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[Milica Nikolic]

The penultimate day of the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca began with the Mixed Doubles semifinals, where the top-seeded pair of Iulian CHIRITA (Romania) and Anna HURSEY (Wales) secured their place in the final alongside Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT and Josephina NEUMANN no. 9 seeds.

See the pictures here.

CHIRITA and HURSEY produced a confident performance against Slovenia’s Brin VOVK and Sara TOKIC, the No. 17 seeds, winning 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-5).

Despite the convincing scoreline, the top seeds knew they were facing a pair that had exceeded expectations throughout the tournament and reached the semifinals with a series of strong performances.

“It was the first time we played against them. They had a very good tournament and defeated some strong opponents, so we knew it was going to be a difficult match,” said CHIRITA.

HURSEY was pleased with the way the pair handled the challenge.

“We are satisfied. We played really well. It was a tough match.”

As the match progressed, the pair made several tactical adjustments to maintain control.

“We changed a little bit in the second and third games and became more aggressive. We will try to make some adjustments again for the final,” CHIRITA explained.

The second semifinal saw Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT and Josephina NEUMANN defeat Romania’s Andrei ISTRATE and Italy’s Nicole ARLIA 3-1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10).

The German pair returned to the final after finishing runners-up at last year’s championships, where they lost the title match to Romania’s Darius MOVILEANU and Elena ZAHARIA.

NEUMANN was delighted to secure another opportunity to compete for gold.

“I am happy that we reached the final again. We will give our best in the final.”

Although the German pair had never faced ISTRATE and ARLIA together in mixed doubles, they were familiar with them from other events.

“We never played mixed doubles against them before, but we have met them in singles and doubles.”

According to NEUMANN, one of the biggest challenges was dealing with the quality of the receive game.

“It was difficult to play good receive.”

In the crucial moments, teamwork helped them stay composed.

“We are a good team and we support each other. If one of us makes a mistake, the other can help and calm things down.”

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

The post CHIRITA and HURSEY and VERDONSCHOT and NEUMANN Advance to Mixed Doubles Final first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Connor GREEN of England produced the biggest shock of the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships so far, defeating top seed and home favourite Iulian CHIRITA of Romania 4-2 (11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8) to secure a place in the Men’s Singles quarterfinals.

The result was all the more remarkable considering GREEN had only narrowly survived Stage 2, advancing from his group on countback after a difficult start to the tournament. Less than a day later, he eliminated last year’s finalist and one of the leading contenders for the title.

GREEN made an aggressive start to the encounter, taking the opening game 11-9 after successfully implementing his tactical plan.

“I think I started the match really well. The plan was to use my backhand serve a lot and try to create opportunities on the third ball. It worked well at the beginning and gave me confidence,” said GREEN.

CHIRITA responded strongly, claiming the next two games 11-6 and 11-9 to move ahead, but the English player refused to let the match slip away. GREEN levelled the contest at 2-2 before edging a dramatic fifth game 12-10 to regain the advantage.

The sixth game proved decisive. GREEN built an early lead before CHIRITA fought his way back into contention. At the crucial moments, however, the Englishman held his nerve to close out the game 11-8 and complete one of the biggest victories of his career.

“The match was very difficult. Some of the games were really close and went back and forth. In the sixth game I got a big lead, then he started coming back, but I managed to stay focused and play well on the important points,” GREEN explained.

For the Englishman, the victory completed a remarkable turnaround in Cluj-Napoca. After nearly seeing his campaign end in the group stage, he now finds himself among the final eight day after he won a historic first medal for England with Mael VAN DESSEL of Luxembourg at the Doubles event at the European Under 21 Championships.

“In the groups I only got through on countback. At one point I thought I was out of the tournament. Then I stayed in and now I’ve achieved one of the biggest wins…”

GREEN also ranked the victory among the finest moments of his career.

“I’ve had some good wins before, but I think Iulian is definitely one of the best players I’ve ever beaten. He plays at a really high level, so I’m super happy and proud that I could beat him today.”

The victory over CHIRITA adds another significant chapter to GREEN’s rapidly growing career. The 19-year-old from Nottingham became the first English junior to reach a WTT Youth Contender final when he claimed silver in Tunis in 2025, won bronze at the Europe Youth Top 10 later that year, and made history alongside Tin-Tin HO by becoming part of England’s first-ever WTT Mixed Doubles title-winning pair at WTT Feeder Düsseldorf in 2026. However, defeating the top seed and home favourite at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships ranks among the finest victories of his career to date.

PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The post From the Brink of Elimination to the Quarterfinals: GREEN Stuns Top Seed CHIRITA first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Poland’s Natalia BOGDANOWICZ produced one of the standout results of the Women’s Singles Round of 16 at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships, defeating Germany’s Koharu ITAGAKI 4-3 (11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 7-11, 11-7).

The victory was particularly significant for the Polish player. In their previous meetings, ITAGAKI had emerged victorious on both occasions, and BOGDANOWICZ had never managed to take a single game from the German.

This time, however, the No. 32 seed arrived with a clear plan. BOGDANOWICZ made a strong start, winning the opening three games to put herself on the verge of a place in the quarterfinals.

ITAGAKI, the No. 20 seed, responded impressively. The German adjusted her game and claimed the next three games to force a deciding seventh set after trailing 0-3.

With the momentum seemingly shifting, BOGDANOWICZ found a way to regain control in the decisive game, holding her nerve to close out a memorable victory and book her place among the last eight.

“I am very happy with this win. I had played Koharu several times before and had never managed to win even a single game against her,” said BOGDANOWICZ.

“Before the match, I had a clear idea of what I needed to do to give myself a chance. It worked well in the first three games. After that, I lost some control of the match, she adapted better and I moved further away from my tactical plan, which made things more difficult for me.”

“In the seventh game, belief in my own abilities was very important. I was able to make the key decisions at the right moments and that ultimately led me to victory.”

The post BOGDANOWICZ Holds Her Nerve in Seven-Game Thriller first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The men’s doubles final at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships is set after two convincing semifinal performances, with Germany’s Andre BERTELSMEIER and Wim VERDONSCHOT set to face the Italian-Turkish combination of Danilo FASO and Görkem ÖÇAL.

BERTELSMEIER and VERDONSCHOT booked their place in the gold medal match with a commanding 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-9) victory over Belgium’s Tom CLOSSET and Czechia’s Stepan BRHEL. The German pair controlled the match throughout, using strong service and receive play to dictate the rallies.

“It was an amazing match. We dominated from start to finish. We had a good service-receive game and we could maintain control during the match,” said BERTELSMEIER.

Although they had never faced their adversaries as a doubles pair before, both Germans were familiar with them from singles competition.

“We know them both from singles. We had not played against them in doubles, but we could imagine what it would be like,” he explained.

The top seeds also highlighted the importance of adapting during the encounter.

“Of course, we made some small tactical adjustments, playing a short ball or a long one to see how they reacted.”

Communication continues to be one of their strengths.

“We did pretty good. We are communicating a lot and we have good harmony.”

In the second semifinal, FASO and ÖÇAL produced another impressive display to defeat Connor GREEN of England and Mael VAN DESSEL of Luxembourg 3-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-9).

The pair were particularly pleased with the manner of the victory after overcoming a difficult opening-round challenge earlier in the competition.

“We are very satisfied. We won 3-0 against very good players. Our first match against the Romanians was very hard,” said FASO.

For ÖÇAL, the semifinal was a first encounter with the Anglo-Luxembourg pairing.

The turning point came in the tightly contested second game, where the Italian-Turkish duo edged through 12-10.

“The second game was very difficult. At 1-1 it would have been a completely different story than leading 2-0. That was the decisive set,” FASO noted.

Despite holding a comfortable advantage in the third game, they still had to withstand a late comeback attempt.

“In the last set we led 9-4, but they played really well afterwards. After the timeout we were happy to win an important point,” added ÖÇAL.

The final will now pit the dominant German partnership against one of the tournament’s surprise stories, with both pairs aiming to finish their impressive campaigns with the European Under 21 title.

Men’s Doubles 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

The post Top Seeds BERTELSMEIER and VERDONSCHOT Reach Final, FASO and ÖÇAL Follow first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Two thrilling semifinal encounters determined the finalists in the Women’s Doubles event at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca.

Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine and Bianca MEI ROSU of Romania secured their place in the title match by overcoming Alexandra CHIRIACOVA of Moldova and Sara TOKIC of Slovenia 3-2 (6-11, 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 12-10) in a dramatic contest that went down to the very last points.

After the match, both players highlighted their teamwork and mutual support as the key factors behind their success.

“It was important that we fought until the end and supported each other,” said MATIUNINA. “We were leading, lost a game, but managed to win.”

MEI ROSU echoed her partner’s thoughts.

“I felt like we were really balanced today. We were good as a team and helped each other. That is the best thing about our partnership.”

Throughout the match, the pair relied on constant encouragement to overcome difficult moments.

“We say short, positive words to each other, like ‘It’s okay, it’s only one point, let’s continue’,” explained MATIUNINA.

“This helps us continue with confidence,” added MEI ROSU.

The Ukrainian-Romanian combination also believes the partnership has a promising future.

“We can also play together next year. It is good that we are in the final. It gives us confidence for the future and maybe for other international events as well,” said MATIUNINA.

The second semifinal proved equally dramatic, with Poland’s Anna BRZYSKA and Zuzanna WIELGOS defeating France’s Leana HOCHART and Elise PUJOL 3-2 (7-11, 11-4, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7).

“It was a very difficult match,” said BRZYSKA. “We were leading 2-1 and 3-0, but they changed their receive and started playing very well. The decider was really close, so we are very happy to win.”

According to the Polish pair, the service and receive battle played a decisive role.

“The key moment was having good receive and good service. It was really important not to give our opponents an easy ball.”

Although they had never faced the French duo together before, BRZYSKA and WIELGOS were aware of the challenge awaiting them.

“We knew both players were very strong. We had played against them in singles, but never in doubles.”

When the match became tense, experience helped the Polish pair hold their nerve.

“We have had a lot of close matches before. We know we must stay calm, stick to the tactics and play our best.”

Women’s Doubles 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) (7-11, 11-4, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7)

PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The post Drama Until the Last Point as Women’s Doubles Finalists Emerge first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The medal winners in the Men’s Singles event at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships were confirmed today as Darius MOVILEANU of Romania, Andre BERTELSMEIER of Germany, Wim VERDONSCHOT of Germany and Connor GREEN of England advanced to the semifinals.

Playing in front of a home crowd, fourth seed MOVILEANU produced one of his most convincing performances of the tournament, defeating 13th seed Yoan VELICHKOV of Bulgaria 4-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4).

The victory secured MOVILEANU’s first semifinal appearance at the European Under 21 Championships.

“First of all, I played a really good match. It’s very important for me. It’s my first semifinal in Under 21 and I will give my best,” said MOVILEANU.

The Romanian revealed that the performance was even more impressive considering he was not fully fit.

“Actually, I didn’t feel so good. I have an injury, but somehow, with the help of my team, I managed to play well despite it.”

Asked what made the difference, MOVILEANU pointed to his mental strength and quality in the short game.

“My mental game was strong and my service-receive game was very good.”

Second seed Andre BERTELSMEIER ended the hopes of another Romanian medal contender, overcoming sixth seed Andrei ISTRATE 4-1 (8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9). After dropping the opening game, the German quickly found his rhythm and controlled the match to book his place in the last four.

Third seed VERDONSCHOT also secured a medal after defeating Portugal’s 11th seed Tiago ABIODUN 4-1 (16-14, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5).

The German was pleased to see his hard work rewarded.

“I am always working hard and I am very happy that I am being rewarded with this good tournament in all three categories,” said VERDONSCHOT.

He felt confident from the beginning after identifying weaknesses in his opponent’s return game.

“Yes, because I saw that he had problems receiving my serve. I also saw that I could banana flick his serve, so this gave me confidence.”

For VERDONSCHOT, maintaining discipline was the key challenge.

“The biggest challenge was keeping it cool and playing disciplined until the end.”

The closest contest of the round saw England’s Connor GREEN edge Poland’s ninth seed Mateusz ZALEWSKI in a dramatic seven-game battle. GREEN eventually prevailed 4-3 (11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5) after recovering from 2-3 down to claim the final semifinal spot.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals

Darius MOVILEANU (Romania) – Yoan VELICHKOV (Bulgaria) 4-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4)

Andrei ISTRATE (Romania) – Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany) 1-4 (11-8, 2-11, 9-11, 10-12, 9-11)

Tiago ABIODUN (Portugal) – Wim VERDONSCHOT (Germany) 1-4 (14-16, 11-9, 5-11, 9-11, 5-11)

Connor GREEN (England) – Mateusz ZALEWSKI (Poland) 4-3 (11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5)

PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The post Home Favourite MOVILEANU Joins BERTELSMEIER, VERDONSCHOT and GREEN in Last Four first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Women’s Singles quarterfinals at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships produced one of the biggest surprises of the tournament, as top seed and defending champion Anna HURSEY of Wales was knocked out by France’s Alexia NODIN.

The 28th seed delivered a superb performance to claim a 4-1 (11-6, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5) victory and secure her first medal at the European Under 21 Championships.

From the opening exchanges, NODIN’s defensive style caused problems for HURSEY, who struggled to find solutions against the French player’s consistency and variation.

“I won the first two games quite comfortably because she was having difficulties with my style of play and couldn’t find solutions to win points,” explained NODIN.

The match took an unusual turn when the expedite system was introduced during the third game after long rallies repeatedly extended the duration of play.

“I noticed she was becoming less patient and decided to activate the expedite system. As a defender, I am quite used to playing under these conditions because I have experienced it many times, even when I was very young.”

The change appeared to suit NODIN perfectly.

“When the expedite system started, I was leading 9-5 and managed to win the game. She won the next game because I struggled a little to win points on my own serve, but in the final game I found solutions again. I knew I could win points before the 13th return and I felt more and more confident.”

NODIN sensed her opponent’s frustration growing as the match progressed.

“I think she became frustrated because she was no longer able to finish the points. In the end, I managed to win 4-1 and I was very happy.”

While HURSEY’s exit was the headline result, home favourite Bianca MEI ROSU delighted the local crowd by securing her first European Under 21 Singles medal. The Romanian defeated Poland’s Natalia BOGDANOWICZ 4-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6).

“It was 100 per cent important,” said MEI ROSU when asked about her preparation. “My mentality was very important. This is my first medal at an Under 21 Championships, a big achievement, but my goal is to reach the final and win it.”

The Romanian highlighted her comeback in the second game as one of the keys to victory.

“My mentality was so good. In the second set I was behind by a few points and managed to come back. That was the most important aspect.”

MEI ROSU also benefited from previous experience against her opponent.

“I had played against Natalia before and I knew her style. She puts a lot of balls on the table, so I had to play really well.”

Another quarterfinal produced a remarkable comeback as Slovenia’s Sara TOKIC overturned a 1-3 deficit to defeat Italy’s third seed Nicole ARLIA 4-3 (8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3).

The Slovenian had never faced ARLIA before and entered the match without knowing what to expect.

“It was the first time we played against each other, so I didn’t know much about her game. I just tried my best and I think I did a good job.”

Trailing by two games, TOKIC adjusted her tactics and relied on patience and mental strength to complete the turnaround.

“I started to play a little softer and focused on putting the ball on the table so she could make mistakes. I think I was mentally very strong in this match and that helped me win.”

The victory guarantees TOKIC her first European Under 21 Singles medal and her third medal of the championships.

“I’m very surprised. It’s my first medal in singles, so I’m very happy. I’m also happy with the doubles and mixed doubles. To win three medals at this tournament makes me very proud.”

The final semifinal place went to Poland’s Zuzanna WIELGOS, who defeated France’s fourth seed Leana HOCHART 4-1 (5-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-9, 11-4). After surviving a crucial second game, WIELGOS gradually took control of the encounter and booked her place in the last four.

NODIN, MEI ROSU, TOKIC and WIELGOS secured places on the medal rostrum and will return tomorrow to compete for a place in the Women’s Singles final.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals

Natalia BOGDANOWICZ (Poland) – Bianca MEI ROSU (Romania) 0-4 (7-11, 10-12, 4-11, 6-11)

Anna HURSEY (Wales) – Alexia NODIN (France) 1-4 (6-11, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 5-11)

Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) – Nicole ARLIA (Italy) 4-3 (8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3)

Leana HOCHART (France) – Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) 1-4 (11-5, 14-16, 6-11, 9-11, 4-11)

PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The post NODIN Stuns Defending Champion HURSEY: Women’s Singles Medal Winers Are Confirmed first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

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

The post CHIRITA and HURSEY Crowned Mixed Doubles Champions in Cluj-Napoca first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

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

The post BRZYSKA and WIELGOS Claim Women’s Doubles Crown in Cluj-Napoca first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

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

The post BERTELSMEIER and VERDONSCHOT Crowned Men’s Doubles Champions first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

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 one of the tournament favourites and relied heavily on her mental strength to stay focused.

“She is one of the toughest players in this competition. I knew from the beginning it was going to be a tough match because all our previous encounters were difficult. The most important thing was my touch and my mentality – remembering to breathe, take a pause and come back to the table.”

MEI ROSU also highlighted the importance of keeping her game simple against an adversary capable of attacking from both sides.

“She is playing very well on both forehand and backhand. I had to raise my level very high. I was more concentrated on doing the simple things well – service, receive and the first ball.”

Having started her campaign in the qualification stage, the Romanian admitted reaching the final exceeded her expectations.

“At the beginning I didn’t think I would be in the final. I took it step by step and prepared for every match. To make it all the way from the qualifiers to the final is something big.”

The achievement carries extra significance as she approaches the end of her youth career.

“It makes me feel special and proud of myself. This is my last year in Under 19 and I want to raise my level even higher and see what potential I have.”

Final

Bianca MEI ROSU (Romania) – Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) 4-1 (11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 13-11, 13-11)

Semifinals

• Alexia NODIN (France) – Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) 3-4 (5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-13, 12-10, 7-11, 10-12)
• Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) – Bianca MEI ROSU (Romania) 2-4 (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 7-11)

PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The post MEI ROSU Completes Dream Run to Claim European Under 21 Title in Cluj-Napoca first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

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.

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 always important to stay focused because if I slip even a little bit, I can lose. My opponent was very strong, so I had to keep my concentration high.”

Reflecting on his tournament so far, BERTELSMEIER expressed satisfaction with his performances.

“In singles it has been very good. I managed to dominate many matches and win them. Doubles has also gone well. In mixed doubles we lost in the first round, but we weren’t really used to each other as a pair.”

Men’s Singles

Finals

Wim VERDONSCHOT (Germany) – Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany) 3-4 (7-11, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 3-11)

Semifinals

Connor GREEN (England) – Wim VERDONSCHOT (Germany) 2-4 (11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 4-11, 7-11)

Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany) – Darius MOVILEANU (Romania) 4-1 (11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9)

PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU

The post BERTELSMEIER Completes German Triumph to Claim European Under 21 Men’s Singles Crown first appeared on European table tennis union.

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