The 11th of May 2025 will go down as a historic day for Welsh table tennis. Anna HURSEY became the first Welsh player ever to win a European table tennis title in a women’s or youth event. Although Welsh players have previously won titles in veterans’ categories, no one from Wales had ever claimed a title at the elite youth or senior women’s level—until now.
By defeating reigning champion Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine in the U21 Women’s Singles final and also winning the Doubles title with her German partner Mia GRIESEL, HURSEY not only made history for her country but also became the most successful woman at the 2025 European Under 21 Championships, securing two gold medals.
Although Wales was one of the nine founding members of the ITTF in 1926 and also a founding member of the ETTU in 1957—and despite Doris GUFFINS reaching the women’s singles final at the first-ever World Championships in 1926, where she lost to Hungarian legend Maria MEDNYANSKY—it took 99 years before a Welsh player finally held a European title trophy.
HURSEY had already come close to continental success at the 2022 European Youth Championships in Belgrade, where she and Sophie EARLEY lost the U19 Girls’ Doubles final to Hana ARAPOVIC and Linda ZADEROVA. Before her, Adam ROBERTSON had reached the Junior Boys’ final at the EYC in 2000 but was defeated by Romanian Constantin CIOTI.
Until now, only Welsh veterans had captured European titles:
Betty GRAY won the Women’s Singles Over 75 in 1999, the Women’s Singles Over 85 in 2005, and the Women’s Doubles in 2007. George EVANS triumphed in the Men’s Singles Over 70 in 2005.
Looking more closely at this thread of Welsh table tennis history reveals an interesting pattern. Adam ROBERTSON won silver at the EYC 2000 in Bratislava. Betty GRAY and George EVANS won their veteran titles in 2005—also in Bratislava.
And now, in 2025, Anna HURSEY wins two European titles at the EC U21 in… Bratislava.
Is it coincidence—or a special connection?
