With the 2025 ITTF World Individual Championships about to begin in Doha (17–25 May), the German table tennis team travels to Qatar in full force and with a clear sense of purpose. Just days before departure, concerns surrounded the fitness of rising star Annett KAUFMANN, who twisted her ankle during final preparations in Düsseldorf. Thankfully, a quick medical assessment revealed only a ligament strain with no structural damage, and after a successful fitness test, the reigning U19 World Champion received the all-clear to join the team. This year’s Championships return to a familiar venue—Doha hosted the 2004 Team World Championships, where Germany claimed silver in the men’s event. Two decades later, the DTTB contingent once again hopes to shine, this time in singles, doubles, and mixed events across the Lusail Sports Arena and Qatar University Sports Complex. Germany heads into the Championships with one of its strongest male lineups in recent history. World No. 8 Patrick FRANZISKA, European Champion Dang QIU (WR: 11), World Cup quarterfinalist Benedikt DUDA (WR: 13), Olympic bronze medalist Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (WR: 20), and Ricardo WALTHER (WR: 35) are tasked with carrying German hopes. FRANZISKA, seeded in the top eight for the first time at a Worlds, opens his campaign against his former Saarbrücken teammate, Liao Cheng-Ting (TPE). “We trained together for a year – I know what to expect,” said FRANZISKA, who, alongside OVTCHAROV, won bronze in men’s doubles at the 2023 Worlds in Durban. DUDA will also face a familiar face—his former clubmate Alberto MIÑO (ECU)—in a potentially tricky first-round encounter. “I know I can beat anyone, but the margins at this level are razor-thin,” DUDA admitted. QIU begins against Croatia’s Filip ZELJKO, while OVTCHAROV takes on Austria’s Daniel HABESOHN, with a possible rematch against Taiwan’s Lin Yun-Ju looming. WALTHER starts Sunday against Eugene WANG (CAN). Despite the absence of injured Nina MITTELHAM, national coach Tamara BOROS believes in her five-player women’s squad: Sabine WINTER (WR: 45), Ying HAN (WR: 47), Xiaona SHAN (WR: 50), Yuan WAN (WR: 62), and Annett KAUFMANN (WR: 111). KAUFMANN, whose opening match is against Hong Kong’s NG Wing Lam, faces a daunting path, with China’s world No. 3 Chen Xingtong potentially waiting in round two. “The draw is tough, but they also just use water to boil their noodles,” she joked. HAN, returning from two Achilles tendon injuries, could meet 2019 World Champion Wang Manyu in round three. “Not my dream draw,” she admitted, “but if I get there, I’ll give everything.” WINTER, Germany’s current No. 1, begins against Egypt’s Mariam ALHODABY and may face Japan’s Satsuki ODO later. SHAN and WAN also face experienced international opponents in their openers. The men’s duo of FRANZISKA/OVTCHAROV begin their bid against former World silver medallists IONESCU/ROBLEs (ROU/ESP), while DUDA/QIU face early challenges from India after an initial tie against Zambia. In women’s doubles, WAN/WINTER may face Chinese contenders QIAN Tianyi and CHEN Xingtong as early as round two. KAUFMANN/SHAN begin against Canada. Mixed doubles offers no easy path either: KAUFMANN and FRANZISKA face French pair Simon GAUZY and Prithika PAVADE, with a potential second-round clash against top seeds LIN Shidong and KUAI Man (CHN). DUDA/WAN open against reigning European champions MARIA XIAO and ALVARO ROBLES (ESP). While the Chinese team remains the dominant force on paper, recent breakthroughs—such as Hugo CALDERANO’S stunning World Cup victory—prove that upsets are possible. With strong squads from Brazil, France, Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei in the mix, the 2025 World Championships promise a tightly contested affair. Sport director Richard PRAUSE put it succinctly: “A medal is always a dream, but one that becomes real only if all the pieces fall into place. In Durban 2023, they did. Why not in Doha, too?” Men: Women: Doubles: Staff:
France Heads to Qatar for the World Championships with High Hopes and Clear Vision
The French national table tennis team is on its way to Qatar for the 2025 ITTF World Individual Championships, which will kick off on Saturday, May 17. With five events on the program—men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles—France will be represented across the board by a dynamic and ambitious lineup of players. As the competition nears, Jean-Nicolas BARELIER, the National Technical Director of the French Table Tennis Federation, shared insights into the team’s goals and outlook. “We are still in a phase of transition following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” BARELIER stated. “Our sport’s profile has evolved nationally, and our international standing has shifted. This is leading to changes in our structure and will culminate in a new three-year preparation cycle for Los Angeles 2028. But make no mistake: this World Championships is a key competition, and our athletes are driven to perform. They are competitors through and through, and given their level, our ambitions are justified. However, this is the most competitive international event on the calendar—with up to five top-level players per major country—which makes reaching the podium an enormous challenge. Our last medal at this event dates back to 1997, when Jean-Philippe GATIEN and Damien ELOI won bronze in men’s doubles. That speaks volumes about how tough it is to medal here. The preparation has gone well, and now we’re eager to begin.” Team France: Players and Pairings in Qatar Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles
France Bids to Host 2027 World Table Tennis Championships in Montpellier
The French Table Tennis Federation (FFTT) has officially submitted its bid to host the 2027 World Table Tennis Championships in Montpellier, presenting a comprehensive project built around the theme “A Vision for the Future.” The proposal reflects France’s ambition to deliver a high-quality international event while investing in long-term legacy and development for the sport nationwide. If awarded, this would be the fifth time France hosts the World Championships, following previous editions in Paris (1934, 1947, 2003, 2013). The event will also coincide with the 100th anniversary of the FFTT, giving special symbolic weight to the occasion. Montpellier has been chosen as the host city for its proven experience with international events and its accessibility. The centerpiece of the bid is the Sud de France Arena, which successfully hosted the WTT Champions event in 2024 and is well-equipped for a global championship. All key sites—including competition halls, practice venues, hotels, and the airport—are located within a 10 km radius, enabling a streamlined and athlete-friendly experience. The “5-minute venue” concept ensures optimal logistics for players, officials, and media. Beyond the competition itself, the FFTT’s bid places a strong emphasis on legacy and community impact. Key initiatives include: These projects are designed to extend the benefits of hosting well beyond the event dates, strengthening participation and visibility across the country. France’s history in the sport is long and established. As one of the founding nations of international table tennis, it has produced world champions like Jean-Philippe GATIEN, who serves as an ambassador for the 2027 bid. The FFTT has grown from just 5,000 members in 1927 to over 265,000 registered players today. The 2027 World Championships would represent a milestone—both a celebration of a century of French table tennis and a launching point for the sport’s continued evolution in France.
Historic Week for Welsh Table Tennis: HURSEY Becomes First European Champion
The 11th of May 2025 will go down as a historic day for Welsh table tennis. Anna HURSEY became the first Welsh player ever to win a European table tennis title in a women’s or youth event. Although Welsh players have previously won titles in veterans’ categories, no one from Wales had ever claimed a title at the elite youth or senior women’s level—until now. By defeating reigning champion Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine in the U21 Women’s Singles final and also winning the Doubles title with her German partner Mia GRIESEL, HURSEY not only made history for her country but also became the most successful woman at the 2025 European Under 21 Championships, securing two gold medals. Although Wales was one of the nine founding members of the ITTF in 1926 and also a founding member of the ETTU in 1957—and despite Doris GUFFINS reaching the women’s singles final at the first-ever World Championships in 1926, where she lost to Hungarian legend Maria MEDNYANSKY—it took 99 years before a Welsh player finally held a European title trophy. HURSEY had already come close to continental success at the 2022 European Youth Championships in Belgrade, where she and Sophie EARLEY lost the U19 Girls’ Doubles final to Hana ARAPOVIC and Linda ZADEROVA. Before her, Adam ROBERTSON had reached the Junior Boys’ final at the EYC in 2000 but was defeated by Romanian Constantin CIOTI. Until now, only Welsh veterans had captured European titles: Betty GRAY won the Women’s Singles Over 75 in 1999, the Women’s Singles Over 85 in 2005, and the Women’s Doubles in 2007. George EVANS triumphed in the Men’s Singles Over 70 in 2005. Looking more closely at this thread of Welsh table tennis history reveals an interesting pattern. Adam ROBERTSON won silver at the EYC 2000 in Bratislava. Betty GRAY and George EVANS won their veteran titles in 2005—also in Bratislava. And now, in 2025, Anna HURSEY wins two European titles at the EC U21 in… Bratislava. Is it coincidence—or a special connection?
ETTU Leadership Meets with New President of Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation
Today, a meeting was held at the ETTU Office between ETTU officials and the newly elected President of the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation, Charles MULLER. The discussions focused on future collaboration and strengthening ties between the organizations.Present at the meeting were ETTU Secretary General Pierre KASS and Executive Assistant & Club Competition Manager Mrs. Andrea BJURSTRÖM, while ETTU President Pedro MOURA joined online. The exchange marked a constructive step toward shared initiatives and enhanced cooperation.
Historic Milestones and Dramatic Finals Mark End of European Under 21 Championships
Bratislava, 11 May 2025 – The 2025 European Under 21 Championships concluded in spectacular fashion, with new champions crowned and history made across all events. The final day will be especially remembered in Wales, as Anna HURSEY became the first Welsh player in history to win a European table tennis title in a women’s or youth event. HURSEY captured gold in the U21 Women’s Singles, defeating reigning champion Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine in the final. She added a second gold by triumphing in the Women’s Doubles, alongside her German partner Mia GRIESEL, making her the most successful woman at the 2025 Championships. Bronze medals in Women’s Singles went to Ioana SINGEORZAN and Elena ZAHARIA, both of Romania. In the Men’s Singles, Flavien COTON of France produced a sensational comeback to defeat Iulian CHIRITA of Romania in a thrilling seven-game final. Down 0–2 in games and 4–7 in the decider, COTON rallied to win (16-18, 8-11, 11-1, 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9) and claim his first European U21 title. Bronze medals were awarded to Miguel PANTOJA of Spain and Andre BERTELSMEIER of Germany, who, for the second consecutive year, was stopped in the semi-finals. The Men’s Doubles title went to Romania’s Eduard IONESCU and Darius MOVILEANU, who overcame BERTELSMEIER and Portugal’s Tiago ABIODUN in the final (11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6). Croatia’s Leon BENKO and Ivan HENCL, along with Romania’s Iulian CHIRITA and Andrei ISTRATE, reached the semi-finals. In the Women’s Doubles, the newly formed pairing of HURSEY and GRIESEL ended the reign of last year’s champions ZAHARIA and Bianca MEI ROSU to secure the title. Bronze went to top seeds Hana ARAPOVIC (Croatia) and Ioana SINGEORZAN (Romania), and the Polish pair Zuzanna WIELGOS and Anna BRZYSKA. MEI ROSU had a rare opportunity to become the first player to win three consecutive U21 titles, but the story took an ironic turn as she lost to her former partner GRIESEL—whom she had won the title with in 2023. While GRIESEL regained the crown, it was a first-ever European title for HURSEY, following her runner-up finish at the 2022 European Youth Championships with Sophie EARLEY. ZAHARIA, meanwhile, remains tied with Poland’s Milosz REDZIMSKI for the most U21 titles (three), after missing out on a record fourth. The Mixed Doubles final saw MOVILEANU and ZAHARIA secure gold for Romania after a dramatic five-game win over Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT and Josephina NEUMANN (9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7). With this victory, Romania confirmed its dominance in the Mixed Doubles event, having now appeared in all six U21 Mixed Doubles finals, winning four titles overall. MOVILEANU secured gold in his third final appearance, while ZAHARIA celebrated her third Mixed Doubles title in five finals, equalling REDZIMSKI’s record. For Germany, the final marked a significant breakthrough, with VERDONSCHOT and NEUMANN delivering the country’s first-ever Mixed Doubles final appearance and medal at the European Under 21 Championships.
COTON Crowned Men’s Singles Champion After Epic Final in Bratislava
The new champion in the Men’s Singles event at the European Under 21 Championships is Flavien COTON of France. In a breathtaking final in Bratislava, he overcame Iulian CHIRITA of Romania to claim the title. Bronze medals were awarded to Miguel PANTOJA of Spain and, for the second consecutive year, to the no. 2 seed Andre BERTELSMEIER of Germany, who was again stopped in the semi-finals. COTON went the full distance to defeat CHIRITA, completing an incredible comeback after trailing 0–2 in games and 4–7 in the deciding set (16-18, 8-11, 11-1, 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9). “Already the opening game was incredible. I lost it 16-18, then he took the second to make it 2-0. After that, I played three amazing games and led 3-2 and 6-3 in the sixth, but I lost it 6-11! Then in the final game it was 7-4 for him, and I turned it to 10-7 for me. I managed it because I was mentally very strong. As I said before, that’s the strongest part of my game,” said COTON. In the semi-finals, the no. 3 seed COTON faced heavy pressure from Miguel PANTOJA. The Spaniard, seeded no. 23, proved his presence in the final four was no coincidence. COTON was once again stretched to seven games (12-14, 11-4, 11-13, 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4). “He played amazingly. At 1-1 I was up 10-7 and lost the third game. If I had made it 2-1, it would have been a much different match,” said COTON. The final game was another close battle. “I didn’t start well. It was 0-2 for PANTOJA before I managed to raise my level and play better and better. My technical game at the table wasn’t at the highest level, but mentally I was very strong. I stayed focused and kept my good mental shape,” added COTON. Iulian CHIRITA advanced to the final after a tough match against Andre BERTELSMEIER, which he won in six games (11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7). “It’s very difficult to play against Andre. He’s improved a lot over the past two years, so I carefully planned my tactics. In the first two games it worked very well, but then BERTELSMEIER changed his approach and made it very hard for me. I tried to stay focused and not get nervous, although I definitely was after losing the two middle games,” said CHIRITA. BERTELSMEIER pushed CHIRITA to the limit, even though the Romanian had the better start in most games. “He never gives up, and neither do I. That’s why the match was so difficult. We have very similar styles—he plays many balls to the table just like I do.”
HURSEY Triumphs Over MATIUNINA to Win Women’s Singles Title in Bratislava
Anna HURSEY of Wales clinched gold in the Women’s Singles event at the European Under 21 Championships in Bratislava by defeating the reigning champion Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine. The bronze medallists are Ioana SINGEORZAN and Elena ZAHARIA, both of Romania. Nineteen-year-old HURSEY overcame MATIUNINA in five games (11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9) in superb fashion. “I think it was a very close and tough final. I played quite well. Maybe I made a few mistakes I shouldn’t have, but I’m happy I got through it. Stylistically it was difficult for me, since MATIUNINA has much more experience, but in the end, I found a way,” said HURSEY. “It’s great that I won it for Wales, because normally we don’t have so many strong results. I’m happy I could win this for Wales.” In the semi-final earlier today, HURSEY showed no mercy against Ioana SINGEORZAN of Romania, winning in straight games (11-7, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5). “We’ve played a few times before. Two years ago at the European Under 21, also in the semi-final, she beat me in a really close match. I also lost once to her at a WTT Feeder event, so this was my first win against her,” HURSEY explained. “I’ve been playing really well recently and I’m happy I won this one. We analyzed her game in detail, but more than anything, my level of play right now is really high.” In a rematch of last year’s final, the 2022 champion and 2023 runner-up Elena ZAHARIA stretched reigning champion Veronika MATIUNINA to a full seven games, but once again the Ukrainian player prevailed (11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 9-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8). “The most important thing for me was to stay calm no matter what was happening, because Elena is a very dangerous player,” said MATIUNINA. “Our matches are always close. I knew it would be a long match, and even if I built a big lead, it wouldn’t be enough. ZAHARIA is very smart and always finds a way to adapt and change her tactics to win.” That’s exactly what happened in the semi-final. “Elena was down 0-2. I was leading without much difficulty in the opening stages. Then suddenly, I had no answers. She came back and leveled. At 2-2, it was really important for me to win the fifth game,” MATIUNINA continued. “Unfortunately, I faced another setback in the decider. ZAHARIA took an early lead, and my coach Krisztina TOTH called for a time-out. That was a crucial moment. We managed to break the momentum and turn the game around completely.”
IONESCU and MOVILEANU Capture Men’s Doubles Title at European U21 Championships
Eduard IONESCU and Darius MOVILEANU of Romania overcame Andre BERTELSMEIER of Germany and Tiago ABIODUN of Portugal in the final of the European Under 21 Championships to claim the title in the Men’s Doubles event. The semi-finalists were Croatia’s Leon BENKO and Ivan HENCL, and Romania’s Iulian CHIRITA and Andrei ISTRATE—bronze medallists from 2024. Last year’s runners-up, IONESCU and MOVILEANU, dropped only one game in the final against the Portuguese-German combination, securing a 3-1 victory (11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6). “It was a close and tough final, just like all the matches here,” said IONESCU. “Last year we were runners-up and came to Bratislava with the mindset that this time we had to win. It was very hard from the beginning. We faced serious challenges in the quarterfinals against Daniel BERZOSA and Miguel PANTOJA of Spain, and again in the semis against Leon BENKO and Ivan HENCL… but those matches gave us confidence and prepared us for what awaited us in the final.” IONSCU also praised the performance of BERTELSMEIER and ABIODUN, who had beaten their Romanian teammates CHIRITA and ISTRATE in the semi-finals. “They beat our teammates, which says a lot about their level. I’m really happy to have clinched the title in the end and to say goodbye to my Under 21 career in golden style.” Darius MOVILEANU added: “We prepared our tactics with our teammates and coach. We played almost perfectly—more precisely, Edi played unbelievably well. I was under a bit of stress, because I played about 15 matches here. It’s not easy to play the final after such a schedule, especially against those two guys—they’re an exceptionally strong pair. But so are we.” MOVILEANU reflected on the overall challenge of the tournament: “We were challenged throughout. The match against the Spanish pair was especially tough. We were 2-0 up, and they came back to level—it was incredibly close.”
HURSEY and GRIESEL End Reign of ZAHARIA and MEI ROSU in Women’s Doubles Final
The newly formed pairing of Anna HURSEY of Wales and Mia GRIESEL of Germany end reign of last year’s champions—experienced teammates and clubmates Elena ZAHARIA and Bianca MEI ROSU of Romania—to claim the title in the Women’s Doubles Event at the European Under 21 Championships in Bratislava. Bronze medals went to the top-seeded duo Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia and Ioana SINGEORZAN of Romania, as well as to the Polish team of Zuzanna WIELGOS and Anna BRZYSKA. The defending champions were unable to find control, while HURSEY and GRIESEL—who had only played together once before, in Metz—maintained their rhythm and secured the title with a straight-games victory (11-7, 11-9, 11-4). “Like I said yesterday, our communication is our main strength. We had a clear plan from the beginning. We talked about what we wanted, which balls suited us best, so the other one would know how to play to get the most out of our doubles game. We tried to make it as comfortable as possible. We weren’t nervous at all, and we played very safe—we didn’t make easy mistakes,” explained GRIESEL. Mia added that she had prior experience partnering with MEI ROSU: “I’ve played doubles with Bianca a few times, so I know what she likes and what she doesn’t. Unfortunately, it works the other way around too—but we were definitely good enough.” Anna HURSEY highlighted the same key to their success: “For me as well, communication is the best part of this partnership. Mia’s previous experience of playing with Bianca helped a lot. We knew what to play and how. We were really good. Since we’re a new pairing, there was no pressure on us to win—we just played freely.” FACTS AND NUMBERS Bianca MEI ROSU had a unique opportunity to become the first player to win three consecutive U21 titles, but it was not to be. Partnered this year with Elena ZAHARIA, she lost to her former partner Mia GRIESEL, with whom she had won the title in 2023. GRIESEL, now playing alongside HURSEY, regained the title, while for Anna HURSEY, this marked her first-ever European title—a particularly special moment after losing the doubles final at the 2022 European Youth Championships in Belgrade alongside Sophie EARLEY. As for ZAHARIA, there will be no fourth U21 title this time. She remains tied in the all-time record books with Poland’s Milosz REDZIMSKI, each with three U21 gold medals.
