The 2026 European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca marked a special milestone for European table tennis – the tenth edition of an event that has become a vital stepping stone between youth competition and the senior ranks. When the championships were launched in 2017, the concept was still untested. The objective was to provide young players with an opportunity to continue their development after the youth categories while preparing them for the demands of elite senior competition. What was first a test to see if there would be room for an event for the younger adults to reduce the distance between youth and the absolute European top level has now become a mature event in the European table tennis event system. The inaugural edition took place in Sochi before the championships travelled to Minsk, Gondomar, Varaždin, Spa, Cluj-Napoca, Sarajevo, Skopje and Bratislava, returning to Cluj-Napoca in 2026. Over the course of ten editions, nearly 40 ETTU member associations have participated in the event. The championships have produced winners from across the continent. Twenty-five associations have won medals, while sixteen have celebrated at least one European Under 21 champion. The statistics collected over the first decade reveal the nations that have left the biggest mark on the competition. “The most successful Association in these 10 years is without any doubt Romania,” said ETTU Ranking Committee Chair Igor HELLER. The host nation of the 2026 edition added another five medals to its remarkable collection, bringing its overall tally to 40 medals: 11 gold, 12 silver and 17 bronze. Poland occupies second place on the all-time medal table with seven gold, four silver and 12 bronze medals, while Germany ranks third with six gold, nine silver and seven bronze. Romania’s influence is equally visible in the individual rankings. “Among the best 10 players we find no less than six Romanian players, including the two best ones,” HELLER pointed out. “Leading the all-time medal standings is Elena ZAHARIA, who amassed three gold, three silver and two bronze medals during her Under 21 career. Close behind is Bianca MEI ROSU with three gold and two silver medals.” Only a select group of players have managed to win three European Under 21 titles. Alongside ZAHARIA and MEI ROSU, that exclusive club includes Poland’s Milosz REDZIMSKI and Wales’ Anna HURSEY. HURSEY and ZAHARIA also share a unique distinction. They remain the only players in championship history to have captured titles in all three disciplines available to them – singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Winning a European title is a major achievement. Successfully defending one is even rarer. During the first ten editions of the championships, only three successful title defences have been recorded. The first came from Türkiye’s Özge YILMAZ and Ece HARAÇ, who retained the Women’s Doubles title in 2021 and 2022. REDZIMSKI followed by defending the Men’s Singles crown in consecutive years, winning the title in both 2023 and 2024. As the European Under 21 Championships celebrate their tenth anniversary, the event stands as one of the success stories of the ETTU competition calendar. What began as an experiment has evolved into a proven pathway for Europe’s most promising talents, helping to bridge the gap between youth and senior table tennis while creating champions and memorable moments along the way. Medals Table European U21 Championships individual                     Pl Name   Ass Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 Elena Zaharia ROU 3 3 2 8 2 Bianca Mei Rosu ROU 3 2 0 5 3 Milosz Redzimski POL 3 0 2 5 4 Anna Hursey WAL 3 0 0 3 5 Darius Movileanu ROU 2 2 2 6 6 Adina Diaconu ROU 2 1 3 6 7 Rares Sipos ROU 2 1 2 5 7 Andre Bertelsmeier GER 2 1 2 5 9 Ivor Ban CRO 2 1 1 4 10 Christian Pletea ROU 2 1 0 3 11 Hana Arapovic CRO 2 0 4 6 12 Zuzana Wielgos POL 2 0 3 5 13 Mia Griesel GER 2 0 2 4 14 Ece Harac TUR 2 0 0 2 14 Ioannis Sgouropoulos GRE 2 0 0 2 14 Özge Yilmaz TUR 2 0 0 2 17 Veronika Matiunina UKR 1 3 2 6 18 Wim Verdonschot GER 1 3 0 4 19 Andrea Dragoman ROU 1 2 3 6 19 Maciej Kubik POL 1 2 3 6 19 Mariia Tailakova RUS 1 2 3 6 22 Csaba Andras HUN 1 2 1 4 23 Eduard Ionescu ROU 1 2 0 3 24 Samuel Kulczycki POL 1 1 4 6 25 Lisa Lung BEL 1 1 3 5 25 Iulian Chirita ROU 1 1 3 5 27 Prithika Pavade FRA 1 1 2 4 28 Luciana Mitrofan ROU 1 1 0 2 28 Nolwenn Fort FRA 1 1 0 2 28 Tomislav Pucar CRO 1 1 0 2 31 Andrei Istrate ROU 1 0 5 6 31 Anna Brzyska POL 1 0 5 6 33 Vladimir Sidorenko RUS 1 0 3 4 34 Darko Jorgic SLO 1 0 2 3 34 Leili Mostafavi FRA 1 0 2 3 36 Flavien Coton FRA 1 0 1 2 36 Natalia Bajor POL 1 0 1 2 36 Thibault Poret FRA 1 0 1 2 36 Tomas Polansky CZE 1 0 1 2 40 Abdulla Yigenler TUR 1 0 0 1 40 Adrien Rassenfosse BEL 1 0 0 1 40 Alexander Valuch SVK 1 0 0 1 40 Ana Garcia ESP 1 0 0 1 40 Anders Lind DEN 1 0 0 1 40 Annett Kaufmann GER 1 0 0 1 40 Chantal Mantz GER 1 0 0 1 40 Eline Loyen BEL 1 0 0 1 40 Hugo Deschamps FRA 1 0 0 1 40 Ibrahim Gunduz TUR 1 0 0 1 40 Karoline Mischek AUT 1 0 0 1 40 Olav Kosolosky BEL 1 0 0 1 40 Peter Hribar SLO 1 0 0 1 40 Solomiya Brateyko UKR 1 0 0 1 40 Tin-Tin Ho ENG 1

Andre BERTELSMEIER secured the Men’s Singles title at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca after defeating compatriot Wim VERDONSCHOT in an all-German final. BERTELSMEIER claimed gold, VERDONSCHOT took silver, while Connor GREEN of England and Darius MOVILEANU of Romania earned bronze medals. The final brought together two players who had already enjoyed outstanding championships. VERDONSCHOT arrived carrying the momentum of his Men’s Doubles gold medal and Mixed Doubles silver, while BERTELSMEIER was aiming to complete his own successful campaign with the biggest prize of all. For much of the final, BERTELSMEIER appeared in complete control. The German raced into a commanding 3-0 lead, taking the opening games 11-7, 11-9 and 11-6. However, VERDONSCHOT showed the fighting spirit that had carried him throughout the week, winning the next three games to level the match and force a deciding seventh game. With the title hanging in the balance, BERTELSMEIER delivered his strongest game of the match. He quickly established control in the decider and powered to an 11-3 victory to secure the European Under 21 crown. The victory crowned an excellent week for BERTELSMEIER and rewarded years of dedication. “Means that all the hard work I put in every day was worth it. It’s amazing to lift the trophy. Many good players won it before me and this gives me confidence for the future,” said BERTELSMEIER. The newly crowned champion admitted that the final was every bit as demanding as expected against a player he knows extremely well. “We know each other well. It was tough. After being 3-0 up he came back. I was a bit fresher in the end. He played more matches, maybe this is why I won. It was 50-50 all the way.” BERTELSMEIER also revealed that he embraces the pressure that comes with competing for major titles. “You can see it as pressure or fun. It is an honour to have that pressure and play for a title. It was my second final. I think about winning, not losing, and that gives me excitement for the match.” The German felt comfortable from the moment he arrived in Cluj-Napoca, believing his preparation under local conditions helped him build momentum throughout the week. “From the start of the tournament I had a good feeling. I came here early to train under the conditions. After the first match I felt good and I kept feeling good throughout the whole tournament.” Asked about the most difficult moment of his title run, BERTELSMEIER pointed directly to the deciding stages of the final. “The seventh set here. At deuce there is a lot of pressure to find solutions, and in the end I found them.” Looking back on the championships as a whole, he took particular satisfaction from sharing success with his teammate and final opponent. “I am proud of every match.In the end I won two titles, one with Wim and one against him. It is a good example of our work together.” Third seed VERDONSCHOT secured his place in the Men’s Singles final after defeating seventh seed Connor GREEN of England 4-2 (6-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7). The semifinal was a rematch of a previous encounter between the two players, and VERDONSCHOT expected another difficult challenge. After dropping the opening game, the German adjusted his approach and gradually took control of the contest. “I knew it would be a hard match against Connor. We played last year as well and it was a tough battle,” said VERDONSCHOT. GREEN’s serve proved to be one of the biggest obstacles throughout the match. “His service, especially his backhand service from the middle of the table. The long one had a lot of backspin and was difficult to handle.” The turning point came after the opening game, when VERDONSCHOT made tactical changes that allowed him to dictate play more effectively. “It was very important to stay disciplined. I changed my tactic a bit after the first set and after that I felt good. I had the feeling that he didn’t really have solutions.” The German has been one of the most consistent performers throughout the week and believes his form is improving at the right moment. “I’m playing well and I’ve already played a lot of matches here. I lost in the mixed doubles final last night, but this win gives me confidence. Now I will watch the other semifinal and see what happens.” Reaching the final marks a significant milestone in his Under 21 career. “It means a lot, especially because now I can play in the Senior European Championships. This is my third Under 21 Championships and I have never reached the final before.” Germany’s Andre BERTELSMEIER, the No. 2 seed, booked his place in the final after defeating Romania’s Darius MOVILEANU, the No. 4 seed, 4-1 (11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9). In front of the home crowd, MOVILEANU fought hard to stay in contention, but BERTELSMEIER controlled much of the semifinal, particularly in the opening two games. The German made a strong start, taking the first game comfortably before edging a crucial second game to build a gap. MOVILEANU responded by claiming the third game and briefly shifted the momentum, but BERTELSMEIER quickly regained control to close out the match in five games and secure his place in the championship match. “It was a tough match. Darius is a very good and very strong player. I was able to dominate many of the games and I’m very happy to advance to the final,” said BERTELSMEIER. The German highlighted the importance of his fast start and tactical discipline. “I had a very good start, especially in the first two games. I dominated the first game. In the second he was ahead for a while, but after the halfway point I changed my tactic and managed to win it. In the close situations I had a good plan and that made the difference.” Maintaining concentration was another key factor against a dangerous opponent. “It required a lot of focus. It’s

Bianca MEI ROSU of Romania captured the Women’s Singles gold medal at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca, defeating Sara TOKIC of Slovenia 4-1 in a dramatic final. TOKIC secured silver, while Alexia NODIN of France and Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland shared the bronze medals. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, MEI ROSU produced a superb performance to add the Women’s Singles crown to the Women’s Doubles silver medal she had already won earlier today, finishing the championships with two medals. The final was far closer than the scoreline suggests. After taking the opening two games 11-8, 11-8, MEI ROSU saw TOKIC respond by claiming the third game 11-5. The fourth game proved to be one of the decisive moments of the match. Trailing 8-10 and facing two game points, the Romanian reeled off five of six points to snatch the game 13-11. That momentum carried into the fifth game as MEI ROSU stormed to an astonishing 7-0 lead. Yet TOKIC refused to surrender. The Slovenian fought back from 6-10, saving four match points and forcing extra points before MEI ROSU finally sealed the title 13-11. The title represents the biggest success of MEI ROSU’s Under 21 career and her first Women’s Singles gold medal at the European Under 21 Championships after several previous appearances ended before the medal rounds. “I don’t know how to describe it in words. Before this tournament I didn’t think that I would play the final and win it. It’s the best competition by far,” said MEI ROSU. Reflecting on the final, she highlighted the importance of confidence and self-control. “It was tough because it’s the last match and I had a lot of matches before. I knew she would be a tough opponent. We have met many times before and the matches were different every time. The most important thing was my confidence in my game.” The Romanian also explained how she managed the pressure created by the enthusiastic crowd. “I took a deep breath every time. I talked to myself during the game. The supporters were many and sometimes too loud, so speaking with myself was the best thing.” Looking back on the week, MEI ROSU admitted that overcoming disappointment earlier in the tournament was one of her biggest challenges. “It wasn’t easy. After I lost in mixed doubles I really wanted a medal. It was hard to come back from it and focus on the next matches.” The champion pointed to her opening encounter as an important moment in her journey. “I started this tournament with a really tough match with NEUMANN. I wanted to be ready from the beginning, from the first set and the first point all the way to the end.” Winning the title exceeded even her own expectations. “It means a lot. I don’t have words to describe it. I didn’t expect to win.” TOKIC’s silver medal capped an outstanding championships for the Slovenian. In addition to reaching the Women’s Singles final, she also collected bronze medals in both Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles, concluding the event with three medals. The achievement places TOKIC among a select group of players who have won three medals at a single European Under 21 Championships. Since the introduction of Mixed Doubles in 2020, only a handful of players have achieved the feat: Adina DIACONU (2020), Prithika PAVADE (2022), Mia GRIESEL and Samuel KUCZICKY (2023), Hana ARAPOVIC, Elena ZAHARIA and Maciej KUBIK (2024), Elena ZAHARIA again in 2025, and now Sara TOKIC in 2026. Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT also joined that exclusive club in Cluj-Napoca, winning gold in Men’s Doubles, silver in Mixed Doubles and reaching the Men’s Singles final. Sara TOKIC booked her place in the Women’s Singles final after edging past 15-year-old French defender Alexia NODIN in a dramatic seven-game semifinal. The encounter proved to be one of the closest matches of the tournament, with TOKIC eventually prevailing 4-3 (11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 13-11, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10). NODIN, seeded No. 28 and one of the youngest players in the competition, pushed the No. 13 seed to the limit with her resilient defensive play and came within touching distance of a major upset. TOKIC was forced to show remarkable patience against NODIN’s defensive style and faced her biggest challenge in the deciding game when she trailed 1-7. Refusing to panic, the Slovenian fought her way back to seal victory. “The coach Jaka GOLAVSEK was calm all the time and supported me. His calm helped me stay calm. If he had been stressed, I would have been as well. I just tried to stay focused point by point,” said TOKIC. Despite limited experience against defenders of NODIN’s level, TOKIC trusted her game plan throughout the contest. “I was trying to push myself to be patient, not to smash the first ball. At 7-1 down in the final game, I told myself the match was not finished, just keep playing.” Delighted with her achievement, TOKIC admitted reaching the final was a special moment. “I am very happy and very proud. I never reached a medal before, and now it’s a final.” Bianca MEI ROSU became the second finalist in the Women’s Singles event after overcoming sixth seed Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland in a hard-fought six-game semifinal. Playing in front of the home crowd, the 12th seed showed impressive composure in a match filled with momentum swings. After sharing the opening four games, the Romanian produced a crucial comeback in the fifth game. Trailing 8-10, MEI ROSU won four consecutive points to edge ahead, before carrying that confidence into the sixth game to seal a 4-2 victory (11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7). The turning point came in the fifth game when WIELGOS was just one point away from taking a commanding lead. “I think the most important phase was in the fifth set when she was leading 10-8. I made a good tactic and managed to win it,” said MEI ROSU. The Romanian admitted she expected a difficult challenge against

Andre BERTELSMEIER and Wim VERDONSCHOT lived up to their top-seeded status at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca, securing the Men’s Doubles title with a 3-1 victory over Danilo FASO of Italy and Görkem ÖÇAL of Türkiye. The German pair prevailed 11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7 to claim gold, while bronze medals went to Tom CLOSSET of Belgium and Stepan BRHEL of Czechia, as well as Connor GREEN of England and Mael VAN DESSEL of Luxembourg. For Germany, the success completed an outstanding championships. VERDONSCHOT added the doubles crown to the silver medal he won in Mixed Doubles alongside Josephina NEUMANN, while both Germans also advanced to the Men’s Singles final. Together, BERTELSMEIER and VERDONSCHOT will leave Cluj-Napoca with five medals between them. “It is my fault we did not have six, I missed one in mixed doubles,” BERTELSMEIER joked after the final. The champions were in control from the start. They captured the opening game 11-6 by dictating the pace and taking the initiative early in the rallies. FASO and ÖÇAL responded impressively in the second game, using their aggressive over-the-table play to level the match at one game apiece. However, the Germans quickly regained control. Their superior consistency on the first attacking balls proved decisive as they raced through the third game 11-4 before closing out the contest 11-7 in the fourth. According to BERTELSMEIER, the tactical battle revolved around taking the initiative as early as possible. “The crucial point was being active on the first two balls. They gave us a lot of long balls to initiate counterspin. We had to play aggressively against that. They caught us in one set, but after that we managed to play our game again and in the end we were better.” Although they had not faced the Italian-Turkish combination before, the Germans felt well prepared. “We knew one of them from singles, but we had never played them in doubles. They like to play aggressively over the table and use long pushes rather than short exchanges. We could imagine the tactics and anticipate what they would play. We won the first set quite comfortably,” explained BERTELSMEIER. VERDONSCHOT admitted that the final provided the toughest test of the tournament. “The final was the hardest challenge. When they played long to my backhand they put pressure on me and it was difficult to return with quality.” His partner agreed that despite the demanding draw, they had managed to stay in control throughout the competition. “Every match was difficult, but in the other matches we could dominate from start to finish. We feel very good in doubles. In all the matches we had strong starts and managed to convert them.” The road to the title included a convincing semifinal victory over Tom CLOSSET and Stepan BRHEL, with the Germans winning in straight games. FASO and ÖÇAL also reached the final in impressive fashion, defeating Connor GREEN and Mael VAN DESSEL 3-0. For BERTELSMEIER and VERDONSCHOT, the doubles title adds another highlight to an already memorable week in Cluj-Napoca, with one more major prize still to be decided when the two teammates face each other in the Men’s Singles final. Men’s Doubles Final Andre BERTELSMEIER, Wim VERDONSCHOT (Germany) – Danilo FASO (Italy), Görkem ÖÇAL (Türkiye) 3-1 (11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7) Semifinals Andre BERTELSMEIER, Wim VERDONSCHOT (Germany) – Tom CLOSSET (Belgium), Stepan BRHEL (Czechia) 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-9) Connor GREEN (England), Mael VAN DESSEL (Luxembourg) – Danilo FASO (Italy), Görkem ÖÇAL (Türkiye) 0-3 (7-11, 10-12, 9-11) PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

Anna BRZYSKA and Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland captured the Women’s Doubles title at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca, overcoming top seeds Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine and Bianca MEI ROSU of Romania 3-1 (12-10, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11) in the final. Bronze medals were awarded to Alexandra CHIRIACOVA of Moldova and Sara TOKIC of Slovenia, as well as France’s Leana HOCHART and Elise PUJOL. The final brought together two pairs that had already survived dramatic semifinal encounters yesterday. MATIUNINA and MEI ROSU edged CHIRIACOVA and TOKIC in a thrilling five-game battle, while BRZYSKA and WIELGOS also needed the full distance to overcome HOCHART and PUJOL. The Polish duo started strongly in the gold medal match. After saving a game point in a tense opening game, they secured a crucial 12-10 victory and immediately built momentum. Their confidence grew in the second game as they dominated the rallies and moved into a commanding two-game lead. The top-seeded pair responded in the third game. Backed by the home crowd, MEI ROSU and MATIUNINA found greater consistency and reduced the deficit by taking the game 11-8. The fourth game proved decisive. Neither pair managed to establish a clear advantage, with the lead changing hands several times. In the closing stages, BRZYSKA and WIELGOS held their nerve, converting their opportunity at 13-11 to seal the title. After the victory, the Polish pair highlighted the tactical preparation that helped them succeed. “We knew it would be difficult. They are a very good pair. We had a very good tactic and started well with a 2-0 lead. We were ahead in the third set but lost it, and the fourth was very close, but we managed to win,” said BRZYSKA. Asked about the key to the victory, WIELGOS pointed to the importance of the first two strokes. “The service and receive were very important. We tried to place the ball well and stay very close to the table. They play many balls over the table, so we had to stay close and take away their time.” Communication was another decisive factor for the experienced partnership. “It was really important. We talk a lot between points about what to play and how to play. We have played together for a long time. This is not our first final,” explained BRZYSKA. The champions admitted that the semifinal was their toughest challenge of the tournament. “The semifinal was the most difficult match. We won 3-2 and had a lot of trouble on receive,” they noted. For BRZYSKA and WIELGOS, the victory represents another milestone in their successful partnership. “We are really happy to win. This is our second title together after winning Under 19 before. We also had two bronze medals in Under 21, so this means a lot to us.” Final Veronika MATIUNINA (Ukraine), Bianca MEI ROSU (Romania) – Anna BRZYSKA, Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) 1-3 (10-12, 4-11, 11-8, 11-13) Semifinals Veronika MATIUNINA (Ukraine), Bianca MEI ROSU (Romania) – Alexandra CHIRIACOVA (Moldova), Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) 3-2 (6-11, 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 12-10) Anna BRZYSKA, Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) – Leana HOCHART, Elise PUJOL (France) 3-2 (7-11, 11-4, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7) PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

Iulian CHIRITA of Romania and Anna HURSEY of Wales captured the Mixed Doubles title at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships after defeating Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT and Josephina NEUMANN 3-1 (11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9) in the final. The Romanian-Welsh combination produced a superb performance to lift the trophy, overcoming a German pair that had also reached last year’s final and was hoping to go one step further this time. CHIRITA and HURSEY started strongly, taking the opening two games before their adversaries responded in the third. However, the champions held their nerve in a closely contested fourth game to seal the title. “We feel really good. We had a tough match,” said HURSEY after the victory. CHIRITA praised both the quality of the opponents and his partnership with the Welsh star. “It was a hard match. The opponents were very good, they were finalists last year. We played well, managed to win in the end and we are very happy.” The pair credited their teamwork and communication as crucial factors in their success. “It was very important. We didn’t play our best in singles, so we focused a lot on this event and in the end we won,” explained CHIRITA. Looking back on their path to the title, CHIRITA identified the opening round as their most difficult test. “In the first round we were leading 2-0 and then it became 2-2 against William BERGENBLOCK and Alexandra CHIRIACOVA. But all the matches were difficult.” The German duo of VERDONSCHOT and NEUMANN secured silver for the second consecutive year after once again reaching the final. Earlier in the day, they defeated Andrei ISTRATE of Romania and Nicole ARLIA of Italy 3-1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10) in the semifinals. CHIRITA and HURSEY booked their place in the final with a dominant 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-5) victory over Slovenia’s Brin VOVK and Sara TOKIC. Mixed Doubles Final Iulian CHIRITA (Romania), Anna HURSEY (Wales) – Wim VERDONSCHOT, Josephina NEUMANN (Germany) 3-1 (11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9) Semifinal Wim VERDONSCHOT, Josephina NEUMANN (Germany) – Andrei ISTRATE (Romania), Nicole ARLIA (Italy) 3-1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10) Iulian CHIRITA (Romania), Anna HURSEY (Wales) – Brin VOVK, Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) (11-3, 11-8, 11-5) PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU