The unstoppable rise of Annett KAUFMANN has reached a new pinnacle. At the Youth World Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden, the exceptional 18-year-old talent reached the most significant peak of her young career. With a 4:2 victory over China’s rising star ZONG Geman, the European champion in all youth events in the U19 age group become crowned Youth World Champion, after finishing third last year. Previously, the only German to win this title in singles was former national player Patrick BAUM in 2005.
In the shadow of KAUFMANN’S outstanding triumph, two other major German successes nearly went unnoticed: Mia GRIESEL (U19) and Koharu ITAGAKI (U15) each won bronze after closely contested semifinals against Chinese opponents. Earlier, Germany secured two additional bronze medals, one in the U15 girls’ team event and another in doubles, where KAUFMANN teamed up with Welsh player Anna HURSEY. With these, the German Table Tennis Association’s medal count at the 2024 championships climbed to five. Since the inaugural Youth World Championships in 2003, German talents have won a total of 34 medals.
What a year it has been for Annett KAUFMANN. After focusing on and excelling in her final high school exams in the spring, the native of Wolfsburg claimed her first senior national singles title at the German Table Tennis Finals in Erfurt. Less than two months later, she emerged as the breakout star of the Paris Olympics, unexpectedly leading the German women’s team to the semifinals with stellar performances.
In the fall, she won her first European Championship individual medal in Linz, taking mixed doubles silver alongside Saarbrücken’s Patrick FRANZISKA. She capped off this extraordinary year by winning the Youth World Championship title in Helsingborg.
KAUFMANN’S win in the final was well-deserved: she defeated ZONG Geman, one of China’s brightest table tennis prospects, with a commanding 4:2 scoreline. ZONG had already secured doubles and mixed doubles titles before the singles final but was unable to counter KAUFMANN’S assertive style. Earlier, KAUFMANN had defeated the tournament’s top seed, Egypt’s Hana GODA, in the semifinals by dictating the game throughout.
As the final point landed, KAUFMANN dropped her paddle in disbelief and felt immense relief.
“I can’t believe it; it feels surreal. It was a very tough match, and my adversary played exceptionally well,” said the newly crowned champion.
Kaufmann also expressed gratitude: “I am very thankful to everyone who has supported me here, back home, and throughout the years. Special thanks to Lara [U19 coach Lara BROICH], who guided me through the tournament, my family, my sponsors, and everyone behind the scenes. Without their trust, I wouldn’t be here.”
Lara BROICH lauded her pupil’s achievement: “Hats off to Annett for becoming World Champion.”
With her gold in singles and bronze in doubles alongside Anna HURSEY, Kaufmann increased her career medal tally at Youth World Championships to seven. She previously won bronze in singles, silver in doubles, and silver in mixed doubles in 2023. In 2022, she and Mia Griesel claimed bronze in doubles, and in 2021, she won silver in the U15 category.
Earlier in the day, it seemed Germany might see an all-German final. While KAUFMANN dominated her semifinal against Egypt’s Hana GODA, Mia GRIESEL led 2:1 against ZONG Geman on an adjacent table. However, the Chinese player turned the match around to win the next three sets. Despite the defeat, GRIESEL delivered a thrilling performance, having earlier upset South Korea’s YOO Yerin and France’s Charlotte LUTZ.
Afterward, the 18-year-old reflected positively on her bronze medal: “I felt there was more potential today, but overall, I’m very happy with my performance and medal.”
Koharu ITAGAKI, only 14 years old, returned home with two bronze medals. Competing in U15, she faced Chinese players who were just slightly stronger in both team and singles events. Nonetheless, she defeated several tough opponents, including Taiwan’s WU Ying-Syuan, before narrowly losing to HU Yi in the semifinals.
“Koharu played an incredible match and showed technical skills like never before,” commented U15 coach Jie SCHÖPP.
