opened the media accreditation process for the upcoming Final 4 tournaments of the HYLO ETTU Champions League Men and the ETTU Champions League Women. The HYLO ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 will take place on 16th to 17th May 2026 in Saarbrücken, Germany, while the ETTU Champions League Women Final 4 is scheduled for 23rd to 24th May 2026 in Tarnobrzeg, Poland. Both events will bring together the four best teams of the season to compete for Europe’s most prestigious club titles. Media representatives wishing to cover the tournaments are invited to submit their accreditation requests through the official accreditation form available on the ETTU media contact page. Please note that all accreditation applications are subject to approval. Confirmation or denial of accreditation requests will be communicated no later than one month before the Men’s Final 4 and two weeks before the Women’s Final 4. Further information regarding media operations will be communicated to accredited media representatives in due course.
ETTU’s Facebook Community Reaches New Heights with Record Engagement
ETTU continues to build strong connections with fans across its digital platforms, and the latest figures from ETTU’s Facebook page highlight a period of impressive growth and engagement. Between December 2025 and February 2026, ETTU content on Facebook generated 56.4 million views, reaching 14.1 million viewers around the world. The numbers reflect the increasing interest in ETTU and the appetite for highlights, match action, and stories from the European players. Engagement across the platform has also been remarkable. Posts published on the ETTU Facebook page recorded 723.3 thousand interactions, showing how actively fans are responding to the content shared from major competitions and events. The ETTU community on Facebook continues to expand as well. Over the three-month period, the page welcomed 47.5 thousand new followers, representing a 31 percent growth in the audience. At the same time, the page recorded 239.2 thousand visits, further demonstrating the growing visibility of ETTU competitions played in that time and the proof that European table tennis is taking big strides These results underline the strength of ETTU’s digital communication and the Union’s ability to bring European table tennis closer to fans through engaging and dynamic online content. With a busy competition calendar ahead, ETTU will continue to share the excitement of the sport with its global community and keep fans connected to the biggest moments from European table tennis.
Alytus Ready to Host 2026 Lithuanian National Table Tennis Championships
Lithuania’s top table tennis players will gather in Alytus for the 2026 Lithuanian National Table Tennis Championships, organised by the Lithuanian Table Tennis Association from 20-22 March. The tournament will once again determine the country’s national champions across five events: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. This year’s edition introduces a small but notable change to the competition format. Unlike previous years, there will be no qualification tournament, and all Lithuanian citizens will be eligible to participate in the championships. The competition begins on Friday (20 March) with the opening rounds of the singles events. On Saturday, the tournament continues with the main draw featuring the best 32 players in both men’s and women’s singles, including the 16 highest-ranked players in each category who enter the competition directly at this stage. The doubles and mixed doubles competitions will also take place later that afternoon, while the finals in all events are scheduled for Sunday. In the women’s singles event, defending champion Kornelija RILIŠKYTĖ will once again be the player to beat. She has dominated the national scene for years and arrives in Alytus aiming for her eighth consecutive Lithuanian national title, having won the last seven championships in a row. Among the main challengers will be her sister Emilija RILIŠKYTĖ, who has consistently been among the country’s strongest players. Young talents will also look to make their mark. Lukrecija JUCHNAITĖ, who won the Under-21 event at the Finlandia Open at the end of 2025, will aim to challenge the established names and fight for a place among the top contenders. In the men’s singles event, reigning champion Kęstutis ŽEIMYS will pursue his third national title in a row. One of the most promising challengers is Ignas ŠIŠANOVAS, who gained international recognition after winning a title at the WTT Youth Contender Batumi 2024. 2025 Champions
Strong Interest in Hosting 2028 ETTU Events
Interest in hosting the European Table Tennis Union’s 2028 events is strong, with several member associations submitting bids to stage Europe’s major table tennis competitions. “The interest in organizing ETTU events has grown year by year, something that makes us really happy. This strong interest from the European Member Associations is supporting our ultimate goal of increasing the level of the ETTU events. Analyzing all these bids and taking decisions will be a tough, but a happy, task for the Executive Board,” said ETTU President Pedro MOURA. The 2028 European Individual Championships, one of the flagship events on the European table tennis calendar, has attracted applications from Romania, Sweden and Türkiye. Three associations — France, Switzerland and Türkiye — have also expressed their interest in hosting the prestigious Europe Top 16 Cup, the tournament that brings together the continent’s highest-ranked players. Interest is equally strong in youth competitions. The European Youth Championships received applications from Italy, Georgia, Finland and Türkiye, while the European U21 Championships have drawn bids from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Portugal and Türkiye. The European U13 Championships generated the highest number of applications, with France, Portugal, Poland, Romania and Italy entering the race to stage the event. In addition, France submitted an application to host the Europe Youth Top 10. The host associations for the 2028 events will be determined by the ETTU Executive Board in July, following final hosting presentations during the Executive Board meeting to be held at the 2026 European Youth Championships.
The French Table Tennis Federation continues its commitment to the feminisation of the sport
On the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March, the French Table Tennis Federation (FFTT) reaffirms its commitment to promoting the feminisation of both participation and governance in table tennis across the country. Following a year dedicated to feminisation, declared a major federal cause in 2025, the FFTT is continuing this momentum with a special week from 2 to 6 March 2026 dedicated to highlighting initiatives carried out by its clubs across the country. Throughout 2025, the Federation implemented an ambitious programme centred on the “Jeu, Set et Féminisation” Tour de France, designed to meet clubs, leaders and players in order to promote a more inclusive practice of table tennis. The FFTT also launched, together with 21 women, the “Club of 300 Female Leaders”, an initiative linked to a CNOSF training programme aimed at encouraging women’s involvement in local, regional and federal sports governance. The programme also promotes networking and the sharing of experiences among women committed to creating momentum towards gender parity in regional governing bodies by 2028. In summer 2025, the FFTT mobilised its leagues and club network through a call for projects aimed at encouraging the reception, participation and coaching of women. The objective was to increase both the number and proportion of female licence holders in clubs while stimulating concrete and sustainable initiatives. Following this call for projects and the allocation of €100,000 in financial support, numerous initiatives were launched across France within the 62 selected clubs, including: At Amicale d’Épernon (Eure-et-Loir), for example, the introduction of an inter-company women’s training session and targeted communication campaigns led to significant progress in just six months. The club increased from 23 to 35 female licence holders, while the number of women competing more than doubled (from 4 to 9) between June and December 2025.
