The Under 15 Girls Team competition heads to European Youth Championships in Gondomar with Germany once again carrying the status of favourites after building an impressive dynasty in recent years. Chasing a fourth consecutive European title, the defending champions will face strong opposition from a talented field led by Czechia, Poland, Sweden, France and several emerging nations eager to end Germany’s reign.
Germany completed a golden hat-trick in Ostrava last year by capturing their third successive Under 15 Girls Team title. The triumph added to an already remarkable history in the event, with previous European crowns coming in 1994, 1998, 1999, 2009, 2012 and 2021.
The victorious squad featured Josephina NEUMANN, Koharu ITAGAKI, Amelie Guzi JIA and Anna WALTER. In the final, NEUMANN and ITAGAKI led the way as Germany defeated France, represented by Lou-Anne BOCQUET, Lisa ZHAO, Eva LAM and Albane ROCHUT, to retain the title.
Bronze medals were shared by Czechia, represented by Adéla BRHELOVÁ, Hanka KODET, Simona HOLUBOVÁ and Laura MARSICKOVÁ, and Italy, with Manon LOTH, Sofia EPISCOPO, Gioia Maria PICU and Matilde BUZZONI.
A year later, Germany once again arrive among the favourites, although with a refreshed line-up. Third seeds, they are represented by Chenhao CHEN, Amelie Guzi JIA, Lotta ROTHFUSS and Anna WALTER, with two members of last year’s championship-winning team returning to defend the title.
Top seeds Czechia lead this year’s draw with Adéla BARTOVÁ, Adéla BRHELOVÁ and Laura MARSICKOVÁ, while second-seeded Poland field Lucja KOBOSZ, Aleksandra NAWROCKA, Lena PUZIO and Natalia WSZOŁEK. No. 4 seeds Sweden rely on Siri BENJEGÅRD, Alicia ENBOM and Nike LUNDQVIST.
France, seeded fifth, continue to look among the strongest challengers with Chloé HUANG, Eva LAM, Albane ROCHUT and Lisa ZHAO, while Romania, the sixth seeds, rely on Nadalia IONAȘCU, Maya MADAR, Kariss ȘERBAN and Bianca TOMA.
Türkiye, represented by Belinay DAVUŞ, Ceren KAHRAMAN, Elvin KALE and Ela Su YONTER, are seeded seventh, followed by Croatia with Karla IVČIĆ, Lucija NOVAK and Sara RIVETTI.
Spain, Portugal and Italy all possess the quality to challenge for the latter stages. Spain field Eloisa BARREDA, Teresa CARRASCO VIEITO, Esther HASEK and Mireia PARAU, hosts Portugal are represented by Núria MADEIRA, Maria RUIVO, Irina SILVA and Matilde SOUSA, while Italy arrive with Claudia BERTOLINI, Alice BORSANI, Matilde BUZZONI and Carolina ROSSI.
