ETTU - European Table Tennis Union - News (1 Cititor)

[Milica Nikolic]

France finished at the top of the medal table at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana, claiming six medals – two gold, one silver and three bronze – across the five events at Arena Stožice.

Germany secured second place with five medals, including one gold, one silver and three bronze, while Poland completed the top three with one gold and one silver.

Russia and Slovakia each claimed one gold medal to share fourth place in the standings. Sweden collected three medals – two silver and one bronze – to finish sixth.

Romania followed with two bronze medals, while Moldova completed the list of eight medal-winning nations with one bronze.

France’s success was highlighted by Félix LEBRUN’s Men’s Singles triumph and the successful defence of the Men’s Doubles title alongside his brother Alexis.

Event	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Men’s Singles	Félix LEBRUN (FRA)	Anton KÄLLBERG (SWE)	Léo DE NODREST (FRA), Dang QIU (GER)
Women’s Singles	Elizabet ABRAAMIAN (RUS)	Annett KAUFMANN (GER)	Prithika PAVADE (FRA), Nina MITTELHAM (GER)
Men’s Doubles	Alexis LEBRUN / Félix LEBRUN (FRA)	Kristian KARLSSON / Anton KÄLLBERG (SWE)	Esteban DORR / Florian BOURRASSAUD (FRA), Vladislav URSU / Andrei PUTUNTICA (MDA)
Women’s Doubles	Tatiana KUKULKOVA (SVK) / Natalia BAJOR (POL)	Zuzanna WIELGOS / Anna BRZYSKA (POL)	Annett KAUFMANN / Nina MITTELHAM (GER), Bernadette SZOCS / Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU)
Mixed Doubles	Benedikt DUDA / Nina MITTELHAM (GER)	Alexis LEBRUN / Charlotte LUTZ (FRA)	Kristian KARLSSON / Christina KÄLLBERG (SWE), Patrick FRANZISKA / Sabine WINTER (GER)

The post France Tops Medal Table at European Championships in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Brunetti Castel Goffredo celebrated their eighth Italian Women’s Super Cup title after a dramatic comeback victory over Tennistavolo Norbello in the ninth edition of the competition, held at the PalaTennistavolo “Elia Mazzi”. The winners received the trophy from FITeT Deputy Vice President Carlo BORELLA.

For the second consecutive year, the Super Cup was contested in the relay format, with players alternating at the table every five points and each game played to 45 points. Castel Goffredo recovered from losing the opening game to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory (40-45, 45-44, 45-28).

Norbello, represented by Anastasiia KOLISH, Ana TOFANT and Irene MORETTI, made the stronger start and claimed the opening game. They came agonisingly close to victory in the second, earning two match points, but were unable to convert either opportunity.

Castel Goffredo’s Nikoleta STEFANOVA, Nicole ARLIA, Cecilia CICUTTINI and Azzurra MARINELLI refused to surrender. Having survived the match points, they completed a remarkable turnaround by edging the second game 45-44 before taking complete control of the decider, winning it 45-28 to reclaim the trophy.

Castel Goffredo President Franco SCIANNIMANICO highlighted the special significance of the triumph, achieved with a team deeply connected to the club.

“This victory is even more important than our previous successes. I am extremely happy because it was achieved by players who were born and raised in Castel Goffredo. I consider Nikoleta one of them as well, since she has lived here for many years. This Super Cup means even more because we won it without any foreign players. The very young CICUTTINI was also outstanding and made a significant contribution to our success,” said SCIANNIMANICO.

Technical Director Alfonso LAGHEZZA praised the team’s determination and ability to respond under pressure.

“We are used to playing competitions of this kind, and that experience helped us enormously. Last year, we lost the Super Cup quite comfortably, so this time we were determined to bring the trophy back. We are delighted with the result. The second game was extremely close, and the girls showed great character to save Norbello’s match points. After that, we made some tactical adjustments that allowed us to take control and achieve our goal,” explained LAGHEZZA.

Brunetti Castel Goffredo – Tennistavolo Norbello 2-1 (40-45, 45-44, 45-28)

First game

• STEFANOVA – KOLISH 5-2
• CICUTTINI – TOFANT 2-8 (7-10)
• ARLIA – MORETTI 8-3 (15-13)
• CICUTTINI – KOLISH 3-7 (18-20)
• STEFANOVA – MORETTI 6-5 (24-25)
• ARLIA – TOFANT 4-5 (28-30)
• CICUTTINI – MORETTI 3-5 (31-35)
• ARLIA – KOLISH 3-5 (34-40)
• STEFANOVA – TOFANT 6-5 (40-45)

Second game

• STEFANOVA – KOLISH 5-2
• CICUTTINI – TOFANT 5-6 (10-8)
• ARLIA – MORETTI 4-7 (14-15)
• CICUTTINI – KOLISH 3-5 (17-20)
• STEFANOVA – MORETTI 8-4 (25-24)
• ARLIA – TOFANT 5-1 (30-25)
• CICUTTINI – MORETTI 5-6 (35-31)
• ARLIA – KOLISH 3-9 (38-40)
• STEFANOVA – TOFANT 7-4 (45-44)

Third game

• STEFANOVA – KOLISH 5-0
• CICUTTINI – TOFANT 5-1 (10-1)
• ARLIA – MORETTI 5-2 (15-3)
• CICUTTINI – KOLISH 5-8 (20-11)
• STEFANOVA – MORETTI 5-1 (25-12)
• ARLIA – TOFANT 5-4 (30-16)
• CICUTTINI – MORETTI 5-3 (35-19)
• ARLIA – KOLISH 5-4 (40-23)
• STEFANOVA – TOFANT 5-5 (45-28)

The post Brunetti Castel Goffredo Claim Eighth Italian Super Cup After Dramatic Comeback first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Belgium’s Timo HENNAUT and Türkiye’s Defne UZUMCU emerged victorious at the 19th edition of the STIGA Masters, with HENNAUT making history by securing Belgium’s first-ever title at the Under 11 competition.

In a thrilling boys’ final, HENNAUT recovered from a two-game deficit to defeat France’s Hugo GRELLIER COFFY 3-2 (7-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8). The Belgian had also been pushed to five games in the semifinals, where he overcame Germany’s Manoj SANKARA 3-2.

GRELLIER COFFY reached the final after a similarly close semifinal, defeating Sweden’s Valerio BRANTE 3-2.

In the girls’ competition, Defne UZUMCU claimed the title following an all-Turkish final against Derin MULAZIM, winning 3-1. UZUMCU had earlier defeated Portugal’s Lara MONTEIRO 3-1 in the semifinals, while MULAZIM secured her place in the final with a 3-1 victory over Finland’s Kamilla KADAR.

The STIGA Masters has a strong tradition of showing Europe’s emerging table tennis talents. Among its former winners are two newly crowned European singles champions, France’s Félix LEBRUN and Elizabet ABRAAMIAN, who claimed their European titles earlier this month in Ljubljana.

The post Historic Belgian Triumph as HENNAUT Claim STIGA Masters Titles first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The European Table Tennis Union successfully organised its Match Officials’ Webinar on 28 October 2026, bringing together 174 participants for an informative and interactive session dedicated to the latest developments in European table tennis, competition regulations, umpire career development and safeguarding.

The webinar was opened by ETTU Secretary General Pierre KASS, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of continuous education and professional development for match officials.

The session was moderated by Asko RASINEN, who guided participants through a comprehensive programme featuring presentations by Alen IVANCIN, ETTU Competition Manager; Werner THURY, ETTU URC Chairperson; and Senga THOMPSON, ETTU Safeguarding Officer.

Alen IVANCIN presented the latest developments in ETTU club competitions, with particular attention to the changes introduced for the 2026/27 season.

A major focus was the revised playing system in the women’s Champions League and Europe Cup, including game-based team scoring, updated competition formats, player eligibility requirements and procedures for match officials.

The presentation also highlighted the differences between men’s and women’s club competitions, providing referees and umpires with practical guidance on applying the relevant regulations.

Werner THURY provided an extensive overview of international umpire career development, including the requirements for Blue Badge and Gold Badge qualifications, evaluation procedures and maintaining active umpire status.

He also reviewed recent developments in the interpretation of service rules, addressing important aspects such as ball visibility, the open palm requirement and the verticality of the service toss.

Practical examples and challenging match situations encouraged discussion and helped participants develop a consistent approach to decision-making.

ETTU Safeguarding Officer Senga THOMPSON addressed the essential role of match officials in maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive sporting environment.

Her presentation emphasised professional boundaries, appropriate conduct, safeguarding responsibilities and the importance of reporting concerns through established channels.

The webinar also highlighted five golden rules for match officials, focusing on professionalism, neutrality, respect, confidentiality and exemplary behaviour, both inside and outside the playing hall.

The programme concluded with discussions of challenging situations that match officials may encounter during competitions. These practical scenarios provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, clarify interpretations and reinforce consistent officiating standards.

With 174 participants, the webinar demonstrated the strong interest within the European match officials’ community in continuing education and professional development.

The post ETTU Match Officials’ Webinar Attracts 174 Participants first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

European players continued to impress at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ and Poland’s Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA advancing to the Women’s Singles quarterfinals following impressive victories in the Round of 16.

SKERBINZ produced one of the day’s most remarkable comebacks, recovering from a 1-3 deficit to defeat Antigua and Barbuda’s Stuti KASHYAP 4-3. The Austrian has enjoyed an impressive campaign in Dakar, having also recorded victories over Chinese Taipei’s CHEN Min-Hsin and Romania’s Andreea BAIASU. She will face Hong Kong, China’s SU Tsz Tung for a place in the semifinals.

Poland’s RAJKOWSKA also secured her place among the last eight, overcoming Korea Republic’s HEO Yerim.

The first table tennis medals of the Games were awarded in Mixed Doubles, where Japan’s Ryuusei KAWAKAMI and Miku MATSUSHIMA claimed gold with a 3-1 victory over Hong Kong, China’s LI Ki Ho and SU Tsz Tung. Chinese Taipei’s LIN Chin-Ting and CHEN Min-Hsin took bronze.

The competition also welcomed several table tennis legends, including Belgium’s seven-time Olympian Jean-Michel SAIVE, who joined IOC President Kirsty COVENTRY and other distinguished guests at the Dakar Expo Centre.

The singles competition continues with the quarterfinals, while the remaining medals will be decided by Thursday, 5 November, when the table tennis events conclude.

The post European Players Shine in Singles at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The third edition of the international veterans’ table tennis tournament Stone Racket Istria will take place from March 3–7, 2027, in Vrsar, Croatia, aiming to further strengthen its position as one of Europe’s most attractive international veterans’ table tennis events.

Previous editions have welcomed players from numerous countries, while the exhibition matches have featured some of the greatest legends in world table tennis – Jörgen PERSSON, Vladimir SAMSONOV, Kalinikos KREANGA, Branka BATINIĆ and Zoran PRIMORAC. Their appearances have added a special dimension to the tournament and further enriched the overall experience for participants.

Stone Racket Istria is built around a distinctive concept: “Play + Fun + Experience”, where competition is only one part of the event. The organizers aim to create an international gathering of veterans that combines excellent sporting conditions with a rich programme of activities beyond the table tennis hall – socializing, entertainment, and opportunities to discover Istria’s local culture, gastronomy and natural beauty.

“Stone Racket Istria has everything a great veterans’ tournament should offer – excellent organization, outstanding playing conditions and a fantastic atmosphere. I believe this tournament has the potential to become one of the most recognized veterans’ table tennis events in Europe,” said Zoran PRIMORAC, one of Croatia’s greatest table tennis players of all time.

The organizers are already preparing new surprises for the third edition, aiming to further enrich the programme and overall experience for participants. The 2026 edition welcomed players from an impressive 19 countries, and Vrsar is expected to once again bring together veterans from across Europe and beyond in 2027, with ambitions to set a new participation record.

The tournament is open to players aged 40 to 80+, with competitions in men’s and women’s singles and doubles.

Stone Racket Istria is more than just a tournament – it is an international sporting experience that brings together competition, friendship and the discovery of Istria.

For more information and registration details, visit the official website www.stoneracketistria.com and the tournament’s official Facebook page.

The post Stone Racket Istria Welcomes Players From Around the World first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The 2026/27 ETTU Champions League Women enters second stage this week, with eight of Europe’s leading clubs beginning their battle for places in the Final Four. Defending champions and No. 1 seeds KTS Enea Siarkopol TARNOBRZEG headline the competition, alongside French contenders Metz TT and Etival ASRTT, Germany’s TTC Berlin eastside and four other ambitious challengers.

Unlike the men’s competition, which moves directly into the knockout rounds, the women’s Champions League features a single group of eight teams. Each club will face every other opponent once over seven rounds, making every result important in the race for the Final Four.

Six directly qualified clubs are joined by Linz AG Froschberg and SKST Plus Hodonin, who earned their places through Stage 1 in Budaörs. Both teams completed the opening stage unbeaten, recording three victories from three matches.

Polish powerhouse KTS Enea Siarkopol TARNOBRZEG returns as the defending champion after lifting the trophy at last season’s inaugural Final Four. The No. 1 seeds have retained an outstanding squad, led by Germany’s Ying HAN, Portugal’s Fu YU, Monaco’s Xiaoxin YANG and China’s Zhuojia HE.

TARNOBRZEG begins its campaign at home against fourth seeds Etival ASRTT on Tuesday, 10 November.

The French side will provide an immediate test for the title holders. Etival’s squad features Portugal’s SHAO Jieni, Sweden’s Christina KÄLLBERG and Australia’s Liu YANGZI, giving the visitors a strong international line-up.

Second seeds Metz TT are among the strongest challengers to TARNOBRZEG’s dominance. The French club boasts an impressive squad led by France’s Charlotte LUTZ, Serbia’s Izabela LUPULESKU, Egypt’s Hana GODA, Croatia’s Lea RAKOVAC and Luxembourg’s Sarah DE NUTTE.

Metz opens its campaign away to third seeds TTC Berlin eastside on Wednesday, 11 November, in one of the most anticipated encounters of the opening round.

Berlin’s experienced squad features Germany’s Nina MITTELHAM and SHAN Xiaona, Poland’s Natalia BAJOR and Serbia’s Sabina SURJAN. With both clubs aiming for a place among the leading contenders, their opening meeting promises an early indication of the balance of power in Stage 2.

Fifth seeds UCAM Cartagena TM will also have ambitions of reaching the Final Four. The Spanish club has assembled a strong line-up featuring Spain’s Maria XIAO, Wales’ Anna HURSEY, England’s HO Tin-Tin and Chile’s Daniela ORTEGA.

Cartagena begins Stage 2 away to SKST Plus Hodonin, who impressed during the opening stage in Budaörs.

Sixth seeds Saint-Quentin TT will rely on Sweden’s Linda BERGSTRÖM, Slovakia’s Barbora VARADY, Canada’s ZHANG Mo and France’s Camille LUTZ.

The French club hosts Linz AG Froschberg in its opening encounter on Tuesday, 10 November.

Austrian side Linz AG Froschberg secured its Stage 2 place by winning Group A in Budaörs with three victories from three matches. The team demonstrated its fighting qualities with a narrow 8-7 victory over STK Dr. Časl Zagreb before defeating MIRÓ Ganxets 8-2 and PGE Fibrain KU AZS Politechnika Rzeszow 8-1.

Linz’s squad includes Slovakia’s Tatiana KUKULKOVA, Belgium’s Lilou MASSART, Slovenia’s Sara TOKIC and Japanese players Emiko TAGUCHI and Yurika NAMBA, who contributed to the successful qualification campaign.

SKST Plus Hodonin followed a similarly impressive route, finishing unbeaten at the top of Group B. The Czech club secured the decisive victory with an 8-4 success against ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari.

Russia’s Vlada VORONINA and China’s Binyue ZHANG played important roles in that victory, while Karin GROFOVA and the other members of the squad provide additional depth for the challenges ahead.

Both qualifiers now face a significant step up in competition as they join six of Europe’s strongest clubs in the battle for the Final Four.

Stage 2 will feature seven rounds of matches, with all eight teams competing in a single round-robin group.

The top two clubs in the final standings will qualify directly for the Final Four, scheduled for 1-2 May 2027.

Teams finishing third to sixth will continue into Stage 3, where the third-placed team faces the sixth-placed side and the fourth-placed club meets the fifth-placed team. Both play-offs will be decided in a single match, hosted by the higher-ranked club.

The two winners will complete the Final Four line-up, while the teams finishing seventh and eighth in Stage 2 will be eliminated.

ETTU Champions League Women – Stage 2

Tuesday, 10 November

• 18:00 – SKST Plus Hodonin (CZE) – UCAM Cartagena TM (ESP)
• 18:30 – KTS Enea Siarkopol TARNOBRZEG (POL) – Etival ASRTT (FRA)
• 19:30 – Saint-Quentin TT (FRA) – Linz AG Froschberg (AUT)

Wednesday, 11 November

• 18:00 – TTC Berlin eastside (GER) – Metz TT (FRA)

Round 2

Saturday, 14 November

• 19:00 – UCAM Cartagena TM (ESP) – KTS Enea Siarkopol TARNOBRZEG (POL)
• 19:00 – Etival ASRTT (FRA) – SKST Plus Hodonin (CZE)
• 19:30 – Metz TT (FRA) – Saint-Quentin TT (FRA)

Sunday, 15 November

16:00 – Linz AG Froschberg (AUT) – TTC Berlin eastside (GER)

The post Europe’s Elite Eight Set for Champions League Women Showdown first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The 2026 European Under 13 Championships will bring together some of Europe’s most promising young table tennis players in Nevşehir, Türkiye, from 11 to 15 November. The five-day competition will take place at the Hacı Bektaş Veli University Sports Centre.

A total of 30 national teams will compete in the Mixed Team event, while 88 boys and 86 girls are entered in the individual singles competitions. Four titles will be contested: Mixed Teams, Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles and Mixed Doubles.

The championships will feature several players who have already enjoyed success on the European youth circuit.

Among those to watch in the Girls’ Singles is Türkiye’s Defne UZUMCU, who recently claimed the title at the 19th STIGA Masters. She will be joined in the home team’s line-up by Gizem CIGIL, winner of the U13 Girls’ Singles title at the JOOLA Europe Youth Series Serbia Open in Beočin.

Italy will field a strong contingent featuring Pietro CAMPAGNA, winner of the U13 Boys’ Singles event in Beočin, alongside Luca FRANZONI and Giorgio BORGHESE. The Italian girls’ team includes Serena ROSSATI, Weilan CHEN and Maya PAVEL.

Other notable entrants include Slovakia’s Adela VASKOVA, who reached the U13 Girls’ Singles final in Beočin, and Luxembourg’s Noah VALENTE, runner-up in the U13 Boys’ Singles competition at the same event.

Portugal’s Lara MONTEIRO, a semifinalist at the recent STIGA Masters, is also among the Girls’ Singles entrants, along with Finland’s Kamilla KADAR.

In Mixed Doubles, several partnerships will be looking to make their mark. Italy’s Luca FRANZONI and Weilan CHEN, winners at the Serbia Open, are entered together again, while Türkiye’s Emre BUCAK and Defne UZUMCU will represent the host nation. The competition will also feature pairs combining players from different national associations.

The Mixed Team event will open the championships on Wednesday, 11 November, with the first group stage. Each team match consists of five contests, beginning with Mixed Doubles, followed by two Girls’ and two Boys’ Singles matches. All five contests will be played during the group stages.

The 30 teams will initially be divided into eight groups, with the top two from each progressing to the second-stage A final groups. The four group winners from that stage will advance to the semifinals and compete for the medals.

The individual competitions begin on Friday, 13 November, with the Boys’ and Girls’ Singles group stages. The top two players from each group will advance to the main draw, while the remaining players will enter the B final draw.

The Mixed Doubles competition will be played in a direct knockout format, with pairs from different national associations also permitted to compete together.

The championships will conclude on Sunday, 15 November, with the final stages of the individual competitions, bringing five days of competition in Nevşehir to a close.

The post Nevşehir Ready to Welcome Europe’s Next Generation of Champions first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The draw for the Mixed Team event at the 2026 European Under 13 Championships in Nevşehir, Türkiye, has been completed, with 30 national teams divided into eight groups for the opening stage of the competition.

Spain heads Group 1, Czechia leads Group 2, Italy tops Group 3, while Germany is the leading team in Group 4, which also features hosts Türkiye, France and Estonia.

Romania heads Group 5, Ukraine leads Group 6, Slovakia is at the top of Group 7, while Lithuania heads Group 8.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the second stage, continuing their battle for places in the semifinals.

The post European Under 13 Championships: Mixed Team Groups Revealed first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

ETTU is inviting clubs across Europe to take part in the “Walk-in Kids” initiative at the 2027 HYLO ETTU Champions League Men Final 4, taking place on 8-9 May 2027 at the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrücken, Germany.

Children under 13 will have the unique opportunity to accompany the teams onto the Field of Play during the official pre-match presentation.

How to take part​

Each club can register up to five children aged under 13 (U13) per day:

• Saturday, 8 May: Semi-finals
• Sunday, 9 May: Final

Participating clubs must commit to purchasing at least 20 tickets for their members and supporters. ETTU can reserve seats so the group can enjoy the event together. Walk-in Kids receive free tickets and sit with their club.

How to apply​

Clubs must complete the online application form by 11 December 2026, providing:

• Club and contact details
• Children’s names, dates of birth and T-shirt sizes
• Number of tickets to be purchased for each day

A signed Parental Authorisation and Consent Form is required for every child. Clubs must retain the signed forms and provide them to ETTU upon request.

Give your young players a moment to remember!​

APPLY NOW

The post Walk-in Kids: clubs invited to apply for the 2027 HYLO ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The opening night of Stage 2 in the 2026/27 ETTU Champions League Women produced a major upset, as French side Etival ASRTT defeated defending champions and No. 1 seeds KTS Enea Siarkopol TARNOBRZEG 8-7 in Poland. Spain’s UCAM Cartagena TM and France’s Saint-Quentin TT also made impressive starts to their campaigns, recording identical 11-4 victories over SKST Plus HODONIN and Linz AG Froschberg respectively.

Under the Stage 2 format, all 15 games are played in each team encounter, with the final result determined by the total number of games won. Every game therefore carries importance in the race for places in the Final Four.

The French visitors made an outstanding start in Tarnobrzeg, winning the first three individual encounters to establish a 7-2 advantage.

Australia’s Liu YANGZI opened the contest with a 2-1 victory over China’s Zhuojia HE (11-7, 11-8, 4-11), before Sweden’s Christina KÄLLBERG produced one of the evening’s standout performances, defeating Germany’s Ying HAN in straight games (11-8, 12-10, 12-10).

Portugal’s SHAO Jieni then strengthened Etival’s position with a 2-1 success against compatriot Fu YU (11-8, 11-6, 4-11), leaving the defending champions facing a difficult task.

However, TARNOBRZEG responded strongly. Zhuojia HE defeated Christina KÄLLBERG 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-8), reducing the deficit to 7-5 and keeping the Polish club’s hopes alive.

Ying HAN then overcame Liu YANGZI 2-1 (11-3, 10-12, 11-8), but the comeback fell just short. Etival secured an 8-7 victory, delivering an early statement of intent in the battle for places in the Final Four.

“We are very happy that we managed to beat a club that has been at the top for so many years. We gave our best and managed to make a better start. I played very well in the opening match, then Christina KÄLLBERG recorded a clear 3-0 victory, and Jieni SHAO did her job very well. I am so happy that I managed to keep my nerves under control and win the final game to secure the victory,” said Liu YANGZI.

Despite the narrow defeat, Ying HAN remained optimistic that TARNOBRZEG would adapt to the competition format.

“We are very sad now. We lost by the narrowest of margins despite putting up a great fight. The new rules were a little difficult for me. However, after a few matches, once we all get used to this system, everything will be better,” said HAN.

In Hodonin, UCAM Cartagena TM proved too strong for Stage 1 qualifiers SKST Plus HODONIN, winning 11 of the 15 games.

The Czech hosts initially took the lead through Slovakia’s Karin GROFOVA, who defeated England’s HO Tin-Tin 2-1 (11-6, 7-11, 12-10).

However, CARTAGENA quickly turned the contest around. Spain’s Maria XIAO overcame Marketa SEVCIKOVA 2-1 (2-11, 11-5, 11-7), before Chile’s Daniela ORTEGA recorded a convincing 3-0 victory over Anna KLEMPEREROVA (11-2, 11-7, 11-9).

XIAO continued her excellent performance with a straight-games victory over GROFOVA (11-9, 11-7, 16-14), winning a closely contested third game to complete her second individual success of the evening.

HO Tin-Tin then secured the final two games for CARTAGENA, defeating SEVCIKOVA 2-1 (11-4, 9-11, 11-7).

With XIAO contributing five game victories, ORTEGA adding three and HO Tin-Tin another three, the Spanish club completed a convincing 11-4 triumph.

“It was a very good start to the season, and we are very happy with today’s performance. Their Chinese player was unable to play today, and things might have been different if she had been available. Nevertheless, we are delighted that we managed to take our chances and secure the victory,” said Maria XIAO.

Saint-Quentin TT matched CARTAGENA’s winning margin with an 11-4 home success against Austrian qualifiers Linz AG Froschberg, taking all five individual encounters.

Canada’s ZHANG Mo gave the French club a winning start, recovering from the loss of the opening game to defeat Slovenia’s Sara TOKIC 2-1 (8-11, 11-6, 11-9).

France’s Camille LUTZ then produced an emphatic performance against Japan’s Yurika NAMBA, winning 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4) to extend the hosts’ advantage.

Polina MIKHAILOVA followed with a 2-1 victory over Japan’s Emiko TAGUCHI (9-11, 11-3, 11-5), putting Saint-Quentin firmly in control.

ZHANG Mo returned to the table for another demanding contest, overcoming NAMBA 2-1 (8-11, 11-8, 13-11). After losing the opening game, ZHANG fought back and edged a tense third game to secure two more valuable points for the French side.

LUTZ completed the victory with a 2-1 success against TOKIC (11-6, 8-11, 11-8), finishing the evening with five game victories from her two appearances.

ZHANG also contributed four game wins, while MIKHAILOVA added two, giving Saint-Quentin an impressive 11-4 result against a Linz side that had progressed through Stage 1 unbeaten.

The competition features eight clubs in a single round-robin group, with each team playing seven encounters. The top two clubs will qualify directly for the Final Four, scheduled for 1-2 May 2027, while teams finishing third to sixth will contest Stage 3 play-offs for the remaining two places.

Tomorrow, Germany’s TTC Berlin eastside hosts French contenders Metz TT.

KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG – ETIVAL A.S.R.T.T 7-8

• Zhuojia HE – Liu YANGZI 1-2 (7-11, 8-11, 11-4)
• Ying HAN – Christina KÄLLBERG 0-3 (8-11, 10-12, 10-12)
• Fu YU – Jieni SHAO 1-2 (8-11, 6-11, 11-4)
• Zhuojia HE – Christina KÄLLBERG 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-8)
• Ying HAN – Liu YANGZI 2-1 (11-3, 10-12, 11-8)

SKST PLUS HODONIN – UCAM CARTAGENA TM 4-11

• Karin GROFOVA – Tin-Tin HO 2-1 (11-6, 7-11, 12-10)
• Marketa SEVCIKOVA – Maria XIAO 1-2 (11-2, 5-11, 7-11)
• Anna KLEMPEREROVA – Daniela ORTEGA 0-3 (2-11, 7-11, 9-11)
• Karin GROFOVA – Maria XIAO 0-3 (9-11, 7-11, 14-16)
• Marketa SEVCIKOVA – Tin-Tin HO 1-2 (4-11, 11-9, 7-11)

SAINT-QUENTIN TT – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 11-4

• Mo ZHANG – Sara TOKIC 2-1 (8-11, 11-6, 11-9)
• Camille LUTZ – Yurika NAMBA 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4)
• Polina MIKHAILOVA – Emiko TAGUCHI 2-1 (9-11, 11-3, 11-5)
• Mo ZHANG – Yurika NAMBA 2-1 (8-11, 11-8, 13-11)
• Camille LUTZ – Sara TOKIC 2-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-8)

The post Etival Stun Defending Champions as Cartagena and Saint-Quentin Make Strong Starts first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The battle for the 2026/27 HYLO ETTU Champions League Men title moves into a new phase this week, as the eight highest-seeded clubs enter the competition in the Round of 16. Defending champions 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, record European title contenders Borussia Düsseldorf and last season’s runners-up Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier headline an impressive field of 16 teams, with the opening legs scheduled for 12-14 November.

Following the conclusion of Stage 1 in Lille, eight successful qualifiers are ready to challenge the clubs that earned direct entry into the knockout stage. HB Ostrov z.s, ASD TT Santa Tecla Nulvi, SF SKK El Nino Praha, Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61, TTC Sokah Hoboken, Lille Metropole TT, KS Dojlidy Białystok and AS Pontoise Cergy TT have all secured their places among Europe’s last 16.

Four of those teams – HB Ostrov, El Nino Praha, Hoboken and Dojlidy – progressed from Lille with perfect records, winning all three of their group matches.

The spotlight now turns to the continent’s leading clubs and the international stars who will join the competition.

Top seeds 1. FC Saarbrücken TT open their campaign on Friday, 13 November, against French side Lille Metropole TT. The German champions enter the knockout stage with a significantly reshaped squad following the departures of FAN Zhendong and Darko JORGIC.

However, their line-up remains formidable. Sweden’s Truls MOREGARD, Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA and Brazil’s Hugo CALDERANO lead the challenge, supported by Romania’s Eduard IONESCU, Spain’s Álvaro ROBLES and Korea Republic’s OH Junsung.

Lille secured second place in Group C during Stage 1 and will now face a much greater challenge. The French club can call upon Croatia’s experienced Andrej GACINA, Romania’s Rares SIPOS and France’s Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA.

One of the most anticipated storylines of the new season is the arrival of Olympic champion FAN Zhendong at Borussia Düsseldorf. The Chinese superstar has joined the German giants after helping Saarbrücken claim last season’s title, adding further strength to a squad featuring Germany’s QIU Dang, Sweden’s Anton KÄLLBERG and Kanak JHA.

Second seeds Düsseldorf begin their campaign on Thursday, 12 November, away to AS Pontoise Cergy TT, who advanced from Stage 1 after a dramatic 3-2 victory over TTC Ostrava 2016.

Pontoise’s squad includes Italy’s Mihai BOBOCICA, Chinese Taipei’s HUNG Jing-Kai and China’s ZHOU Kai, who played a decisive role in securing qualification from Lille.

Last season’s runners-up Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier return with the ambition of going one step further. Fourth seeds in the competition, the French club will once again rely on brothers Alexis and Félix LEBRUN, both European champions in Ljubljana last month.

With India’s Manav THAKAR also in the squad, Nîmes/Montpellier possess the quality to challenge for the trophy.

Their first opponents are Denmark’s Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61, who secured second place in Group B in Lille. Roskilde’s experienced Swedish players Jens LUNDQVIST and Anders ERIKSSON, alongside Tobias RASMUSSEN and Dominykas SAMUOLIS, will look to make the most of home advantage in Friday’s opening leg.

Seventh seeds GV Hennebont TT have assembled another exceptionally strong squad, led by France’s Simon GAUZY, China’s WEN Ruibo and ZHOU Qihao, and Russia’s Vladimir SIDORENKO.

The French side will face HB Ostrov z.s., one of the four unbeaten teams from Stage 1. The Czech club impressed in Lille with three consecutive victories, led by Tomas TREGLER, Pavel SIRUCEK and Tomas POLANSKY. Moldova’s Vladislav URSU is also included in their squad.

Poland will have four representatives in the Round of 16, including third seeds KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Led by Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR, Poland’s Milosz REDZIMSKI and Greece’s experienced defender Panagiotis GIONIS, Bogoria will face Italian qualifiers ASD TT Santa Tecla Nulvi.

Sixth seeds KS Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów, strengthened by the arrival of Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC from Saarbrücken, face compatriots KS Dojlidy Białystok in an all-Polish encounter. JORGIC is joined by fellow Slovenian Deni KOZUL and Austria’s Robert GARDOS.

Dojlidy arrive in excellent form after completing Stage 1 with three victories from three matches.

Fifth seeds KS Dekorglass Działdowo will meet SF SKK El Nino Praha, another unbeaten Stage 1 qualifier. The Czech side can rely on Martin SIP, Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA and Tomas KONECNY, while Dekorglass’s squad includes India’s Manush SHAH and Italy’s Matteo MUTTI.

The remaining encounter features eighth seeds Real Club Cajasur Priego TM against Belgian qualifiers TTC Sokah Hoboken.

Hoboken were particularly impressive in Lille, finishing top of Group C with three victories, including a convincing 3-0 win over hosts Lille Metropole TT in the final round. Benjamin BROSSIER, Olav KOSOLOSKY and Quentin ROBINOT all contributed to that success.

Priego’s squad includes Spain’s Norbert TAULER and Carlos MACHADO, Sweden’s Hampus SÖDERLUND and Portugal’s Diogo CHEN.

The Round of 16 will be contested over two legs, with the eight winners advancing to the quarterfinals. The ultimate goal remains a place at the HYLO Final Four in Saarbrücken on 8-9 May 2027.

HYLO ETTU Champions League Men – Round of 16

Thursday, 12 November

• 19:30 – AS Pontoise Cergy TT (FRA) – Borussia Düsseldorf (GER)

Friday, 13 November

• 17:00 – KS Dojlidy Białystok (POL) – KS Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów (POL)
• 18:00 – KS Dekorglass Działdowo (POL) – SF SKK El Nino Praha (CZE)
• 18:00 – GV Hennebont TT (FRA) – HB Ostrov z.s. (CZE)
• 19:00 – Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 (DEN) – Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier (FRA)
• 19:30 – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT (GER) – Lille Metropole TT (FRA)
• 19:30 – TTC Sokah Hoboken (BEL) – Real Club Cajasur Priego TM (ESP)

Saturday, 14 November

• 17:00 – KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (POL) – ASD TT Santa Tecla Nulvi (ITA)

The post European Giants Enter the Race as HYLO Champions League Men Round of 16 Begins first appeared on European table tennis union.

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