From March 4 to 8, 2026, the town of Vrsar will once again welcome the Stone Racket of Istria, an international veterans’ table tennis tournament for players aged 40 and above.
Just like last year, the organizers are making sure this will be much more than just a tournament. One thing is already certain – visitors to the Saline Sports Hall will once again enjoy a legendary table tennis showdown between Swedish great Jörgen PERSSON and Zoran PRIMORAC, now the President of the Croatian Table Tennis Association and Vice President of the European Table Tennis Union.
In their playing days, even the Chinese were not guaranteed victories when facing PERSSON, PRIMORAC, and the top European stars of their era. The magnitude of their achievements is best shown by the fact that together they have collected over 60 medals from major international events – including Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships.
These two icons in 2025 will treated the Vrsar crowd with an unforgettable spectacle. Before the match, PRIMORAC humorously announced he was seeking “revenge” for the 2008 Olympic Games quarterfinal, and the audience was in for a true show: rallies with two balls at once, mock medical time-outs, a stethoscope check to “see if the heart was still working,” and PRIMORAC’S improvised doctor routine that had the crowd in stitches.
The result? PRIMORAC got his revenge.
“We’ve played plenty of exhibition matches during our careers and I’m good at them,” said PRIMORAC with a smile. “What’s best is that we still have more tricks up our sleeves, we’ve only shown 50 percent so far. We saved something for 2026! Table tennis is perfect for this kind of fun. The crowd in Vrsar was fantastic last year – we broke the ice, people laughed, cheered, and truly enjoyed it. This year, we’re preparing something a bit different. The conditions for veterans here are unmatched – Maistra and STK Vrsar did an amazing job. This could easily become the most beautiful veterans’ tournament in Europe.
Will the great Swede strike back? PERSSON has already promised his own revenge, but that won’t be the only surprise – organizers are teasing another major project that remains under wraps for now.
The Stone Racket of Istria is open to players aged 40 to 80+, featuring singles and doubles events (men and women). Last year’s edition gathered participants from 12 countries, and that number is expected to grow in 2026.
“Just like last year, the event offers a rich off-court program, including organized trips and experiences across the stunning Istrian region. The unique trophies are made of authentic Vrsar stone. The concept is simple: play + fun + experience. Participants will compete, but also enjoy everything Istria has to offer. It’s all about the experience,” said Bernard MUSULIN, Head of Destination Product Development at Maistra.
A major new feature in 2026 will be the “Zoran PRIMORAC Table Tennis Masterclass”, a special training camp held March 1-4, 2026, just before the tournament. Participants will have the opportunity to learn directly from the legend himself, alongside four professional coaches, with limited spots available.
Once again, Vrsar is set for a true table tennis spectacle – a celebration of sport, friendship, and unforgettable experiences. Fans will have the chance to witness two living legends in action, and all additional information can be found on the official website www.stoneracketistria.com and the tournament’s social media pages.
