“We need to form a good coalition – just like in the federal government,” said LIU Jia following her election as the new Vice President for Sport. The ÖTTV “Athlete of the Century” takes over the role from Stefan FEGERL. President Wolfgang GOTSCHKE was confirmed in office with a 21:17 vote against challenger Norbert DARABOS during the general assembly held in the Mirror Hall of the House of Sports in Vienna. The other vice presidents continuing their roles for the three-year term are Secretary General Mathias NEUWIRTH (Organization) and Finance Chief Conrad MILLER. “The early elections were meant to clarify the situation and give the newly elected board a chance to bridge divisions and work constructively for the future of the federation. We must come together, devote our full attention to the sport, and focus on solutions,” said GOTSCHKE after the vote.“We presented our program and ideas before the general assembly; now it’s time to put the processes into action – together. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. Our goal must be to become united again.”. GOTSCHKE, who has led the federation since summer 2021, concluded: “I hope we will be judged by facts and performance, and that we will be given the chance to work constructively for the benefit of our athletes and the sport.” FORMER European champion LIU Jia was elected Vice President for Sport with a 23:19 vote, narrowly defeating Stefan FEGERL. “I’m looking forward to the challenges. Just like in any coalition, we have to find compromises within the federation. The most important thing is that athletes feel well-supported by us, and that the issues of the past truly stay in the past,” said LIU Jia, visibly moved. Also confirmed in their roles as ÖTTV Vice Presidents were Mathias NEUWIRTH (Organization) and Conrad miller (Finance). Günther Renner from Linz will continue as Chair of the Bundesliga, and the Presidential Conference will be led by Helmut JÄGER (Burgenland), Andreas adlboller (Vorarlberg), and Eduard Herzog (Lower Austria).
HB Ostrov Dominates in Poland to Take the Lead in Europe Cup Men’s Quarterfinal
Polish side UKS Dojlidy Białystok failed to capitalize on home advantage in the opening leg of the Europe Cup Men’s quarterfinal, as HB Ostrov z.s. secured a 3-0 victory, putting themselves in a strong position ahead of the return leg on 27th April. Jiri VRABLIK opened the tie in superb style, defeating Japan’s Machi ASUKA in straight games. The most dramatic contest came in the second match, where Patryk CHOJNOWSKI pushed Pavel SIRUCEK to a deciding game, but it was the Czech player who eventually prevailed, extending Ostrov’s lead. To complete the clean sweep, Tomas TREGLER defeated Piotr MICHALSKI in four games, giving the Czech team a safe cushion going into the second leg. Earlier this week, SF SKK El Niño Praha also claimed an away victory against Slovakia’s STK Vyhne, while Real Club Cajasur Priego Tenis de Mesa (ESP) edged PostSV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. (GER) 3-2 in a tightly contested quarterfinal clash. UKS Dojlidy Białystok – HB Ostrov z.s. 0-3
El Niño Praha Secures Convincing Opening Win Against STK Vyhne in Europe Cup Men Quarterfinal
Czech club SF SKK El Niño Praha took a firm step toward the semifinals of the Europe Cup Men with a dominant 3-0 victory over Slovakia’s STK Vyhne in the opening leg of their quarterfinal clash. In front of the Slovak home crowd, David REITSPIES set the tone with a 3-1 win over Boguslaw KOSZYK. He was followed by Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA, who also delivered a solid 3-1 performance against Filip SZYMANSKI. Tomas KONECNY then closed the match with a commanding straight-games victory over Marián ŠURKA. “The home team was without Miroslav HOREJSI, so it was crucial that we took control early,” explained KONECNY. “The first two matches were key, and once we were 2-0 up, the third was just about finishing the job. Still, we remain focused for the return leg.” The second leg is scheduled for 25 April, and despite holding a strong advantage, El Niño Praha is taking nothing for granted. “It will be a new match. They may change the player order. We only need two points to advance, but we’re going there to win,” KONECNY added. Earlier this week, Real Club Cajasur Priego Tenis de Mesa (ESP) also secured a narrow 3-2 win in the opening leg of their quarterfinal against PostSV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. STK Vyhne – SF SKK EL NINO PRAHA 0-3
Universidad de Burgos – RM Terán Takes First Step Toward Europe Cup Women Semifinals
In the Europe Cup Women quarterfinals, Spanish side Universidad de Burgos – RM Terán defeated Hungary’s Budaörsi Sport Club 3-1 in the opening leg. Only 17 years old, María BERZOSA played a crucial role in the victory, winning both her matches—first against Helga DÁRI to open the tie, and then sealing the overall success by defeating Dóra MADARÁSZ in the fourth match. “We are very happy with this win. It was a very difficult match, but we fought hard,” said BERZOSA. lthough Universidad de Burgos – RM Terán relies heavily on a young lineup, the experience of Gabriela FEHER remains central to the team’s success. “Dóra MADARÁSZ is injured, and she was far from her usual level. I already saw this at the Hungarian Closed Championships, where she couldn’t play the semi-final,” FEHER explained, commenting on the unexpected weakness of the Hungarian club. “On our side, we played very well. I’m proud of our performance—we fought hard. Of course, there’s still a long road ahead, and we must repeat this level in Hungary. Let’s not forget, we have 16- and 17-year-old players in this position. Whatever happens in the return leg, we’ve already had a great season.” The return leg will be played on April 27 in Hungary. UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS – RM TERAN – Budaörsi Sport Club 3-1
Tarnobrzeg and Saint-Quentin Take the Lead in Champions League Women Semi-Finals
Reigning champions KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg and Saint-Quentin TT emerged victorious in the opening leg of the Champions League Women semi-finals, setting the stage for two thrilling return matches in April. The much-anticipated clash between five-time Champions League winners ttc berlin eastside and four-time champions Tarnobrzeg ended in favor of the Polish side. Despite a strong start by the hosts in Berlin, with Nina MITTELHAM overcoming Natalia BAJOR in four games, Tarnobrzeg quickly turned the tide. The driving force behind their success was Elizabeta SAMARA, who delivered two outstanding performances. First, she defeated Xiaona SHAN in four games and later battled past Nina MITTELHAM in a five-game thriller. “It was a very difficult match, but we were so driven to succeed. We wanted this win so badly,” said SAMARA. “What makes me even happier is that we showed really good table tennis to the spectators. It was a great drama, with great rallies—an enjoyable match to watch. We played with so much confidence.” Reflecting on her win over MITTELHAM, she added: “That match was really something. It’s unbelievable how I managed to win. I actually lost the two games where I was leading, but I didn’t let it break me. I stayed focused and determined. Mentally, I was strong and didn’t lose sight of the goal. That’s what helped me recover. But I have to admit—it was a crazy match with so many great exchanges.” Ying HAN also contributed a dominant performance, defeating Sabina SURJAN in straight games, leaving no room for a comeback. The second leg will take place on April 25. Notably, Tarnobrzeg lifted the Champions League trophy in 2022 by defeating ttc berlin eastside in the final and has gone on to win the following two editions. In the other semi-final, Saint-Quentin TT overcame 2023 runners-up Metz TT in an all-French encounter that went the full distance. Camille LUTZ opened with a four-game win over her younger sister Charlotte LUTZ, followed by Linda BERGSTRÖM defeating Mariia TAILAKOVA in straight games to give Saint-Quentin a 2-0 lead. However, Adina DIAKONU reignited Metz’s hopes by beating Olga MIKHAYLOVA, and TAILAKOVA leveled the score with a victory over Camille LUTZ. In the decisive match, Linda BERGSTRÖM stood strong, holding off a spirited comeback from Charlotte LUTZ to seal the win for Saint-Quentin. “This morning, when we found out that Polina had come down with a stomach virus overnight, things didn’t look so good for us,” said BERGSTRÖM. “But we fought today as a team, with our amazing crowd behind us. They gave us the extra energy to fight for every point. We knew the first two matches were very important, and once we won them, we just had to push hard to close it out. I’m very happy I could bring it home for the team.” The return leg is scheduled for April 28. ttc berlin eastside – KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg 1-3 Saint-Quentin TT – Metz TT 3-2
ETTU will organise two U23 Para Camps in 2025
ETTU will organise two U23 Para Table Tennis Camps in 2025. These camps are part of our continued efforts to promote inclusivity and provide development opportunities for young para-athletes across Europe. The events are scheduled as follows: The prospectus with the conditions for the first camp will be released in the coming days. We encourage all associations to consider nominating eligible athletes and coaches once the application process opens.
Europe National Closed Championships 2025
Last weekend, the majority of European Table Tennis Federations held their National Closed Championships, bringing together the best players from each country for a weekend of intense competition and national pride. The European Table Tennis Union closely followed the action across the continent. Full reports, including highlights and key moments from each championship, are available on the ETTU website. Below, you will find an overview of the finalists from each participating country. AUSTRIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles BELGIUM Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles BELARUS Men’s singles Women’s singles Men’s doubles Women’s doubles BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles CROATIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles CZECHIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles ENGLAND Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles Para Class 6–10 Para Class 2–5 ESTONIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles FINLAND Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles FRANCE Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles GREECE Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles HUNGARY Men’s singles Men’s doubles Women’s singles Women’s doubles Mixed doubles ITALY Men’s Singles: Women’s Singles: Men’s doubles: Women’s doubles: Mixed doubles Francesco TREVISAN and Francesca SEU IRELAND Women’s Singles Men’s Singles Para Colin JUDGE Paddy VAUGHAN Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles U21’s Women’s Singles U21 Men’s Singles Restricted Singles LIECHTENSTEIN Men’s Singles Men’s Doubles LATVIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles LITHUANIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles LUXEMBOURG Women’s Singles Men’s Singles Women’s Doubles Men’s Doubles Mixed Doubles NETHERLANDS Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles NORWAY Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Para Men’s Singles POLAND Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles PORTUGAL Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Women’s Doubles Men’s Doubles Mixed Doubles ROMANIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles RUSSIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles SAN MARINO Men’s Singles Women’s Singles SLOVAKIA Women’s Singles Men’s Singles Women’s Doubles Men’s Doubles Mixed Doubles SLOVENIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles SERBIA Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles SPAIN Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles SWEDEN Men’s Singles Womens Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles SWITZERLAND Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles UKRAINE Women’s Singles Men’s Singles
Ukraine Crowns 2025 National Champions in Kyiv
The Ukrainian National Championships took place this weekend in Kyiv, overcoming enormous challenges. Despite constant air alarms that required several matches to be rescheduled, the event was successfully completed. Anton MOLOCHKO claimed the men’s singles title, while Solomiia BRATEIKO emerged as the women’s singles champion for 2025.
Ljubljana to Host the European Individual Championships 2026
The European Table Tennis Union is proud to announce that the 2026 European Individual Championships will be hosted by Slovenia, with the prestigious event set to take place at Sport Hall Stožice in Ljubljana from 11–18 October 2026. The ETTU Executive Board has officially awarded the hosting rights, following a strong bid submitted by the Slovenian Table Tennis Association. “This is fantastic news to our table tennis familly! To be back to Slovenia after 33 years from the European Youth Championships held in Ljubljana. I wish to thank the Slovenia Table Tennis Association for the excellent bid allowing Executive Board to take the decision of granting the 2026 European Championships to Ljubljana. We are confident the local organizing committee will deliver a top level event,”said ETTU President Pedro MOURA. Tomaž KRALJ, President of the Slovenian Table Tennis Association, expressed his excitement and pride: “We are thrilled and honoured to host the European Table Tennis Championships in 2026, a decision that reflects Slovenia’s growing reputation as a premier destination for international sports events. Our application was driven by a strong commitment to developing table tennis at all levels, showcasing our organizational excellence, and inspiring a new generation of players. Hosting this prestigious event will bring numerous benefits to Slovenian table tennis. It will elevate the sport’s visibility, attract more young athletes and players of all generations, and provide a unique opportunity for our players to compete on home soil against Europe’s best. Additionally, it will boost our sports projects and strengthen Slovenia’s position in the global table tennis community. We are committed to delivering a championship that will leave a lasting legacy and further grow the game in our country and Europe. We look forward to welcoming Europe’s finest athletes and fans to Slovenia for an unforgettable championship.” Sport Hall Stožice, located in the heart of the Slovenian capital, offers a world-class arena and infrastructure that meets the highest standards of international competition. The venue has previously hosted major sporting events and is set to provide an exceptional stage for Europe’s elite table tennis players.
PÓTA Secures Sixth Title, ANDRÁS Clinches First at Hungarian National Championships
The Hungarian National Championships concluded in Cegléd. In the singles competitions, Georgina PÓTA won her sixth women’s singles national title, while András CSABA celebrated his first men’s singles crown. The most successful player of the championship was Ádám SZUDI, who claimed two gold medals. PÓTA dominated the tournament, dropping only three sets across five matches. In the final, she faced 15-year-old Sophie BARCSAI, who impressed throughout the competition by reaching the final in two doubles events and the semifinals in singles. Although PÓTA won in straight sets, BARCSAI’S run marked her as a future star. The men’s singles final was a clash between Bence MAJOROS, a two-time champion, and András CSABA, who plays in the Bundesliga. Despite MAJOROS’ experience, the 22-year-old CSABA won 4–0, showing mental strength and skill in decisive moments. In the doubles events, Ádám SZUDI and Nándor ECSEKI won the men’s doubles title for the fifth time. SZUDI also partnered with Szandra PERGEL to win their third consecutive mixed doubles title. In the women’s doubles, Bernadett BÁLINT and Mercédesz NAGYVÁRADI also secured their third title. Despite missing the singles competition due to illness, SZUDI’S performance in doubles reflected his consistency and form, making him the most decorated player of the 2025 Hungarian Championships. Men’s single Semi-final ANDRÁS–HOLLO 4:2 (–9, 5, –9, 5, 10, 4) MAJOROS–JUHÁSZ 4:3 (–9, 6, 2, 9, –10, –8, 6) Final ANDRÁS–MAJOROS 4:0 (9, 8, 9, 6) Men’s double Semi-final ECSEKI, SZUDI–KIZAKISZ, POÓR 3:0 (9, 6, 4) JAKAB, JUHÁSZ–BÖHM, MAJOROS 3:0 (6, 7, 9) Final ECSEKI, SZUDI–JAKAB, JUHÁSZ 3:1 (8, –6, 7, 6) Women’s single Semi-final PÓTA–BARCSAI 4:0 (10, 3, 6, 4) BÁLINT–MADARÁSZ 4:0 (4, 1, 0, 0) Final PÓTA–BÁLINT 4:0 (6, 8, 7, 7) Women’s double Semi-final BÁLINT, NAGYVÁRADI–FAZEKAS, MADARÁSZ 3:2 (6, –9, –4, 6, 15) BARCSAI, DOHOCZKI–DARI, FEJŐS 3:0 (7, 9, 4) Final BÁLINT, NAGYVÁRADI–BARCSAI, DOHOCZKI 3:1 (–10, 12, 9, 6) Mixed double Semi-final SZUDI, PERGEL–KATONA, VOLENTICS 3:0 (3, 6, 4) VARGA, BARCSAI–KOVÁCS, NAGY 3:2 (10, 12, –10, –5, 6) Final SZUDI, PERGEL–VARGA, BARCSAI 3:1 (8, –7, 4, 10)
