France’s Alexia NODIN continued her impressive run at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships by winning Group 7 and securing her place in the knockout stage. The 15-year-old French player has quietly put together one of the strongest campaigns of the tournament so far. Her journey was far from straightforward. NODIN began the championships with a 0-3 defeat against Germany’s Lorena MORSCH in Stage 1, leaving her with little room for error. She responded in style, beating Czechia’s Hanka KODET 3-0 and Finland’s Maria GIRLEA 3-0 to progress to Stage 2. Once there, NODIN raised her level again. Her campaign in Group 7 started with a dramatic comeback victory over Croatia’s Dora COSIC. Trailing 1-3, she recovered to win 4-3 before following up with a 4-0 victory against Portugal’s Mariana SANTA COMBA. The decisive match came against Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ, the highest-seeded player in the group. Although the scoreline ended 4-0 in NODIN’s favour, the French player insisted it was much closer than it appeared. “The games were actually quite close, even though the score was 4-0. I managed to win the important points and didn’t really give her the chance to get into the match. I’m very pleased with how I played.” Reflecting on her group campaign, NODIN admitted the opening match against COSIC had been the toughest challenge. “The first match against COSIC was quite complicated. I found myself trailing 1-3, but I managed to come back and win 4-3. I didn’t panic and stayed calm throughout the match.” Her second victory also carried extra significance. “Against SANTA COMBA, I was playing a girl I had lost to 3-0 not long ago, so I was very happy to win this time 4-0.” The results in Cluj-Napoca continue a strong season for the young French player, who has already made two WTT Youth Star Contender Under 19 finals this year. “I reached two WTT Youth Star Contender finals in the Under 19 category. I think those are my two best results of the year. Considering that I will only turn 16 this year, I’m very happy with that.” After recovering from an opening-day defeat in Stage 1 and then coming through a demanding Stage 2 group, NODIN heads into the knockout rounds with confidence and momentum on her side. Last year at the European Youth Championships NODIN clinched gold medal in doubles partnering Lou -Anne BOCQUET in Under 15 event. PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The second day of competition at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships saw the top seeds enter the Women’s Singles event, and it did not take long for one of the tournament’s biggest surprises to arrive. In Group 2, Moldova’s Alexandra CHIRIACOVA, seeded No. 18, produced a sensational performance to defeat second seed Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine 4-0 (11-3, 12-10, 13-11, 14-12). MATIUNINA arrived in Cluj-Napoca as one of the leading contenders, having won the European Under 21 title in 2024 and finished runner-up last year in Bratislava. Yet CHIRIACOVA showed no signs of nerves, winning three tightly contested games after taking the opener comfortably to big victory of her career. The Moldovan admitted she was far from optimistic when she first saw the draw. “Actually, I was very sad when I saw the draw. In previous years I had difficult draws, and when I saw this group with Veronika MATIUNINA and Bianca MEI ROSU, I thought, ‘OK, I will just do my best and show everyone how I can play.’” CHIRIACOVA also felt that her experience from Stage 1 helped her settle more quickly into the match. “Veronika maybe didn’t feel so comfortable because it was her first match, while I had already played in the previous stage. I was relaxed and I managed to keep the ball on the table.” The other match in the group saw Romania’s Bianca MEI ROSU make an impressive start, defeating Spain’s Eugenia SASTRE 4-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-8, 11-4). Competing in front of a home crowd, MEI ROSU was delighted to begin her Stage 2 campaign with a victory. “It’s very special. I think this is my third time playing here and I really enjoy competing in front of the home crowd. I want to show my best game and prove myself.” The Romanian felt her familiarity with the group helped her approach the match with confidence. “When I saw the group, I knew I could play well because I had already played all three adversaries before. I knew this match would be a tough one, but I managed to focus on my game and my tactics.” Meanwhile, Group 1 largely followed the seeding predictions. Defending champion and top seed Anna HURSEY of Wales opened her title defence with a 4-1 victory over Belgium’s Julie VAN HAUWAERT. After dropping the first game, HURSEY quickly settled into her rhythm and won the next four to secure the win. In the group’s second match, Poland’s Natalia BOGDANOWICZ also recovered from a slow start to defeat Romania’s Alesia Sofia SFERLEA 4-1. With the seeded players now entering the competition and the first major upset already recorded, the battle for places in the knockout stage is beginning to take shape in Cluj-Napoca. In Group 5 Germany’s Koharu ITAGAKI and Czechia’s Veronika POLAKOVA moved into strong positions in the race for qualification. ITAGAKI was forced to work hard for her victory against Luxembourg’s Enisa SADIKOVIC, eventually prevailing 4-2 in a closely contested encounter. After exchanging games throughout much of the match, the German found the decisive answers in the closing stages to secure the win. Despite falling behind at different moments, ITAGAKI never lost belief. “I was expecting a difficult match. I just told myself to stay calm and that I could still win even if I was behind. I managed to stay positive and that was very important.” According to the German, a tactical adjustment proved decisive. “The key was changing my serve towards the end of the match. It was effective and helped me win some easier points.” The other match in the group produced a convincing victory for Czechia’s Veronika POLAKOVA, who defeated Belgium’s Lilou MASSART 4-0. PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The second day of play at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships marked the start of Stage 2, with the top eight seeds entering the singles competition for the first time. All eyes were on Group 1, where top seed and home favourite Iulian CHIRITA began his campaign. Last year’s runner-up made a confident start, defeating Luxembourg’s Mael VAN DESSEL 4-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3). In the group’s other match, Turkey’s Görkem ÖÇAL, who advanced from Stage 1, continued his impressive run with a 4-0 victory over Sweden’s Isak ALFREDSSON. For CHIRITA, the opening match brought a mixture of nerves and relief. “It’s very important to start well in such a competition. I was a bit stressed because the first match is always difficult, but I managed to play well. I still have two more matches and I hope to win them.” Despite arriving as the top seed and one of the title favourites, the Romanian remains focused on taking the tournament one step at a time. “I always like to take it match by match, game by game, and not think ahead. I try to give as much as possible in every match. In the end, I will see what the result is.” Playing in front of a home crowd naturally raises expectations, but CHIRITA is determined not to look too far ahead. “It would be the most important title of my career. I never won a European title in cadets or juniors. I lost in the final last year, but I don’t want to think that far ahead, about the semifinals or the final.” While the leading contenders made their entrance, several lower groups produced notable surprises. In Group 7, Slovakia’s Damian FLORO, seeded No. 21, produced one of the biggest results of the round by defeating England’s Connor GREEN, the No. 7 seed, 4-1. In the same group, Bulgaria’s Yoan VELICHKOV, seeded No. 13, justified his ranking with a 4-1 victory over Poland’s Marcel BLASZCZYK. FLORO was delighted with a victory over one of the tournament’s leading seeds. “It’s very good for me, especially because Connor is playing very well right now. I was 100 percent focused and played very well. This is my second Under 21 Championships and he is in very good form, so this victory means a lot to me.” The Slovak explained that his game plan was built around discipline and taking every opportunity. “I wanted to win every point and take every chance I got because he is a very good player. I had to stay strong in my own game.” Another surprise came in Group 5, where Denmark’s Dominykas SAMUOLIS, seeded No. 20, defeated fifth seed Gabrielius CAMARA of the Netherlands 4-2. In the group’s other encounter, Czechia’s Stepan BRHEL, seeded No. 16, edged Slovakia’s Samuel ARPAS, the No. 10 seed, in a dramatic seven-game battle. For SAMUOLIS, the victory was made even more special by the fact that CAMARA is a close friend and teammate. “I am very happy. He is a good teammate of mine. We both live in Sweden and play for the same club. I don’t usually beat him.” The Dane credited a patient and disciplined approach for the result. “I wanted to play very safely and not take too many unnecessary risks. I tried to stay calm and play the shots that would help me win in the long run.” One of the most convincing performances of the opening day of Stage 2 came from Germany’s Andre BERTELSMEIER, who strengthened his position at the top of Group 2 with two impressive victories. The German, who claimed a bronze medal at last year’s European Under 21 Championships, began his campaign with a 4-1 win over Czechia’s Jakub MAKARA before producing an even more dominant display against Italy’s Danilo FASO. FASO had earned his place in Stage 2 by winning his qualification group and opened with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Israel’s Eitay SHUSHAN. However, he found BERTELSMEIER in outstanding form in the evening session, with the German securing a convincing 4-0 victory (11-5, 11-4, 11-2, 11-9). After winning both of his opening matches, BERTELSMEIER was pleased with the way he had settled into the tournament. “It was a very good start. It was tough to get into the first match, but after the first set everything was OK. Now I am ready for the next matches.” The German is also clear about what he hopes to achieve in Cluj-Napoca. “I want to win as much as possible. I want to go home with the gold medal. Last year I won bronze, now I want to lift the trophy.” PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships is underway in Cluj-Napoca, with the opening days dedicated to Stage 1 and 2 of the singles events. Under the championship format, the top eight seeded players are placed directly into Stage 2, bypassing the qualification phase. . That meant defending Women’s Singles champion and top seed Anna HURSEY of Wales was not in action on the opening day. Instead, she will begin her title defence when Stage 2 commences today, joining a group that also features Natalia BOGDANOWICZ of Poland, Julie VAN HAUWAERT of Belgium, and Romania’s Alesia Sofia SFERLEA. HURSEY enters the stage looking to defend the title she won so memorably the previous year. When HURSEY returns to Cluj-Napoca, she does so carrying a unique piece of European table tennis history. Twelve months ago in Bratislava, the Welsh star enjoyed the most successful tournament of her young career, becoming the first Welsh player ever to win a European title in a women’s or youth event. She left Slovakia with two gold medals, claiming both the Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles crowns and establishing herself among the leading players of her generation. Now, she returns as the player everyone wants to beat. “I remember the tournament being very successful, winning the singles and doubles event, so I’m very excited to play again and hopefully play my best,” HURSEY said ahead of the championships. The past year has brought new experiences, tougher opponents and further progress. Regular appearances on the senior circuit have helped the Welsh player continue her development, giving her valuable opportunities to test herself against some of the sport’s most established names. “It helps me massively, to have more confidence and experience playing against high-level players,” she explained. Those experiences have also helped shape what she believes is the strongest period of her career so far. “I think I’m in a good place heading into Cluj-Napoca. I feel good physically and emotionally going into the tournament. I’ve had my best results in the last year, so I’m just hoping I can keep building on that over the next years.” The Women’s Singles event promises to be one of the highlights of the championships. Former European Under 21 champion Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine is seeded second and eager to reclaim the title she won in 2024. Italy’s Nicole ARLIA, France’s Leana HOCHART, Luxembourg’s Enisa SADIKOVIC and Poland’s Zuzanna WIELGOS are among a strong group of contenders, while a host of emerging talents will be looking to make their breakthrough on the European stage. Yet HURSEY is taking nothing for granted. “I’ve seen there are many good players playing the event. I think everyone I play will be a good challenge for me.” Success in Bratislava may have elevated expectations, but the Welsh player is approaching this year’s tournament with the same determination that carried her to the title twelve months ago. “I’m very happy to have won two gold medals last year and I know it will be a different challenge to do it all again, but I will give it my all.” While defending the Women’s Singles crown remains an obvious objective, HURSEY’s ambitions extend beyond medals. “Of course I want to have good results in Cluj-Napoca, but I also have goals about my play that I want to achieve as well.” With confidence high, valuable senior-level experience behind her and another opportunity to make history ahead, Anna HURSEY arrives in Cluj-Napoca as the player to beat. Whether she can successfully defend her title remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Europe’s next generation will be chasing the champion from Wales.

One of the most intriguing stories of the opening day at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships unfolded in Group 1, where Croatia’s Borna PETEK followed up a stunning victory over top qualification seed Mateusz ZALEWSKI with a difficult encounter against home player Robert ISTRATE. Earlier in the day, PETEK produced one of the biggest upsets of Stage 1, defeating Poland’s ZALEWSKI in straight games. The Croatian credited thorough preparation and a clear tactical plan for the victory. “I prepared really well with my coach. We had a good tactic, my adversary didn’t feel so confident and I played very well. In the end, the tactic made the difference.” However, maintaining that momentum proved difficult against ISTRATE, who bounced back strongly after suffering a heartbreaking five-game defeat to Sweden’s Isak ALFREDSSON in his opening match. The Romanian recovered impressively to secure a commanding 3-0 victory over PETEK, keeping his qualification hopes alive. “It was a difficult preparation. In the first match he won 3-0, he was confident. I lost my first match after leading 2-0 and 10-8, so I tried to focus only on this match and do my best.” ISTRATE felt his second performance was built on greater discipline and a stronger mental approach. “My confidence was lower, but the game was better, even though the first match wasn’t bad either. My discipline was higher.” The victory brought obvious relief to the Romanian. “I’m very happy and I’m looking forward to the next match.” After two rounds, Group 1 remains wide open. ZALEWSKI recovered from his opening defeat by overcoming ALFREDSSON 3-1, while ISTRATE’s victory over PETEK ensured that all four players remain in contention heading into the decisive phase of the group. Another surprise followed in Group 2 as Slovakia’s Samuel ARPAS was beaten by Turkey’s Görkem ÖÇAL, who secured a convincing 3-0 victory (11-7, 11-3, 11-6) to take an early advantage in the group. While some of the favorites stumbled, Portugal’s Tiago ABIODUN and Italy’s Danilo FASO both opened their campaigns with impressive victories. One of the most convincing performances of the opening session came from Portugal’s Tiago ABIODUN, who took control of Group 3 with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Finland’s Lassi LEHTOLA (11-2, 11-6, 11-4). In the group’s other encounter, Poland’s Marcel BLASZCZYK defeated Lithuania’s Ignas SISANOVAS by the same scoreline. ABIODUN arrived in Cluj-Napoca encouraged by his recent progress and believes he is in a strong position to challenge for a medal. ” I recovered my shape after the surgery. I am playing great and I am very happy to be here.” The Portuguese player has placed all of his focus on the singles event. “My goal is to win a medal. I don’t play doubles or mixed doubles because I want to be rested for singles.” Despite his confident start, ABIODUN expects a difficult road ahead. “It’s a 50-50 match every time, very difficult. I think I can manage to go through the main draw.” ABIODUN followed his opening win over Finland’s LEHTOLA with a 3-1 victory against Lithuania’s Ignas SISANOVAS (11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7). The Portuguese player now sits at the top of the group and is well placed to secure qualification for the next stage. In the other Group 3 match, Poland’s Marcel BLASZCZYK defeated LEHTOLA 3-1 to remain in contention. Italy’s Danilo FASO also opened his campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Switzerland’s Noe KEUSCH 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-7) to move to the top of Group 6. The group’s second match proved far more dramatic, with Greece’s Georgios KOSMAS recovering from a two-game deficit to beat Sweden’s Elias SJÖGREN 3-2. Competing in his second Under 21 Championships, FASO was pleased with the way he began the tournament. “I feel good. It’s my second year playing Under 21. I just want to play and I’m happy after this game. Now I have to play a player from Sweden and I hope to play like this and pass the first group. I feel very good after this 3-0 win.” One of the youngest players in the field, the Italian sees the event as an opportunity to test himself against older opponents. “Everybody is older than me, so this is a challenge. I hope to do my best and play very well.” FASO also acknowledged the depth of quality throughout the draw. “It’s hard. The first eight players don’t play the first group and they are very good. The European Under 19 Championships would probably be easier for me because everyone is younger, but I will do my best.” FASO also maintained a perfect record in Group 6. After opening with a 3-0 victory over Switzerland’s Noe KEUSCH, the Italian followed up with a 3-1 win against Sweden’s Elias SJOGREN (11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5). Group 11 produced another surprise as Sweden’s William BERGENBLOCK recovered from an opening-round defeat to upset Austria’s Julian RZIHAUSCHEK in a thrilling five-game encounter. RZIHAUSCHEK had started the day strongly, defeating Germany’s Lleyton ULLMANN 3-1, while BERGENBLOCK suffered a narrow five-game loss to Portugal’s Clement LAINE. However, the Swede bounced back impressively in Round 2, overcoming RZIHAUSCHEK 3-2 (11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5). PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The opening day of the women’s singles competition at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships produced plenty of drama, with one favourite battling back from the brink and another suffering an unexpected defeat. See pictures here. Portugal’s Matilde PINTO recovered from an opening-round loss to keep her hopes alive in Group 1. After falling to Croatia’s Dora COSIC 3-1 in her first match, PINTO responded when it mattered most, defeating Sweden’s Alice NILSSON 3-2 in a tense encounter decided by the narrowest of margins in the fifth game. The Portuguese player held her nerve at the crucial moments to secure a 12-10 victory in the decider. “The important part is to stay focused on what I have to do and not the result.” Despite remaining in contention for qualification, PINTO admitted she is approaching the tournament cautiously due to physical issues. “Not so much expectation. I’m injured, so I just try to play my best.” Asked what she would like to improve ahead of her next match, PINTO kept her answer simple. “Play better than the match before, not anything specific.” The biggest surprise of the session came in Group 2, where Belgium’s Lilou MASSART opened with a 3-1 victory over Jersey’s Hannah SILCOCK before suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat to Denmark’s Mille STOFFREGEN. STOFFREGEN, who won 11-8, 11-8, 11-2, was not surprised by the outcome. “I played against her before, so I knew I could beat her. In the meantime I changed to anti-spin on my backhand, so I made a lot of progress since the last time we played.” The victory significantly boosts the STOFFREGEN’s chances of progressing and provides a welcome confidence boost heading into the remainder of the group stage. “It gives me a lot of confidence.” Romania’s Patricia STOICA produced a remarkable comeback to knock out one of the tournament favourites, Lilou MASSART. The Belgian looked to be in control after winning the first two games and appeared on course to secure the result she needed. But STOICA refused to give up. The young Romanian gradually found her rhythm, turned the momentum around and won the next three games to complete a memorable 3-2 victory. It was a result few would have predicted at the start of the day. For STOICA, the key was trusting the plan even when things were not going her way. “I tried to follow the tactic even though it didn’t feel like it was working in the first two sets. I tried to leave all the thoughts behind because I knew it was my last match.” That belief paid off as she completed one of the most impressive comebacks of the day. “I always like comeback victories. It’s not unusual for me because I always try to fight until the end, but this win gives me great satisfaction.” What makes the achievement even more remarkable is how quickly STOICA is adapting to a much higher level of competition. Just a year ago, she was competing in the Under 15 category. “I was shocked by the level here because last year I was competing in Under 15. But I am taking this amazing opportunity to give my best and learn as much as possible for the coming years.”

The city of Cluj-Napoca is set to become the centre of European table tennis from 17 to 21 June as it hosts the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships. “Romania has a strong tradition in table tennis, building on the great legacy of Angelica ROZEANU, Ella CONSTANTINESCU and Maria ALEXANDRU, to name just a few amazing athletes from the Romanian ‘Walk of Fame’. The Romanian Table Tennis Federation has carried and built on this legacy, and each generation of new athletes has honoured it through their achievements,” said Beatrice ROMANESCU, ITTF Executive Vice President, Romanian Table Tennis Federation Marketing Manager and Tournament Director. Cluj-Napoca has become one of the most experienced hosts of major European table tennis events. The city previously welcomed the European Under 21 Championships in 2022, the European Youth Championships in 2018 and the European Team Championships in 2021. The ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships will be staged at the BT Arena, one of Romania’s premier sports venues, where Europe’s most talented young players will compete for titles in Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Romania’s position as a trusted organiser of major international competitions is the result of years of work and a rich sporting tradition. Reflecting on this journey, ROMANESCU highlighted the steady growth of the federation’s organisational capabilities over the past two decades. “We have come a long way. We started rather small, back in the early 2000s, with the Balkan Championships in Buzău. It was a difficult start, but the investment paid off. Less than a decade later, in 2012, we were organising the European Mixed Doubles Championships and several other competitions.” She described the 2018 European Youth Championships in Cluj-Napoca as a turning point for Romanian table tennis. “That year started a strong annual series of major sporting events. Many will remember the European Youth Championships as a landmark event, with two fantastic weeks of table tennis and the presence of many guests from both ETTU and ITTF.” Since then, Romania has hosted a major European championship almost every year, including the European Team Championships in 2021, the European Under 21 Championships in 2022, the Europe Youth Top 10 in 2023 and the European Under 13 Championships in 2024. Last year, Romania once again demonstrated its organisational strength when it hosted the World Youth Championships, bringing the event back to the country for the first time since the 1953 World Championships in Bucharest. “I would say it was one of the best editions ever organised at this level, and many people in a position to properly assess such competitions share that opinion,” ROMANESCU noted. “The credit goes to the small but extremely hard-working team of the Romanian Table Tennis Federation led by President Cristinel ROMANESCU. This valuable team has gone from strength to strength, year after year.” Romania will also be strongly represented on home soil. In the men’s event, local hopes will centre on top seed Iulian CHIRITA, Darius MOVILEANU and Andrei ISTRATE. CHIRITA returns after reaching last year’s final in Bratislava, while MOVILEANU arrives as one of the most decorated players in the field after claiming Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles gold medals at the 2025 edition. The host nation also boasts a strong women’s contingent led by Bianca MEI ROSU and Alesia Sofia SFERLEA, while wildcard Patricia STOICA will have the opportunity to compete in front of home supporters. For ROMANESCU, however, the significance of the event extends beyond the immediate battle for medals. “Here we are now back in Cluj for a new edition of the Under 21 European Championships. The protagonists of this challenge will be the best young athletes in Europe. This is really big, because we are talking about tomorrow’s generation of senior players in table tennis!” The championships will feature extensive coverage, including two days of live television on TVR Sport and five days of live streaming, ensuring fans across Europe can follow the action from Cluj-Napoca. “I am very much looking forward to a spectacular and exciting display: two days of live TV on TVR Sport, five days of live streaming, a plethora of shiny medals, and plenty of youthful power and enthusiasm.” With a passionate crowd expected throughout the week, Europe’s brightest young talents preparing to compete, and Romania once again ready to showcase its renowned hospitality and organisational expertise, Cluj-Napoca is preparing for another memorable chapter in its rich table tennis history. “We are ready to welcome everyone most warmly, with great hospitality arrangements and services, venue access, networking opportunities – you name it. We have the ambition to make these championships a memorable celebration of European table tennis. And you can be part of it.”

The race for the Men’s Singles title at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships promises to be one of the most competitive in recent years, with a field packed with established stars and emerging talents. Home favourite Iulian CHIRITA heads the seeding list as he looks to complete unfinished business after finishing runner-up at the 2025 European Under 21 Championships in Bratislava. Competing in front of Romanian supporters, CHIRITA will be determined to capture his first Under 21 European title. Germany’s Andre BERTELSMEIER and Wim VERDONSCHOT arrive among the leading contenders. Both have consistently featured among Europe’s strongest young players and will be aiming to challenge for gold in Cluj-Napoca. Romania’s Darius MOVILEANU and the Netherlands’ Gabrielius CAMARA complete the top five seeds, while Andrei ISTRATE of Romania, Connor GREEN of England, Daniel BERZOSA of Spain, Mateusz ZALEWSKI of Poland and Samuel ARPAS of Slovakia add further depth to a highly competitive draw. MOVILEANU enters the championships carrying significant momentum after winning Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles gold medals in Bratislava last year, while several players in the field are seeking their first major continental breakthrough. With established contenders and rising stars sharing the draw, the battle for the Men’s Singles crown is expected to provide some of the most exciting matches of the championships.