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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[Milica Nikolic]

The 2026 Hungarian National Championships will take place from 20 to 22 March in Mosonmagyaróvár, marking the first time the city will host the country’s premier national event. The tournament will be staged at the UFM Arena, a venue that reflects the steady growth and development of table tennis in the region in recent years.

The men’s singles competition is expected to be one of the highlights of the championships. Defending champion Csaba ANDRÁS will return with the goal of retaining his title, but he will face strong opposition from some of Hungary’s top players. Among the main contenders are Ádám SZUDI and Bence MAJOROS, while the younger generation is also eager to make its mark. Talents such as Balázs LEI and 2025 European Youth Champion Dávid SZÁNTOSI will look to challenge the established names and potentially reshape the title race.

In the women’s singles, the experienced Georgina PÓTA once again enters the tournament as the leading favourite. The multiple-time national champion continues to perform at a high level and remains a key figure in Hungarian table tennis. However, Dóra MADARÁSZ and Mercédesz NAGYVÁRADI are expected to provide strong competition, while younger players could also influence the outcome of the event.

The doubles competitions promise an unpredictable battle for national honours. Alongside several well-established partnerships, a number of newly formed pairs will be aiming to claim the titles, making the outcome in these events particularly difficult to forecast.

Last year’s champions include Csaba ANDRÁS (men’s singles) and Georgina PÓTA (women’s singles). In the doubles events, Nándor ECSEKI and Ádám SZUDI captured the men’s doubles title, Bernadett BÁLINT and Mercédesz NAGYVÁRADI won the women’s doubles, while Szandra PERGEL and Ádám SZUDI secured victory in the mixed doubles.

The post Mosonmagyaróvár to Host 2026 Hungarian National Championships first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Following the official draws held on Tuesday, 17 March, preparations are complete for the 2025-2026 Greek National Championships, the premier domestic event organised by the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation (HTTF). The tournament will take place from 20 to 22 March at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF) in Piraeus.

A total of 90 athletes representing 39 clubs from across Greece will compete. The entries include 59 players in the men’s singles, 31 in the women’s singles, 27 pairs in men’s doubles, 16 in women’s doubles, and 29 pairs in mixed doubles.

As always, the championships will feature a strong field of established stars and experienced titleholders. Six players who have previously won at least one national singles title are set to compete once again.

In the men’s singles, four-time consecutive champion Yiannis SGOUROPOULOS returns as the leading name, alongside two-time champion Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS and former winners Giorgos STAMATOUROS and Tasos RINIOTIS.

In the women’s singles, five-time champion Katerina TOLIOU will defend her title, while Ioanna GERASIMATOU, the 2023 national champion, is also among the top contenders.

Several other notable players will also be in action, including finalists and doubles title winners such as Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS, Elisavet TERPOU, and Dimitra-Thomais TSECOURA.

Two former national champions will compete exclusively in doubles events. Yiannis VLOTINOS, the record holder with 14 national singles titles, and Filareti EXARCHOU, women’s singles champion in 2012, will feature in the doubles competitions, also joining forces in mixed doubles.

One notable absence is Konstantina PARIDI, but for a joyful reason. The two-time national champion and last year’s finalist recently became a mother, welcoming a baby girl in Rethymno, Crete.

The competition format includes a group stage followed by knockout rounds. In the men’s singles, players are divided into 12 groups, while the women’s singles features 6 groups, with top seeds entering directly into later stages. Matches up to the round of 16 are played in a best-of-five format, while from the quarterfinals onwards, matches are decided in best-of-seven. All doubles events follow a single-elimination system from the start.

Adding further prestige to the event, the final day of the championships will be broadcast live by ERT, the Greek public broadcaster. Coverage will take place on Sunday, 22 March, via ERTFLIX, the free digital platform accessible both in Greece and internationally.

With a strong lineup, competitive depth, and national television coverage, the 2026 Greek National Championships promise an exciting showcase of Greek table tennis at its highest level.

The post With 90 Players and Live Public TV Coverage, Greek National Championships Set for Piraeus first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Eurotalents Development Camp II will take place from 13 to 19 May 2026 in Izvorani, Romania, bringing together some of Europe’s most promising young players as part of the ETTU Eurotalents Programme.

Organised by the Romanian Table Tennis Federation in cooperation with ETTU, the camp will once again provide a high-performance environment aimed at supporting the development of Europe’s next generation of elite athletes.

A strong group of selected players has already been confirmed. In the girls’ category, the camp will feature Adela BRHELOVA of Czechia, Lola URIA and Carmen GÓMEZ of Spain, Kamilla KADAR of Finland, Alyssia BATAILLE of France, Serena ROSSATI of Italy, Kaja TVOROGAL and Karina MILTO of Lithuania, Andreea PROHOROVICI of Moldova, Zoë SCHUTTE of the Netherlands, Lara MONTEIRO of Portugal, Bianca TOMA, Adriana IVAN, Teodora SARDENI of Romania, and Aybige Fedride USTUNDAG of Turkey.

In the boys’ category, confirmed participants include Richard FEBER of Czechia, Dimitar DIMITROV of England, Luca ROMERO and Ladimir MAYOROV of Spain, Arthur XIAN XIAO and Hachim TISSAFI IDRISSI of France, Kirill MANALAKI and Junde ZANG of Germany, Theofanis MARKOULAKIS of Greece, Reah Krol SHAHAR of Israel, Giorgio BORGHESE and Pietro CAMPAGNA of Italy, Nicolae BUCUR of Moldova, Milan VUCETIC of Montenegro, Vladimir FILIMON ROMANESCU of Romania, and Filip AROSELL of Sweden.

The camp will begin on 13 May with arrival and a meeting for coaches, followed by five days of intensive training (14–18 May), before concluding with departures on 19 May.

Training sessions will be led by an experienced coaching team headed by ETTU-appointed Head Coach Zvonimir KORENIC, alongside Bogdan ALBESCU, Gyorgy ISTVAN, and physical coach Andrei GHERASE, ensuring a comprehensive programme covering technical, tactical and physical preparation.

The event will be hosted at the Romanian Olympic Centre “Sydney 2000” in Izvorani, a fully equipped high-performance venue near Bucharest, offering top-level training facilities as well as accommodation, dining, and recovery services in one location.

The camp is open to the selected players listed above, while Member Associations may request wild cards for additional participants until 17 April 2026. Requests should be submitted via email to projects@ettu.org within the deadline.

Associations are also reminded of the key administrative deadlines, with entries to be submitted by 17 April 2026 and cancellations possible until 27 April 2026.

The post Europe’s Rising Stars Gather in Izvorani for Eurotalents Development Camp II first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Finnish National Individual Table Tennis Championships will take place on 21–22 March at the Vuores Sports Hall in Tampere, where national titles will be decided in five events: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

In the men’s singles, top seed Alex NAUMI of Kosken Kaiku returns as defending champion, aiming to secure his third senior national title. However, the road to the title will be far from straightforward. Among the leading challengers are Aleksi RÄSÄNEN (PT Espoo) and Lassi LEHTOLA (MBF Helsinki), both representing the new generation of Finnish talent. Notably, all three players currently train and compete in Sweden.

Experience will also play a key role, with Otto TENNILÄ (PT 75) once again expected to be among the medal contenders. Known internationally as part of the Pongfinity trio under the nickname “Sensei,” Tennilä traditionally performs strongly on home soil.

A notable absence from this year’s championships is Benedek OLÁH, who has dominated Finnish table tennis in recent years. OLÁH will instead be competing in Major League Table Tennis in the United States.

“It is a pity that Benedek could not make it this year. My goal is to defend last year’s double title. Hopefully, we will see a great tournament with plenty of high-quality matches,” said NAUMI.

In the women’s singles, Marina DONNER enters as the clear favourite, having claimed the national title for the past five consecutive years. The Åland-based player, representing MBF, missed the start of the season due to a shoulder injury but has been steadily regaining form ahead of the championships. Her title defence is expected to be challenged by Maria GIRLEA (PT Jyväskylä) and Aleksandra TITIEVSKAJA (PT Espoo), while young talent Jaimielee ENRIQUEZ could also play a role.

“It is great to be competing for the national title again. There are a few nerves already, but I am not putting unnecessary pressure on myself,” DONNER commented.

The doubles events promise further excitement. The top-seeded pairs are Alex NAUMI / Aleksi RÄSÄNEN in the men’s doubles and Marina DONNER / Maria GIRLEA in the women’s doubles, while Lassi LEHTOLA / Maria GIRLEA lead the field in mixed doubles.

Spectators will have free admission throughout the event. The finals, scheduled for Sunday at 15:00, will be streamed free of charge on ISTV and Ruutu+, with commentary provided by Mika Pyykkö and co-commentator Pasi Valasti.

Text: Heikki KIISKINEN / FTTA Photos: Ildiko KADAR

The post Plenty of Challengers Await Defending Champions at Finnish National Championships in Tampere first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The ITTF has launched applications for the Equipment Assistance Programme 2026, continuing its long-standing initiative to support member associations, particularly in developing regions.

Since its introduction in 1999, the programme has delivered over 1,000 tables to 112 member associations worldwide, helping to address one of the key barriers to growth – access to quality equipment.

In 2025, the programme supported 18 associations across Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, with additional deliveries ongoing. The initiative distributed 148 tables, 130 surrounds, 1,500 rackets and more than 20,000 balls, supporting grassroots development, school programmes, and national team activities.

For 2026, all member associations are invited to apply. Applications will be assessed based on governance, development activity, and competition plans, with priority given to Category 3 and 4 associations. Selected associations will receive customised equipment packages tailored to their needs.

The application deadline is 17 April 2026.

As ITTF celebrates its centenary year, the programme remains a key tool in supporting the global growth of table tennis.

The post ITTF Equipment Assistance Programme 2026 Opens for Applications first appeared on European table tennis union.

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