ETTU - European Table Tennis Union - News

[Milica Nikolic]

The European Table Tennis Union has opened the media accreditation process for the upcoming Final 4 tournaments of the HYLO ETTU Champions League Men and the ETTU Champions League Women.

The HYLO ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 will take place on 16th to 17th May 2026 in Saarbrücken, Germany, while the ETTU Champions League Women Final 4 is scheduled for 23rd to 24th May 2026 in Tarnobrzeg, Poland.

Both events will bring together the four best teams of the season to compete for Europe’s most prestigious club titles.

Media representatives wishing to cover the tournaments are invited to submit their accreditation requests through the official accreditation form available on the ETTU media contact page.

Please note that all accreditation applications are subject to approval. Confirmation or denial of accreditation requests will be communicated no later than one month before the Men’s Final 4 and two weeks before the Women’s Final 4.

Further information regarding media operations will be communicated to accredited media representatives in due course.

The post Media accreditation open for ETTU Champions League Final 4 events first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The 2026 Swiss National Table Tennis Championships will take place on 21–22 March at the Centro Sportivo Tenero in Tenero-Contra, where the country’s leading players will compete for national titles across several categories. The two-day event promises intense competition as established champions and rising talents meet in one of Switzerland’s most important domestic tournaments.

In the men’s singles, defending champion Elias HARDMEIER returns as one of the main favourites after claiming last year’s title. He will face strong opposition from players such as Elia SCHMID, Noe KEUSCH, Yoan REBETEZ, Loïc STOLL, Pedro OSIRO, and Barish MOULET, all aiming to challenge for the national crown.

The women’s singles competition will once again feature Rachel MORET, last year’s champion and the clear favourite for the title. MORET’S experience and consistency make her the player to beat as she seeks to defend her championship.

The championships will also highlight the strength and diversity of Swiss table tennis through several additional categories. In the Para singles, defending champion Rolf Acklin is expected to be among the leading contenders alongside Elvir SELIMOVIC and Markus JUTZI. The Standing singles category will feature competitors such as Leon SCHÜEP, Fabian LICHTIN, and Valentin KNEUSS, while Dirk KRETZSCHMAR and Silvio KELLER will be among the players to watch in the Tetra singles event.

The action begins on Saturday, 21 March, when the venue opens at 08:30, followed by the official welcome at 10:15. Competition starts shortly after with mixed and group matches, alongside the Para and Tetra doubles events. The afternoon programme includes the opening rounds of the men’s and women’s singles competitions.

On Sunday, 22 March, the decisive stages of the tournament will unfold. The day will feature semifinal matches across several categories before culminating in the singles finals, with the women’s singles final scheduled for 15:30 and the men’s singles final at 16:15, followed by the final awards ceremony at 17:00.

The post Swiss Championships Return to Tenero with HARDMEIER and MORET Leading the Field first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Borussia Düsseldorf have announced the signing of Chinese superstar FAN Zhendong, one of the most decorated players in modern table tennis. The Paris 2024 Olympic singles champion has agreed a one-year contract for the 2026/2027 season, joining from German league rivals 1. FC Saarbrücken.

Fan will arrive in Düsseldorf on 1 July 2026, strengthening a squad that already features Dang QIU, Anton KÄLLBERG, Kanak JHA, and Li YONGYIN. His move comes one year after the retirement of club legend Timo BOLL, whose legacy remains closely tied to the club.

At 29, FAN Zhendong is among the most successful players of his generation. A nine-time World Champion and former world number one for more than 250 weeks, he crowned his career with Olympic gold in singles and team events in Paris 2024. He has also claimed 34 ITTF/WTT Tour singles titles and numerous major international trophies.

Despite stepping away from international competition at the end of 2024, FAN remains highly competitive, recently winning the Chinese National Games, defeating leading players such as WANG Chuqin and LIN Shidong.

Former Borussia Düsseldorf star Timo BOLL, who played for the club for 18 years and now serves as an ambassador, welcomed the move:

“Fan Zhendong wants to experience Germany and the Bundesliga, and his popularity will bring global attention to the league. His move to Düsseldorf is a logical step, this is where the heart of table tennis beats.”

FAN Zhendong also expressed gratitude to his current club and excitement about the next chapter:

“I am very grateful to Saarbrücken for giving me the opportunity to start my journey in the TTBL. Now I feel a special connection to Borussia Düsseldorf, the club where my friend Timo BOLL built such an impressive legacy. I look forward to supporting the team and it is an honour to follow in his footsteps.”

Borussia Düsseldorf manager Andreas PREUSS described the signing as a landmark moment for the club:

“FAN is our absolute dream player and a huge enrichment for our team and the entire club. He is a global star and an exceptional sports personality. It is a great honour for us that an Olympic champion will play for Borussia Düsseldorf.”

The post Borussia Düsseldorf Sign Olympic Champion FAN Zhendong first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) continues its commitment to promoting gender equality in sport with the launch of the 2026 edition of the “My Gender. My Strength.” programme, an initiative designed to support and empower female coaches across the global table tennis community.

Recognising sport as one of the most powerful platforms for advancing equality and strengthening the role of women and girls, the programme focuses on creating opportunities for women not only as athletes but also as leaders and coaches within the sport.

The project aims to enhance women’s participation in table tennis by helping ambitious and dedicated female coaches advance their careers while contributing to the development of the sport within their Member Associations and beyond.

Through the initiative, ITTF encourages Member Associations to identify talented female coaches who have the potential to grow in their roles and actively contribute to the development of table tennis in their countries.

Three-Stage Development Programme

The programme will be implemented over a two-year period, with the first two phases taking place in 2026 and the final phase scheduled for the first half of 2027.

Stage 1 – Theoretical Knowledge

Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experienced international experts in coaching and sports development, gaining valuable theoretical insights to strengthen their coaching foundation.

Stage 2 – Practical Experience

In the second stage, selected coaches will enhance their practical experience by participating in high-level training activities such as the Hopes Programme or Youth Training Camps, where they will work alongside experienced head coaches and gain hands-on learning opportunities.

Stage 3 – Leadership and Legacy

The final stage focuses on leadership development and creating a long-term impact. Each participant will organise a minimum three-day Women and Girls Training Camp within their Member Association, including educational sessions for other female coaches, helping to expand the network of women involved in coaching.

The programme provides comprehensive support, including: mentoring sessions with experienced experts, travel and accommodation for development activities, organisational support for Women and Girls Training Camps.

Member Associations are invited to nominate one female coach for the programme through the following link.

Eligible candidates should: be active coaches or retired elite athletes with coaching experience, hold a national coaching qualification or ITTF coaching certification, have at least two years of experience at regional, continental, or international level, possess a communicative level of English.

Priority may be given to coaches who have previously participated in ITTF development programmes such as the Hopes Programme, Youth Training Camps, or scholarship initiatives.

The post ITTF Launches “My Gender. My Strength” – Programme to Empower Female Coaches first appeared on European table tennis union.

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