João GERALDO and Tatiana GARNOVA were crowned Portuguese national champions after defeating Marcos FREITAS and Matilde PINTO, respectively, in the finals held at the Pavilhão Municipal de Vila Nova de Gaia. GERALDO secured his third national title, adding to his previous victories in 2015 and 2021. GARNOVA claimed her second title, having also won in 2023. In the doubles events, Tatiana GARNOVA and Júlia LEAL won the women’s doubles title, while Tiago LI and Rafael KONG claimed gold in the men’s doubles. In the mixed doubles, Gonçalo GOMES and Inês MATOS finished on top of the podium. Reflecting on his performance, João GERALDO said: “I am very happy with the victory. The final was a very high-level match. It was a very special win for me, especially because my whole family was here, including my six-month-old niece. It was a very tough match against Marcos, an athlete I admire and respect immensely. But in this match, I gave my best to win and come out on top, and I’m very happy with the result.” Tatiana GARNOVA shared her thoughts on her achievement: “I’m very happy to be the national champion for Portugal. This victory is the result of many years of hard work, and the trust and support of my team. Today I proved that I can handle pressure at the table. Thank you to everyone who believed in me and inspired me—this trophy is for you. There are still many goals ahead, and I’m ready for new challenges. Thank you!” Men’s Singles Final João GERALDO 4 – Marcos FREITAS 2 (11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-2) Women’s Singles Final Tatiana GARNOVA 4 – Matilde PINTO 1 Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Women’s Doubles Men’s Doubles Mixed Doubles
France: First National Title for Félix LEBRUN
Félix LEBRUN is the new French national champion in men’s singles. After two consecutive final defeats to his older brother Alexis in 2023 and 2024, the younger of the LEBRUN brothers finally claimed the title this Sunday in Levallois, marking a major milestone in his young career. The final, a repeat of the last two editions, was once again a showcase of world-class table tennis and exceptional intensity. In a high-level and emotionally charged encounter, it was Félix who prevailed, demonstrating tremendous resilience and mental strength. In celebration, the 18-year-old climbed onto the table to acknowledge the crowd’s ovation—his first senior national singles title finally secured. French National Championships – Podiums Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles
Latvian Championships: KOGANS and KLIMANOVA Capture National Singles Crowns
The Latvian National Closed Table Tennis Championships took place on March 22–23 at the Sport Hall of O. Kalpaks Riga Folk-Art Primary School in Riga. In the Men’s Singles, Daniels KOGANS claimed the national title for the second time, overcoming Olegs KARTUZOVS in the final. Last year’s champion, Arturs REINHOLDS, secured bronze alongside Sandijs VASILJEVS. In the Women’s Singles, it was a sixth national triumph for the experienced Natalija KLIMANOVA, who defeated Aleksandra JERSOVA in the final. Defending champion Sabina MUSAJEVA and Daniela KUCINSKA took bronze. In the doubles events, the titles were shared among several clubs and experienced pairs. Notably, KLIMANOVA also added two more golds to her collection by winning the Mixed Doubles alongside VASILJEVS, and a bronze in the Women’s Doubles. Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles
Norwegian Championships: HAUG, CARLSEN, and URHAUG Clinch National Titles
In the Norwegian capital of Oslo, the country’s top table tennis players competed for the prestigious His Royal Highness The King’s Trophy during the Norwegian National Championships. In the Women’s Singles, the title was up for grabs with several contenders in strong form. The reigning champion, Christine KALVATN, who last season recorded an outstanding streak by winning ten out of ten gold medals across cadet, junior, and senior events, was defeated in the semi-final by Martine TOFTAKER. TOFTAKER, who lives and trains in Belgium and competes professionally in Germany, advanced to the final where she faced her national teammate Rebekka CARLSEN. CARLSEN, who had overcome Christine’s sister Ann Sophie KALVATN in the other semi-final, has struggled with injuries in recent years. However, in the final, she delivered a remarkable performance—winning the first two games, dropping the next two, but ultimately securing the title by taking the fifth and sixth games. This marks CARLSEN’s fifth national title, her first dating back to 2013, when she was only 14. In the Men’s Singles, Borgar HAUG, professional player for Borussia Düsseldorf, entered as the clear favourite. Despite strong efforts from his challengers—many of whom represent top Swedish clubs—no one came close to toppling him. In the final, he faced long-time teammate Alexander Klerck FRANSSON. HAUG won convincingly in straight sets (4–0), although FRANSSON displayed quality play. This victory marked HAUG’s sixth national title, as he continues to chase the record held by former Bundesliga player Geir ERLANDSEN, who boasts an impressive 13 King’s Trophies. In the Para event, Paralympic star Tommy URHAUG claimed the title, but not without a fight. In the final against Andreas AULIE, URHAUG had to dig deep after losing the first two games. Using his vast international experience, he levelled the match by winning the next two. Just like his semi-final, the final went to a deciding fifth game, where URHAUG emerged victorious with an 11–8 win, raising his arms in celebration. FINALISTS Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Para Men’s Singles
Cajasur Priego Edges Past Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. in Quarterfinal Thriller
In the Europe Cup Men quarterfinal, Spain’s Real Club Cajasur Priego Tenis de Mesa defeated Germany’s PostSV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. in a thrilling five-match duel. Hampus SÖDERLUND proved to be the key player in the Spanish team’s success. Álvaro ROBLES gave the Spanish club a perfect start with a win over Daniel HABESOHN, and Hampus SÖDERLUND followed suit with a victory against Irvin BERTRAND. However, Steffen MENGEL shifted the momentum by defeating Carlos MACHADO. ROBLES stepped up with a chance to clinch the tie in the fourth encounter, but BERTRAND had other plans. In a five-game battle, he leveled the score, forcing a decisive fifth match. SÖDERLUND held off a spirited comeback attempt by the German side, securing a four-game win over HABESOHN to give the Spanish team a narrow advantage heading into the return leg on April 27. “It was a great day today in Priego! The supporters lifted us to a superb level. Now, we’ll prepare and refocus as a team to be ready for the match in Mühlhausen,” said SÖDERLUND. REAL CLUB CAJASUR PRIEGO TENIS DE MESA – Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 3-2
Home Advantage: Türkiye Claims Multiple Titles in Cappadocia
The second tournament in the JOOLA Europe Youth Series 2025, held in Nevşehir, Cappadocia (Türkiye), concluded after five days of exciting competition. In the Under 15 Girls’ Singles, Lotta ROTHFUSS of Germany clinched gold after overcoming compatriot Rhea Zhu CHEN in the final. The bronze medals went to Nil BASRAN and Ela Su YÖNTER, both representing Turkey. In the Under 15 Boys’ Singles, Kenan KAHRAMAN of Turkey secured the title with a win over Malik SEVERINSEN of Denmark. Ioannis-Panagiotis KIOSELOGLOU of Greece and Jonathan GAISER of Germany claimed the bronze. In the Under 13 Girls’ Singles, Turkey’s Ela Su YÖNTER captured the gold medal by defeating Lotta ROTHFUSS of Germany in the final. Belinay DAVUŞ and Armin AYDIN, both from Turkey, reached the semifinals. In the Under 13 Boys’ Singles, Berat ÖZDEMİR of Turkey triumphed over his teammate Ali Enes SEREN in the final. The bronze medals were awarded to Ahmet Yiğit GÜLENLER of Turkey and Theofanis MARKOULAKIS of Greece. In the Under 13 Mixed Doubles Final, Turkey’s Berat ÖZDEMİR and Belinay DAVUŞ overcame their fellow countrymen Ahmet Yiğit GÜLENLER and Duru Beril TOK to win gold. The bronze medals went to the Turkish pairs Ali Enes SEREN / Ela Su YÖNTER and Aras AYDIN / Armin AYDIN. In the final of the Under 15 Mixed Doubles Event, Kenan KAHRAMAN and Nil BASRAN of Turkey defeated Germany’s Jannis WÜRZBERGER and Lotta ROTHFUSS to claim the title. The semifinalists were Jonathan GAISER / Rhea Zhu CHEN of Germany and Kuzey GÜNDOĞDU / Duru KIRBAÇ of Turkey. See the pictures here.
Media Accreditation Now Open for HYLO Champions League Final 4 2025
The media accreditation process for the HYLO Champions League Final 4 2025, set to take place in Saarbrücken on May 31 – June 1, is now officially open. Journalists, photographers, and professional social media content creators are invited to submit their applications via the official press portal: https://finalfour.fcs-tischtennis.de/press In addition to traditional media representatives, a dedicated accreditation path is available for social media professionals. Accreditation will be granted by the ETTU and the LOC based on digital media criteria and space availability. Social Media Content Creators and Field of Play (FoP) Access To gain access to the Field of Play, social media content creators must: Once approved, content creators will receive official event bibs from the organizing committee. These bibs must be worn at all times while on the Field of Play and must be returned after each club match. Without an official bib, access to the FoP is strictly prohibited. Club Social Media Representatives Each participating club may register one social media content creator for Field of Play access. Only clubs currently playing in a match may have their representative on the FoP. The designated person must wear an official bib collected from the ETTU Media Manager and return it once the match concludes. Due to limited space, no additional club media representatives will be allowed on the FoP during matches. Field of Play Regulations To ensure an undisturbed event environment, the following rules apply: ETTU reserves the right to revoke access or remove individuals who fail to comply with these rules. Access to Mixed Zones and Press Tribune Content creators may enter the mixed zone with prior approval from the ETTU Media Manager. They are also permitted to take photos from the press tribune, provided they do so discreetly and without disrupting others. Social Media Collaboration and Tagging Guidelines All accredited content creators are asked to: For further information and to apply for accreditation, visit: https://finalfour.fcs-tischtennis.de/press
Be Part of the Action: Volunteer at the HYLO Champions League Final 4 2025
Want to experience world-class table tennis up close and get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the sport’s most prestigious events? Now’s your chance! The ETTU HYLO Champions League Final 4 is coming to Saarbrücken on May 31 – June 1, 2025, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this high-level table tennis event unforgettable. As a volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the Final 4 – making it a memorable experience for spectators, officials, athletes, and of course, for yourself! In return for your support, you’ll gain unique insights, exciting first-hand experiences, and become part of a dedicated event team. You’ll also receive a volunteer shirt, meals during your shifts, and get the chance to meet the stars of the sport up close. More details about the event and the various volunteer roles are available during the registration process on the event website under the “Volunteers” section. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at: volunteers@fcs-tischtennis.de We look forward to having you on board and thank you in advance for helping to make the HYLO Champions League Final 4 2025 in Saarbrücken a great success!
Türkiye Shines with Three Team Golds at the 2025 JOOLA Europe Youth Series in Cappadocia
In the first part of the 2025 JOOLA Europe Youth Series Türkiye Open held in Nevşehir, Cappadocia, the host nation Türkiye claimed three gold medals in the team events. Türkiye triumphed in the Under 15 Boys’ and Girls’ Team events, as well as the Under 13 Girls’ Team event. Meanwhile, Greece secured gold in the Under 13 Boys’ Team event. In the Under 15 Girls’ Team final, Türkiye 1 narrowly defeated Germany 1 in a thrilling 3-2 encounter. Nil BASARAN and Ayten Ceren KAHRAMAN represented Türkiye, while Rhea Zhu CHEN and Lotta ROTHFUSS played for Germany. In the Under 15 Boys’ Team final, Türkiye 1 overcame Germany 1 in four matches. Kenan KAHRAMAN and Kuzey GÜNDOĞDU of Türkiye secured the win over Jannis WÜRZBERGER and Jonathan GAISER of Germany. KAHRAMAN stood out by winning both of his singles and the doubles match. In the Under 13 Girls’ Team final, Türkiye 1 defeated Türkiye 2 3-1. Duru Beril TOK gave the second team an early lead alongside Belinay DAVUŞ, but Armin AYDIN and Ela Su YÖNTER from the first team responded strongly. YÖNTER was the star performer, winning all three of her matches. In the Under 13 Boys’ Team final, Greece 1 clinched gold by defeating Türkiye 1 in four matches. Theofanis MARKOULAKIS and Nikolaos ALEXIDIS led the Greek side against Ali Enes SEREN and Aras AYDIN of Türkiye. MARKOULAKIS was instrumental, securing three wins in the final. See the pictures here.
Croatia: ĆOSIĆ and BENKO sweep the Under 21 Competition
The Croatian Championship for young seniors in Vrsar was dominated by Leon BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) and Dora ĆOSIĆ (Mladost), who both claimed gold in every possible category – singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. In the men’s singles final, a club showdown from GSTK Zagreb unfolded between Leon BENKO and Ivan HENCL. The two had already secured the gold medal in doubles earlier, and the singles match followed. “Great tournament for me. Before the tournament I only knew we were favorites in doubles, but it turned out great in all three categories,” said Leon BENKO. “We’re currently ranked third in the world, so winning the doubles was expected. We had some struggles in the second set of the final against Lozušić and Zlatkov, that’s where the match was decided, but we managed to push through and win in the end. In singles, I was surprised by how Benko played- he didn’t miss a single ball” said HENCL. In the women’s Under 21 event, Dora ĆOSIĆ (Mladost) dominated the competition. She won her first two qualification matches after five sets, against Jelena VUKELIĆ (Varaždin) and Larisa PUTIGNO (Pula), before securing straightforward victories over Franka MIŠKIĆ (Zagreb) and Victoria PUSTAJ (Mladost) without losing a set. “Although I knew I was the favorite, I didn’t have any big expectations. I took it match by match and let’s see what happens. For doubles, I decided to play with my friend Dora. We used to play together when we were younger, and we always had great chemistry. In the end, everything turned out perfectly,” said the three-time gold medalist ĆOSIĆ. The championship was marked by the dominance of GSTK Zagreb’s table tennis players, who claimed eight medals, including three golds, while Mladost’s players won seven medals, with three golds. The awards were presented to the winners by Dragan KNEŽEVIĆ, vice president of HSTS, and Miodrag BANJAC, president of STK Vrsar and co-organizer of the Croatian Championship. Singles Under 21 Men Semifinals: BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) – LOZUŠIĆ (GSTK Zagreb) 4:0 (11, 8, 3, 4), HENCL (GSTK Zagreb) – PETEK (STK Zagreb) 4:1 (-9, 2, 6, 4, 2); final: BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) – HENCL (GSTK Zagreb) 4:1 (5, 3, 7, -10, 8) Under 21 Women Semifinals: ĆOSIĆ (Mladost) – MIŠKIĆ (Zagreb) 4:0 (9, 6, 4, 9), GOJKOVIĆ (Mladost) – PUSTAJ (Mladost) 0:4 (-5, -3, -6, -9); Final: ćosić (Mladost) – Pustaj (Mladost) 4:0 (5, 10, 3, 9) Doubles Semiifinals: HENCL/BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) – PETEK/MARJANOVIĆ (STK Zagreb) 3:0 (8, 5, 7), ISLAMOVIĆ/ZORIĆ (GSTK Zagreb) – ZLATKOV/LOZUŠIĆ (STK Zagreb/GSTK Zagreb) 0:3 (-6, -9, -9); Final: HENCL/BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) – ZLATKOV/LOZUŠIĆ (STK Zagreb/GSTK Zagreb) 3:0 (6, 14, 8) Semifinals: GOJKOVIĆ/PUSTAJ (Mladost) – BASANIĆ/PUTIGNA (Pula) 3:1 (6, -4, 10, 4), MIŠKIĆ/BENKO (STK Zagreb) – POPEC/ĆOSIĆ (Jadran/Mladost) 1:3 (-5, 7, -3, -9); Finals: GOJKOVIĆ/PUSTAJ (Mladost) – popec/Ćosić (Jadran/Mladost) 2:3 (8, -8, 9, -7, -8) Mixed doubles Semifinals: BENKO/ĆOSIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost) – ZLATKOV/BENKO (STK Zagreb) 3:2 (6, -8, -9, 9, 4), LOZUŠIĆ/PUSTAJ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost) – PETEK/MIŠKIĆ (STK Zagreb) 3:1 (10, -7, 10, 4); Final: BENKO/ĆOSIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost) – LOZUŠIĆ/PUSTAJ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost) 3:0 (15, 10, 6) Singles Under 21 Men Under 21 Women Doubles Men Women Mix doubles
