ETTU - European Table Tennis Union - News

[Milica Nikolic]

Top Spin Messina WatchesTogether lifted their third Men’s Italian Cup, adding to previous triumphs in 2019 and 2020, after a dramatic 3–2 final victory over Tennistavolo Sassari at Palascherma in Ancona.

The Sicilian side received the trophy from Marche Councillor for Sport Tiziano CONSOLI, CONI Marche President Fabio LUNA, and Italian Table Tennis Federation President Renato DI NAPOLI. In the semifinals, Top Spin defeated Alfa Food Bagnolese 3–1, while Sassari overcame Muravera Tennistavolo Sardegna Prodotti Tipici by the same scoreline. Bagnolese secured third place with a 3–1 win over Muravera.

The final opened with a tight doubles encounter, where Marco CAPPUCCIO / Andrea PUPPO edged Danilo FASO / Niagol STOYANOV in five games. Vladislav URSU quickly restored parity for Messina with a straight-games win over John OYEBODE, before STOYANOV put Top Spin ahead following a hard-fought victory against PUPPO. OYEBODE then leveled the match again after FASO was forced to retire due to fever, but URSU sealed the title with a commanding win over CAPPUCCIO.

“We started the new year in the best possible way,” said Top Spin President Giorgio QUARTUCCIO. “Despite injuries and illness, the team showed great character. URSU’s two points were decisive, and STOYANOV’s win proved crucial. This trophy rewards our hard work and confirms our strength.”

Top Spin Messina last lifted a national title in 2022, when they won the Italian Championship.

Final

TOP SPIN MESSINA – TENNISTAVOLO SASSARI 3–2

• Danilo FASO / Niagol STOYANOV – Marco CAPPUCCIO / Andrea PUPPO 2–3
• Vladislav URSU – John OYEBODE 3–0
• Niagol STOYANOV – Andrea PUPPO 3–2
• Danilo FASO – John OYEBODE 1–3
• Vladislav URSU – Marco CAPPUCCIO 3–0

Match for Third Place

ALFA FOOD BAGNOLESE – MURAVERA TENNISTAVOLO 3–0

Semifinals

• ALFA FOOD BAGNOLESE – TOP SPIN MESSINA 1–3
• MURAVERA TENNISTAVOLO – TENNISTAVOLO SASSARI 1–3

The post Top Spin Messina Claim Third Men’s Italian Cup first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The ETTU 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will bring together the continent’s crème de la crème from 5 to 8 February in the picturesque Swiss town of Montreux.

In both the women’s and men’s events, fourteen players qualify directly through the ETTU Rankings, while eight additional players in each category will compete for the final two available places. The seeding list is based on the December ETTU Rankings, with Sweden’s Truls MOREGARD leading the men’s field and Germany’s Sabine WINTER heading the women’s draw.

Truls MOREGARD returns to Montreux as one of the standout figures of the modern era. He has already reached the final of the Europe Top 16 Cup twice, in 2022 and 2024, and advanced to the semifinals last year. His career achievements include two silver medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in both the singles and team events. At the European Championships, MOREGARD won team gold in Malmö in 2023, claimed silver in doubles in Linz in 2024, secured bronze medals with the Swedish team in Nantes in 2019 and Cluj-Napoca in 2021, and added a bronze medal in singles at the 2024 Championships in Linz. His World Championship record features a bronze medal in singles in Doha in 2025, a silver medal in singles in Houston in 2021, and a bronze medal in the team event in Halmstad in 2018. He also captured a silver medal with the Swedish team at the 2023 European Games in Kraków–Małopolska.

The reigning CCB Europe Top 16 Cup champion, Alexis LEBRUN, enters the tournament as the second seed. He also reached the semifinals in 2024 and played a key role in France’s bronze-medal finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In 2025, in Zadar, Alexis was part of the French team that captured the European title alongside his brother Felix LEBRUN. He is also the reigning European champion in both singles and doubles, having claimed the doubles title with Felix in 2024. The LEBRUN brothers previously stood on the podium together with bronze medals in doubles at the 2022 European Championships in Munich and in the team event at the 2023 Championships in Malmö. Alexis further strengthened his international résumé with a silver medal at the 2024 World Championships in Busan in the team event and a bronze medal in doubles at the 2025 World Championships in Doha.

Felix LEBRUN, in addition to his team and doubles success, secured an Olympic bronze medal in singles at Paris 2024 and captured gold at the 2023 European Games in Poland.

Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC, seeded fifth, is one of the most dominant players of the competition, having won the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup three consecutive times in 2022, 2023 and 2024, while finishing runner-up in 2020 and 2025. His major titles also include a silver medal in singles at the 2022 European Championships in Munich, as well as bronze medals with the Slovenian team at the European Championships in 2015 and 2017.

Germany’s top-ranked representative, Benedikt DUDA, seeded sixth, claimed the silver medal in singles at the 2024 European Championships in Linz. He has also been an integral part of Germany’s highly successful teams, contributing to gold medals at the European Championships in Nantes in 2019 and Cluj-Napoca in 2021, a silver medal in Malmö in 2023, and a bronze medal at the 2025 Championships in Zadar.

Just below him in the seeding list is compatriot Patrick FRANZISKA, the winner of the Europe Top 16 Cup in Thessaloniki in 2012. FRANZISKA reached the semifinals of the competition last year and previously in 2022. He claimed bronze in singles at the 2018 European Championships in Alicante, while enjoying remarkable team success with Germany, standing atop the podium at the European Championships four times in 2013, 2017, 2019 and 2021. With the German team, he also won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and two silver medals at the World Championships in Tokyo and Halmstad.

The German presence continues with Dang QIU, runner-up in Montreux in 2023. The 2022 European singles champion from Munich also owns a European Championships gold medal in mixed doubles from Warsaw in 2020. At the 2023 European Games, he reached the top step of the podium in both the mixed doubles and team events.

Five-time Europe Top 16 Cup winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, who lifted the trophy in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019, brings an extraordinary list of accolades to Montreux. Over the course of his illustrious career, he has collected ten European Championship gold medals since 2007, including two singles titles in 2013 and 2015 and eight team titles. OVTCHAROV is also the European Games singles champion from 2015 and a team champion at the Games in 2019 and 2023. At the Olympic Games, he won bronze medals in singles in London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, silver medals in the team event in Beijing and Tokyo, and team bronze medals in London and Rio.

The second Swedish representative, Anton KALLBERG, has built much of his success in team competitions. He was a member of the Swedish team that claimed silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, won team gold at the European Championships in Malmö, and collected bronze medals in the team event in 2019 and 2021. In 2024, in Linz, he also finished runner-up in doubles.

Denmark’s Anders LIND was part of the Danish team that secured a bronze medal at the 2021 European Championships in Cluj-Napoca.

France’s Simon GAUZY, silver medalist in singles at the 2016 European Championships, was a member of the French team that captured European gold in Zadar in 2025. He also won bronze medals in the team event at the European Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2019. At the Olympic Games in Paris, GAUZY helped France to bronze, while in the same year he claimed silver at the World Championships in the team event. His European Games record includes silver in Baku in 2015 and bronze in Kraków in 2023.

Another Danish representative, Jonathan GROTH, seeded twelfth, reached the semifinals of the Europe Top 16 Cup in 2018. He was runner-up in singles at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, claimed gold in doubles at the 2016 European Championships, and finished runner-up in doubles at the 2010 European Championships in Ostrava.

Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS lifted the Europe Top 16 Cup trophy in 2014 in Lausanne, finished runner-up in 2015 and 2021, and reached the semifinals in Montreux in 2024. His European Championship successes include gold in doubles in 2011 and gold with the Portuguese team in 2014, as well as silver medals in singles in 2015 and in the team event in 2017 and 2019. He has also collected four bronze medals, including one in Warsaw in 2020 and another with the team in Malmö in 2023.

The players who need to go through the qualifications are: Alvaro ROBLES of Spain, Andrej GACINA of Croatia, Milosz REDZIMSKI of Poland, Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia, Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden, Joao GERALDO of Portugal and Pedro OSIRO of Switzerland.

The post Europe’s Elite Set for Montreux as 55th CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Approaches first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The ETTU 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will celebrate its 55th edition, continuing a tradition that began with an experimental tournament held in Zadar in 1971. From 5 to 8 February, the Swiss town of Montreux will once again host Europe’s elite, as the continent’s best players gather for one of the most prestigious individual events on the calendar. Invitations were issued in accordance with the European rankings, and all leading players have confirmed their participation.

In both the women’s and men’s events, fourteen players qualify directly through the ETTU Rankings, while eight additional players in each category will compete for the final two available places.

Germany’s Sabine WINTER heads the women’s field as the top seed. A semifinalist at the previous edition and also in 2017, WINTER returns to Montreux as one of the most decorated players of her generation. She claimed bronze in singles at the 2022 European Championships and has amassed seven European Championship gold medals, winning doubles titles in 2013 and 2016 and team titles in 2014, 2015, 2021, 2023 and 2025. She was also part of the German teams that secured bronze medals at the World Championships in Moscow and Chengdu, and her international résumé includes a silver medal in the team event at the European Games in Poland.

Second seed Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria has been one of the most consistent performers in recent editions of the Europe Top 16 Cup. She finished runner-up in 2023 and 2024 and reached the semifinals in 2019, 2020 and 2022. At the 2022 European Championships, POLCANOVA captured gold medals in both singles and doubles, successfully defending her singles title in Linz in 2024. At the same Championships, she also earned silver medals in doubles and mixed doubles, while her international success extends to a silver medal in doubles at the 2025 World Championships.

Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS, champion of the Europe Top 16 Cup in 2018 and finalist one year later, remains a regular presence among the top contenders. She reached the semifinals in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Her European Championship record includes team gold medals in 2017 and 2019, as well as gold in doubles in 2022, partnering POLCANOVA. In addition, SZOCS has collected five team silver medals between 2011 and 2025, along with two further silver medals in singles and doubles. At the 2023 European Games, she captured gold in both singles and team events, having previously won silver in the team and mixed doubles events in Minsk in 2019. Her most recent World Championship success came in Doha in 2025, where she secured silver in doubles.

The reigning CCB Europe Top 16 Cup champion, Ying HAN, continues her return to top-level competition after overcoming a torn Achilles tendon that prevented her from defending her titles in 2024. Winner of the tournament in 2022 and 2023, the German defensive specialist made a remarkable comeback in 2025, returning to Montreux in outstanding form. HAN’s achievements include five gold medals at the European Team Championships in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2023 and 2025, as well as silver in 2017 and bronze in 2015, while she also claimed bronze in singles in 2013. At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, she was a member of the German team that won silver.

Seeded fifth is France’s Jia Nan YUAN, the winner of the 2024 Europe Top 16 Cup. At the European Championships, YUAN claimed gold in mixed doubles in 2022 and bronze in the team event in 2023, while at the 2024 World Championships in Busan, she was part of the French team that won bronze.

Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA will make her 16th appearance at the Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux. Her best result prior to last year’s final was a third-place finish in 2018. One of the most decorated players in European table tennis history, SAMARA has won eight European Championship gold medals, including singles gold in 2015, doubles titles in 2009 and 2012, mixed doubles gold in 2011 and 2012, and team titles in 2005, 2017 and 2019. She has also amassed ten silver and six bronze medals at the Championships. At the European Games, she won team gold in 2023, team silver in 2019, and bronze in singles.

France’s Prithika PAVADE, seeded seventh, has already claimed four European Championship bronze medals, earning podium finishes in the team event in 2021 and 2023 and in mixed doubles in 2020 and 2024.

Portugal’s Jieni SHAO achieved her best Europe Top 16 Cup result in 2023, reaching the semifinals. At the European Championships, she won team silver in 2019 and bronze medals in 2021, 2023 and 2025, while also helping Portugal to bronze at the 2023 European Games.

Germany’s Nina MITTELHAM, the Europe Top 16 Cup winner in 2021, returns to Montreux as the ninth seed. Her European Championship titles include gold in doubles in 2018, mixed doubles gold in 2020, and team gold in 2021, 2023 and 2025. She also won silver in singles in 2022 and 2024, and was part of the German team that secured bronze at the 2022 World Championships.

Next on the seeding list is Sweden’s Linda BERGSTRÖM, who was a member of the Swedish team that won bronze at the 2014 European Championships.

Portugal’s Fu YU, runner-up at the Europe Top 16 Cup in 2021, arrives in Montreux following a bronze medal at the 2025 European Team Championships. She also claimed team bronze medals in 2021 and 2023, singles bronze in 2013 and 2015, singles silver in 2016, and team silver in 2019. At the 2019 European Games in Minsk, YU captured gold, and she added team bronze at the 2023 European Games in Poland.

Spain’s Maria XIAO, seeded twelfth, celebrated her greatest success at the 2024 European Championships, where she won gold in mixed doubles and bronze in singles. She also secured bronze in doubles in 2022.

Poland’s Natalia BAJOR has two European Championship medals to her name, having won team bronze in 2019 and bronze in doubles in 2024.

Completing the seeded field is Germany’s Xiaona SHAN, the fourteenth seed, who reached the semifinals last year. A key contributor to Germany’s team successes since 2013, SHAN won European Championship gold in singles and doubles in 2020, silver in singles and doubles in 2013 and in doubles in 2016, as well as bronze in singles in 2022.

The players who will have to progress through the qualification stage are Anna HURSEY, Annett KAUFMANN of Germany, Charlotte LUTZ of France, Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania, Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia, Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia, Georgina POTA of Hungary and Rachel MORET of Switzerland.

The post Women’s Stars Headline 55th CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Neil HARWOOD OAM , one of Australia’s most influential figures in Table Tennis, passed away leaving behind a legacy spanning more than five decades.

Neil began his involvement in Table Tennis in Tasmania as a player at 17 years old. By 18, he was contributing to local committees, and later advanced to positions on Tasmania’s management committee.

His administrative career with Table Tennis Australia (then known as ATTA) began in 1976 as Chairman of the National Coaching Committee and Neil quickly became a driving force within Table Tennis Australia. Over the years, he served as Chairman of National Selectors, managed junior and senior national teams, and represented Australia at three Olympic Games, seven World Championships, and numerous other international events.

Neil’s impact extended globally through his work with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). He served as TTA Delegate (1985–1995), Continental Vice President (1996–2005), Chairman of Umpires and Referees (2001–2003), Executive Vice President for Finance (2005–2012), and Deputy President (2012–2013). His responsibilities spanned finance, officiating, and oversight of Olympic and Commonwealth Games, earning him ITTF Life Membership in 2014.

A key figure in the Olympic movement, Neil was Competition Manager for Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics, International Technical Delegate for Athens 2004, and held senior roles at multiple Commonwealth Games. He also served on the Board of Commonwealth Games Australia (2001–2004).

His contributions earned him life memberships across multiple organisations and prestigious honours, including the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2007.

As President of Table Tennis Australia (1996–1999) and ITTF-Oceania (1996–2005), Neil championed the growth of Table Tennis in Australia and brought an Australian voice to the world stage. His dedication, vision, and passion inspired generations of players and administrators.

Neil is remembered as a true pioneer whose commitment elevated the sport nationally and internationally and he will be sorely missed by family in Tasmania, SA (father and father in law to Claire and Paul LANGLEY) and his plethora of friends from all across the world and ITTF.

Neil is survived by his loving wife, Sandra, and his large family, who supported his remarkable journey.

The post In Memoriam Vale Neil Harwood OAM (1943–2026) first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Christmas Girls’ Training Camp concluded in festive spirit on Monday, 5 January, at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF) in Athens, leaving the best possible impressions after four days of intensive training combined with enjoyable and educational parallel activities.

The camp was the first major activity of the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation (HTTF) in 2026 and formed part of the federation’s three-year development program, supported by the ETTU and ITTF. Classified under the “National Project” category, the initiative brought together 12 young athletes born between 2012 and 2015, selected through the federation’s evaluation system.

The coaching team, composed of former champions, worked seamlessly with the athletes, sharing not only technical expertise but also personal experience. Training assistants from the men’s national team were present throughout the camp, while five members of the women’s national team joined the girls on one of the training days. The program was further enriched with parallel activities including kids’ athletics, Pilates and first-aid education, along with commemorative diplomas, gifts, Christmas decorations, autographs, catering, and various amenities. The camp also welcomed visits from leading figures in Greek table tennis, featured the daily presence of HTTF officials and national coaches, and included international input via modern technology, notably through contact with Maria CHRISTOFORAKI, who is highly experienced in organizing similar initiatives abroad.

The young athletes who took part in the camp were Kleio MADESI, Argyro KOUTROUMBA, Elpida TASIOU, Antonia GANTA, Anastasia MICHALAROU, Anthi TOULIA, Angeliki DOURLOUNTADOU, Markela-Ioanna SGOUTA, Sofia KATSANTONI, Katerina-Fotini PAPALEXI, Konstantina FILOPOULOU and Ioanna EVANGELATOU.

On the second day, a Pilates session was delivered by physical education teacher Elena TZOVOLOU, adding an important element of physical awareness and flexibility to the program.

A special highlight of the camp was a surprise online connection with Swedish federation coach and Olympic athlete Maria CHRISTOFORAKI. Speaking from China, where she is currently attending a training camp with selected young players in her role as Youth National Team Captain of the Swedish Table Tennis Association (STTA), the former Greek champion shared her experience in organizing three women’s festivals in Halmstad and inspired the participants with her international perspective.

The third day featured a first-aid briefing led by Konstantinos ANAGNOSTOU, a former table tennis player and current coach in Chios, who is also a certified first-aid instructor. He introduced the children to essential first-aid principles, CPR and the use of a defibrillator, encouraging them to pursue certification in the future.

Another highlight was the kids’ athletics program, conducted by physical education teacher Panagiotis CHARAMIS, who is seconded to the Hellenic Athletics Federation. This proved to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the camp, as the girls were divided into teams and competed in fun, running-based games featuring obstacles, cones, ropes and small balls.

Reflecting on the event, Katerina SPANOU, President of the HTTF Technical Committee and organizer of the camp, emphasized the importance of the overall atmosphere.

“The most important thing is the children’s smiles. Since they showed us how much they enjoyed what we did during the four days, we are also very satisfied. I believe we achieved our goal. Perhaps we could have organized a larger event with more preparation time, but we definitely want to establish an initiative for girls, where the sport needs a boost, with broad participation and without the need for selections,” she said.

Members of the women’s national team, Elisavet TERPOU and Dimitra-Thomais TSEKOURA, took part in the final training session, while Greek men’s singles champions Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS and Giorgos STAMATOUROS visited the venue to greet the children. The closing session was also attended by national coaches Kostas VATSAKLIS and Christos LAMIS, underlining the federation’s full support for the initiative.

The post Grand Finale at the Christmas Girls’ Training Camp in Athens first appeared on European table tennis union.

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