The third edition of the international veterans’ table tennis tournament Stone Racket Istria will take place from March 3–7, 2027, in Vrsar, Croatia, aiming to further strengthen its position as one of Europe’s most attractive international veterans’ table tennis events. Previous editions have welcomed players from numerous countries, while the exhibition matches have featured some of the greatest legends in world table tennis – Jörgen PERSSON, Vladimir SAMSONOV, Kalinikos KREANGA, Branka BATINIĆ and Zoran PRIMORAC. Their appearances have added a special dimension to the tournament and further enriched the overall experience for participants. Stone Racket Istria is built around a distinctive concept: “Play + Fun + Experience”, where competition is only one part of the event. The organizers aim to create an international gathering of veterans that combines excellent sporting conditions with a rich programme of activities beyond the table tennis hall – socializing, entertainment, and opportunities to discover Istria’s local culture, gastronomy and natural beauty. “Stone Racket Istria has everything a great veterans’ tournament should offer – excellent organization, outstanding playing conditions and a fantastic atmosphere. I believe this tournament has the potential to become one of the most recognized veterans’ table tennis events in Europe,” said Zoran PRIMORAC, one of Croatia’s greatest table tennis players of all time. The organizers are already preparing new surprises for the third edition, aiming to further enrich the programme and overall experience for participants. The 2026 edition welcomed players from an impressive 19 countries, and Vrsar is expected to once again bring together veterans from across Europe and beyond in 2027, with ambitions to set a new participation record. The tournament is open to players aged 40 to 80+, with competitions in men’s and women’s singles and doubles. Stone Racket Istria is more than just a tournament – it is an international sporting experience that brings together competition, friendship and the discovery of Istria. For more information and registration details, visit the official website www.stoneracketistria.com and the tournament’s official Facebook page.
European Players Shine in Singles at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
European players continued to impress at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ and Poland’s Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA advancing to the Women’s Singles quarterfinals following impressive victories in the Round of 16. SKERBINZ produced one of the day’s most remarkable comebacks, recovering from a 1-3 deficit to defeat Antigua and Barbuda’s Stuti KASHYAP 4-3. The Austrian has enjoyed an impressive campaign in Dakar, having also recorded victories over Chinese Taipei’s CHEN Min-Hsin and Romania’s Andreea BAIASU. She will face Hong Kong, China’s SU Tsz Tung for a place in the semifinals. Poland’s RAJKOWSKA also secured her place among the last eight, overcoming Korea Republic’s HEO Yerim. The first table tennis medals of the Games were awarded in Mixed Doubles, where Japan’s Ryuusei KAWAKAMI and Miku MATSUSHIMA claimed gold with a 3-1 victory over Hong Kong, China’s LI Ki Ho and SU Tsz Tung. Chinese Taipei’s LIN Chin-Ting and CHEN Min-Hsin took bronze. The competition also welcomed several table tennis legends, including Belgium’s seven-time Olympian Jean-Michel SAIVE, who joined IOC President Kirsty COVENTRY and other distinguished guests at the Dakar Expo Centre. The singles competition continues with the quarterfinals, while the remaining medals will be decided by Thursday, 5 November, when the table tennis events conclude.
ETTU Match Officials’ Webinar Attracts 174 Participants
The European Table Tennis Union successfully organised its Match Officials’ Webinar on 28 October 2026, bringing together 174 participants for an informative and interactive session dedicated to the latest developments in European table tennis, competition regulations, umpire career development and safeguarding. The webinar was opened by ETTU Secretary General Pierre KASS, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of continuous education and professional development for match officials. The session was moderated by Asko RASINEN, who guided participants through a comprehensive programme featuring presentations by Alen IVANCIN, ETTU Competition Director; Werner THURY, ETTU URC Chairperson; and Senga THOMSON, ETTU Welfare Officer. Alen IVANCIN presented the latest developments in ETTU club competitions, with particular attention to the changes introduced for the 2026/27 season. A major focus was the revised playing system in the women’s Champions League and Europe Cup, including game-based team scoring, updated competition formats, player eligibility requirements and procedures for match officials. The presentation also highlighted the differences between men’s and women’s club competitions, providing referees and umpires with practical guidance on applying the relevant regulations. Werner THURY provided an extensive overview of international umpire career development, including the requirements for Blue Badge and Gold Badge qualifications, evaluation procedures and maintaining active umpire status. He also reviewed recent developments in the interpretation of service rules, addressing important aspects such as ball visibility, the open palm requirement and the verticality of the service toss. Practical examples and challenging match situations encouraged discussion and helped participants develop a consistent approach to decision-making. ETTU Safeguarding Officer Senga THOMPSON addressed the essential role of match officials in maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive sporting environment. Her presentation emphasised professional boundaries, appropriate conduct, safeguarding responsibilities and the importance of reporting concerns through established channels. The webinar also highlighted five golden rules for match officials, focusing on professionalism, neutrality, respect, confidentiality and exemplary behaviour, both inside and outside the playing hall. The programme concluded with discussions of challenging situations that match officials may encounter during competitions. These practical scenarios provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, clarify interpretations and reinforce consistent officiating standards. With 174 participants, the webinar demonstrated the strong interest within the European match officials’ community in continuing education and professional development.
Historic Belgian Triumph as HENNAUT Claim STIGA Masters Titles
Belgium’s Timo HENNAUT and Türkiye’s Defne UZUMCU emerged victorious at the 19th edition of the STIGA Masters, with HENNAUT making history by securing Belgium’s first-ever title at the Under 11 competition. In a thrilling boys’ final, HENNAUT recovered from a two-game deficit to defeat France’s Hugo GRELLIER COFFY 3-2 (7-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8). The Belgian had also been pushed to five games in the semifinals, where he overcame Germany’s Manoj SANKARA 3-2. GRELLIER COFFY reached the final after a similarly close semifinal, defeating Sweden’s Valerio BRANTE 3-2. In the girls’ competition, Defne UZUMCU claimed the title following an all-Turkish final against Derin MULAZIM, winning 3-1. UZUMCU had earlier defeated Portugal’s Lara MONTEIRO 3-1 in the semifinals, while MULAZIM secured her place in the final with a 3-1 victory over Finland’s Kamilla KADAR. The STIGA Masters has a strong tradition of showing Europe’s emerging table tennis talents. Among its former winners are two newly crowned European singles champions, France’s Félix LEBRUN and Elizabet ABRAAMIAN, who claimed their European titles earlier this month in Ljubljana.
Brunetti Castel Goffredo Claim Eighth Italian Super Cup After Dramatic Comeback
Brunetti Castel Goffredo celebrated their eighth Italian Women’s Super Cup title after a dramatic comeback victory over Tennistavolo Norbello in the ninth edition of the competition, held at the PalaTennistavolo “Elia Mazzi”. The winners received the trophy from FITeT Deputy Vice President Carlo BORELLA. For the second consecutive year, the Super Cup was contested in the relay format, with players alternating at the table every five points and each game played to 45 points. Castel Goffredo recovered from losing the opening game to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory (40-45, 45-44, 45-28). Norbello, represented by Anastasiia KOLISH, Ana TOFANT and Irene MORETTI, made the stronger start and claimed the opening game. They came agonisingly close to victory in the second, earning two match points, but were unable to convert either opportunity. Castel Goffredo’s Nikoleta STEFANOVA, Nicole ARLIA, Cecilia CICUTTINI and Azzurra MARINELLI refused to surrender. Having survived the match points, they completed a remarkable turnaround by edging the second game 45-44 before taking complete control of the decider, winning it 45-28 to reclaim the trophy. Castel Goffredo President Franco SCIANNIMANICO highlighted the special significance of the triumph, achieved with a team deeply connected to the club. “This victory is even more important than our previous successes. I am extremely happy because it was achieved by players who were born and raised in Castel Goffredo. I consider Nikoleta one of them as well, since she has lived here for many years. This Super Cup means even more because we won it without any foreign players. The very young CICUTTINI was also outstanding and made a significant contribution to our success,” said SCIANNIMANICO. Technical Director Alfonso LAGHEZZA praised the team’s determination and ability to respond under pressure. “We are used to playing competitions of this kind, and that experience helped us enormously. Last year, we lost the Super Cup quite comfortably, so this time we were determined to bring the trophy back. We are delighted with the result. The second game was extremely close, and the girls showed great character to save Norbello’s match points. After that, we made some tactical adjustments that allowed us to take control and achieve our goal,” explained LAGHEZZA. Brunetti Castel Goffredo – Tennistavolo Norbello 2-1 (40-45, 45-44, 45-28) First game Second game Third game
France Tops Medal Table at European Championships in Ljubljana
France finished at the top of the medal table at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana, claiming six medals – two gold, one silver and three bronze – across the five events at Arena Stožice. Germany secured second place with five medals, including one gold, one silver and three bronze, while Poland completed the top three with one gold and one silver. Russia and Slovakia each claimed one gold medal to share fourth place in the standings. Sweden collected three medals – two silver and one bronze – to finish sixth. Romania followed with two bronze medals, while Moldova completed the list of eight medal-winning nations with one bronze. France’s success was highlighted by Félix LEBRUN’s Men’s Singles triumph and the successful defence of the Men’s Doubles title alongside his brother Alexis. Event Gold Silver Bronze Men’s Singles Félix LEBRUN (FRA) Anton KÄLLBERG (SWE) Léo DE NODREST (FRA), Dang QIU (GER) Women’s Singles Elizabet ABRAAMIAN (RUS) Annett KAUFMANN (GER) Prithika PAVADE (FRA), Nina MITTELHAM (GER) Men’s Doubles Alexis LEBRUN / Félix LEBRUN (FRA) Kristian KARLSSON / Anton KÄLLBERG (SWE) Esteban DORR / Florian BOURRASSAUD (FRA), Vladislav URSU / Andrei PUTUNTICA (MDA) Women’s Doubles Tatiana KUKULKOVA (SVK) / Natalia BAJOR (POL) Zuzanna WIELGOS / Anna BRZYSKA (POL) Annett KAUFMANN / Nina MITTELHAM (GER), Bernadette SZOCS / Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) Mixed Doubles Benedikt DUDA / Nina MITTELHAM (GER) Alexis LEBRUN / Charlotte LUTZ (FRA) Kristian KARLSSON / Christina KÄLLBERG (SWE), Patrick FRANZISKA / Sabine WINTER (GER)
ETTU and EUSA strengthen ties in Ljubljana
The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) welcomed representatives of the European University Sports Association (EUSA) to Arena Stožice in Ljubljana on Sunday 18 October, on the final day of the 2026 European Table Tennis Championships, to discuss new opportunities for the development of university table tennis across Europe. ETTU President Pedro MOURA and Secretary General Pierre KASS met with EUSA President Haris PAVLETIC, First Vice-President Bruno BARRACOSA and Secretary General Matjaz PECOVNIK. Discussions focused on promoting table tennis among university students, supporting student-athletes and creating further opportunities for young players to combine academic education with competitive sport. “It was a pleasure to meet EUSA President Mr Haris PAVLETIC here in Ljubljana and have the opportunity to discuss new possibilities for future cooperation between ETTU and EUSA. EUSA has also been a long-standing and dedicated organiser of table tennis competitions within the European university sports community, and we look forward to strengthening this cooperation for the benefit of young table tennis players,” said ETTU President Pedro MOURA. EUSA President Haris PAVLETIC also highlighted the importance of the partnership. “Cooperation between the European University Sports Association and the European Table Tennis Union offers valuable opportunities to further develop our sport within the university environment. By strengthening our partnership, exchanging expertise, and exploring new joint initiatives, we can create more opportunities for students to participate in table tennis and promote the values of sport, education, and international cooperation across Europe,” said PAVLETIC. ETTU and EUSA have been official partners since 2017, when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at promoting table tennis within the European university sports community. During the meeting, the possibility of signing a new agreement in the near future was also discussed. The meeting also included invitations to upcoming EUSA sporting and institutional events, with both organisations looking to build on their established relationship and create further opportunities for the next generation of European table tennis players.
Félix LEBRUN clinched golden double with European Men’s Singles title in Ljubljana
Félix LEBRUN of France completed a magnificent European Championships in Ljubljana by claiming the Men’s Singles title, adding a second gold medal to the Men’s Doubles crown he won alongside his brother Alexis just 24 hours earlier. The 20-year-old top seed defeated Sweden’s Anton KÄLLBERG 4-3 (7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1) in a dramatic final at Arena Stožice, succeeding Alexis as European champion. KÄLLBERG secured silver, while France’s Léo DE NODREST and Germany’s Dang QIU claimed bronze medals. Pictures by Remy GROS here. The final was a thrilling contest in which KÄLLBERG came within one game of victory before the Frenchman produced an extraordinary finish. The Swede made the stronger start, taking the opening game 11-7, but LEBRUN responded to win the next two 11-9 and 13-11. KÄLLBERG then regained control, claiming the fourth and fifth games 11-8 and 11-9 to move ahead 3-2. With his European title hopes hanging in the balance, LEBRUN made a crucial decision. Rather than continuing with a tactical approach that was not producing the desired results, he decided to play more freely and fight for every point. The transformation was spectacular. LEBRUN won the sixth game 11-6 before delivering a breathtaking performance in the decider, overwhelming KÄLLBERG 11-1 to complete his comeback and secure the title. “I really don’t know what happened, to be honest. I played the best game of my life in the last one,” said LEBRUN. “At 3-2, I told my coach that we had a tactical plan, but I wasn’t serving well enough to execute it. So I said, ‘OK, let’s forget about the tactics, just fight and see what happens. I’ll give everything I have.’ “And somehow, that helped me produce some amazing table tennis in the last two games. “I’m incredibly proud of myself and of the entire team that works with me every day to achieve results like this.” The triumph was particularly meaningful because Félix succeeded his older brother Alexis, who had won the European Men’s Singles title in Linz in 2024. “It’s amazing. I think we always manage to play well at the biggest tournaments,” said Félix. “I’m really proud to succeed Alexis after he won the title two years ago. It’s a wonderful feeling for our family. I’m also so happy for everyone on the team who works with us. And, of course, for myself. I’m really, really happy and proud.” The LEBRUN brothers had already celebrated together on Saturday evening, when they successfully defended their European Men’s Doubles title by defeating KÄLLBERG and Kristian KARLSSON 3-2 in another dramatic final. “I really didn’t think I could achieve something like this before the tournament. I wasn’t feeling at my best when I arrived, but step by step, I started playing better and better. “And in the end, I won both titles. It feels incredible.” As for his celebrations, the new European champion was already looking forward to sharing the moment with those closest to him. “It’s Sunday, so maybe there won’t be much of a party outside, but I’ll celebrate with my family and friends. And when I return to Montpellier, I’ll enjoy it there as well.” KÄLLBERG left with two silver medals after another final against the LEBRUN brothers For KÄLLBERG, the defeat was particularly difficult after he had taken a 3-2 lead and appeared to be closing in on his first European Men’s Singles title. The 29-year-old Swede had already secured his first European Championships Men’s Singles medal by reaching the semifinals, but his ambitions had grown considerably during the tournament. “It’s disappointing, of course. You want to win gold. This would have been so much sweeter with a gold medal,” said KÄLLBERG. “There’s a big difference between winning gold and silver, so it’s really tough to take.” KÄLLBERG acknowledged that he had felt confident about his chances after taking the lead, particularly given his previous encounters with the Frenchman. “I felt I had a real chance. We’ve played each other before, and I knew I could beat him, so I felt good about my chances. “But in the last two games, I was pretty much helpless. He started serving better, and after he changed his serves, I couldn’t find a way back into the match. “I wasn’t getting much out of the rallies or putting him under any pressure, so I struggled to deal with his spin and his shots.” Despite continuing to search for a solution, the Swede could not halt LEBRUN’s momentum. “I was just trying to keep fighting and find something that would work, hoping he might make a few mistakes “Unfortunately, he didn’t. I simply didn’t have much left to fight back with towards the end. Of course, I kept trying, but it was tough.” KÄLLBERG leaves Ljubljana with two silver medals, having also finished runner-up in the Men’s Doubles alongside KARLSSON. Although that represents an outstanding achievement, the disappointment of missing out on gold was still fresh. “Obviously, before the tournament, I would have been happy to win two silver medals. “But if you’d asked me yesterday, I wouldn’t have been satisfied with two silvers. “Right now, I’m disappointed because winning gold would have been so special.” LEBRUN survives French semifinal battle against historic qualifier DE NODREST Earlier on Sunday, Félix LEBRUN had been pushed to the limit by compatriot Léo DE NODREST, whose extraordinary run from the qualification groups was one of the biggest stories of the Championships. The top seed eventually prevailed 4-2 (6-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 14-12), but the scoreline only partly reflected the difficulties he faced. DE NODREST, seeded No. 67, made an excellent start, winning the opening game and then taking a 2-1 lead. His aggressive play, strong service and ability to attack immediately after the serve repeatedly disrupted LEBRUN’s rhythm. The favourite responded by winning the fourth and fifth games, but the sixth remained fiercely contested before he finally closed it out 14-12. “It’s fantastic! But it was really tough. Every time I play against Léo,
Elizabet ABRAAMIAN completes remarkable journey from qualification to European gold in Ljubljana
Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia completed an extraordinary journey from the qualification groups to the top of the European podium, claiming the Women’s Singles title at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana. The 23-year-old, seeded No. 35, became the first qualifier ever to win the European Singles title, defeating Germany’s 20-year-old Annett KAUFMANN 4-3 (15-13, 11-5, 5-11, 9-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-6) in a dramatic final at Arena Stožice. KAUFMANN secured silver, while France’s Prithika PAVADE and Germany’s Nina MITTELHAM claimed bronze medals. Pictures by Remy GROS here. ABRAAMIAN’s triumph was the culmination of a remarkable week in which she overcame difficult preparations, battled through qualification and survived two consecutive seven-game encounters on the final day of the Championships. Her victory also brought an end to KAUFMANN’s impressive campaign, with both players contesting their first senior European Women’s Singles final. The title decider delivered everything expected of a European Championships final, with dramatic momentum swings, outstanding rallies and two exhausted players refusing to surrender. ABRAAMIAN took the opening game 15-13 and extended her advantage with an 11-5 second game. KAUFMANN responded by winning the next two games, including the third after recovering from a 3-9 deficit, to level the contest. The fifth game proved another turning point. KAUFMANN led 10-8, but ABRAAMIAN fought back to claim it 12-10. The German refused to give up, winning the sixth 11-6 to force a decider. In the seventh game, ABRAAMIAN found the strength and composure to finish the contest 11-6 and become European champion. “I think this is the best match I’ve ever played. There were amazing rallies, and the level was incredible, both mentally and tactically,” said ABRAAMIAN. “We were both so tired, and you could really feel it. This was the last match of the tournament, and we were both ready to give absolutely everything we had left. “This is exactly why I love table tennis. “Of course, if I had lost, I would have been sad, but I still want to say that I really enjoyed this match and the entire tournament. Maybe that’s easier to say because I won, but I genuinely enjoyed every moment.” Despite the intensity of their battle, the final was also a meeting between two players who have been close friends since their youth. ABRAAMIAN revealed that KAUFMANN had predicted their meeting in the final several days earlier. “Two or three days ago, after I won one of my matches, Annett sent me a message saying, ‘Congratulations! You’re playing really well. See you in the final!’ “I don’t think either of us really expected it to happen exactly like that, but we had this little agreement between us, and I felt I had to make it happen!” The new champion also had warm words for her opponent. “I hope Annett enjoyed it too, and I hope she understands that she played at an incredibly high level. She has her whole future ahead of her, and I’m sure that one day she will become European champion as well.” ABRAAMIAN paid tribute to everyone who had contributed to her success. “I’m just so happy. I want to thank my entire team, everyone who has worked with me, helped me prepare and tried to make me a better player. “I love everyone around me – our federation, our coaches, my family and everyone who has supported me. “I also want to thank all the people who watched the matches. I know there were so many people following, cheering and supporting us. It felt as though everyone was connected. “Table tennis brings people together, and that’s something incredibly important to me. Once again, that’s why I love table tennis.” For KAUFMANN, the defeat was particularly painful after coming so close to taking the lead in the fifth game. “It was definitely a difficult match. I never really found my rhythm on the return of serve, and I didn’t feel that I could gain a significant advantage with my own service either,” explained the German. “ABRAAMIAN produced some incredible shots, often at moments that were particularly difficult for me. “I shouldn’t have let the fifth game slip away when I was leading 10-8 at 2-2 in games. But then again, she shouldn’t have let the third game slip away when she was leading 9-3. That’s how it goes sometimes. It’s a game of give and take. “It was a tough match. In the end, she played the better shots and placed the ball more effectively, so she deserved to win.” Although disappointed, KAUFMANN recognised the significance of reaching the European final. “Of course, I know it was a good result. I’m not really used to losing finals, to put it a little bluntly, because whenever I’ve reached a final, I’ve usually managed to win it. “But yes, I think it was a good tournament. Once I’ve had a little time to distance myself from the match, I’m sure I’ll be able to look back on it positively. “I fought hard, gave everything I had in the final, and I can’t blame myself for anything. The only thing I can do now is accept the result, focus on the positives and use this experience as motivation.” ABRAAMIAN survives match point to reach the final Earlier in the day, ABRAAMIAN had already demonstrated extraordinary mental strength in her semifinal against Prithika PAVADE. The Frenchwoman, who had eliminated top seed Sabine WINTER (GER) in the Round of 16, came within a single point of reaching the European final. ABRAAMIAN eventually prevailed 4-3 (8-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 13-11), recovering from a 2-3 deficit and winning the deciding game 13-11. The contest was another example of the resilience that had carried the No. 35 seed through the tournament. “I seem to play like this all the time. Maybe I like a little drama, I don’t know!” ABRAAMIAN joked afterwards. “I remember winning a Contender tournament in Tunisia this year, where I won every match 3-2 and then the final 4-3.” She praised PAVADE’s attacking
KUKULKOVA and BAJOR crowned European Women’s Doubles champions in Ljubljana
Tatiana KUKULKOVA of Slovakia and Natalia BAJOR of Poland claimed their first European Women’s Doubles title together at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana, defeating Poland’s Zuzanna WIELGOS and Anna BRZYSKA 3-0 in Saturday’s final at Arena Stožice. WIELGOS and BRZYSKA secured silver, while Germany’s Annett KAUFMANN and Nina MITTELHAM and Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS and Elizabeta SAMARA took bronze. Pictures by Remy GROS here. Two years after winning bronze in Linz, KUKULKOVA and BAJOR completed their journey to the top of the European podium. Their triumph was particularly significant after the disappointment of the 2024 semifinals, when they held match point but failed to reach the final. This time, the Slovak-Polish partnership made no mistake. Despite the straight-games scoreline, the final was far more competitive than the result suggested, with WIELGOS and BRZYSKA putting the eventual champions under considerable pressure. For BAJOR, the victory was an emotional reward for the pair’s decision to continue their partnership with future Olympic ambitions in mind. “We are extremely happy, really very, very happy. About a month ago, we decided that we would continue playing together because doubles is now part of the Olympic programme. Our federations agreed, and we are delighted that we managed to win this title. “At the previous European Championships, we had match point in the semifinal but lost. Now, two years later, we have won the final 3-0. It’s an amazing feeling,” said BAJOR. KUKULKOVA pointed out that their path to gold had been far from straightforward. The pair began the tournament with victories in five and four games before finding their best rhythm in the later rounds, winning their final three matches without dropping a game. “When I think about our tournament, we won our first match 3-2 and the second 3-1, but then we won three consecutive matches 3-0. Maybe it looked easy from the outside, but it certainly wasn’t. “I think the final was a genuine 50-50 match. In one of the games, they were leading 9-5, but we managed to come back and win it. That was a very important moment. “I think winning 3-0 was crucial because if the score had become 2-1, everything would have been open again. This is a European Championships final, and anything can happen,” explained KUKULKOVA. The champions’ tactical preparation proved decisive against a Polish pair who had already eliminated several strong combinations on their way to the final. “We were very well prepared tactically, and perhaps we also had a little luck at certain moments. But I have to say that our opponents played an unbelievable tournament. They defeated the German pair and the French pair, so I want to congratulate them on their performance. “Of course, we are extremely happy that we managed to win,” added KUKULKOVA. The final also carried an unusual personal dimension for BAJOR, who found herself competing for the European title against two of her Polish national teammates. “Yes, it was very difficult because it was the first time I had played a European Championships final against my teammates. It was also a new situation with the coaching arrangements. “We know each other very well, but today we were the better pair, and we are very happy,” said BAJOR. For WIELGOS and BRZYSKA, silver marked a breakthrough at senior European Championships level. The Polish pair had demonstrated remarkable resilience in Friday’s semifinal, recovering twice from a game down to defeat Germany’s KAUFMANN and MITTELHAM 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5). KUKULKOVA and BAJOR reached the final with an impressive 3-0 (13-11, 11-6, 11-7) victory over Romania’s experienced SZOCS and SAMARA, overcoming a difficult opening game before taking control. The triumph also marked a historic milestone for both Slovakia and Poland. For Slovakia, it was only the second European Championships title in any event, following the Women’s Doubles gold won by Barbora BALAZOVA and Hana MATELOVA in 2024. For Poland, BAJOR’s victory delivered the country’s fifth European Championships title and its first ever in Women’s Doubles. Poland’s previous four European titles came through Li Qian in Women’s Singles in 2018, Wang Zeng Yi alongside Croatia’s Tan Ruiwu in Men’s Doubles in 2013, Lucjan BLASZCZYK with Luxembourg’s Ni Xia LIAN in Mixed Doubles in 2002, and Andrzej GRUBBA with the Netherlands’ Bettine VRIESEKOOP in Mixed Doubles in 1982. For WIELGOS and BRZYSKA, the silver medal was a remarkable achievement, although the narrow margins in the final left them wondering what might have been. “Of course, we’re happy to win silver, but we’re also disappointed that we couldn’t win this match. We lost 0-3, but I think it was a close match. We lost the first game 12-14, after having two game points. In the last game, we were leading 9-5. We knew we could win, so we went out and played as we always do. For us, it was just a normal match,” said Anna BRZYSKA. Asked whether she had imagined reaching the final before the tournament began, BRZYSKA admitted that the achievement had exceeded their expectations. “I don’t think we would have believed it. We came here wanting to play our best, and we didn’t expect to reach the final. So we’re very happy.” Zuzanna WIELGOS was more critical of their performance, believing that the Polish pair had failed to reproduce the level they had shown earlier in the competition. “I think we played much better in our previous matches. We didn’t play well in the final at all. Our game was too passive, and we made things difficult for ourselves. It’s also different when you’re playing against fellow Polish players, of course, but we tried to do our best. “The games were quite close, so we could actually have won 3-0. Still, I have to say that we played poorly and didn’t execute our tactics well,” said WIELGOS.
