The Men’s Singles event at the LIEBHERR European Championships in Linz has reached the Preliminary Round phase after a Group Stage full of surprises. The most notable upset came in Group 31 where Sweden’s Simon BERGLUND currently unranked triumphed in all three of his matches. He defeated Florent LAMBIET of Belgium Rafael DE LAS HERAS of Spain and Martin JOHNSON of Scotland securing the top spot in his group. “It feels great. I had a good overview and a solid plan before the matches and I managed to execute my game. Playing in a group of four players was probably an advantage. It gave me two matches the day before allowing me to get into a rhythm. I played well and this gives me confidence for the next round ” said BERGLUND. In his last group match Simon overcame LAMBIET ranked No. 65 in Europe and No. 233 in the world. “I felt that LAMBIET was a player I really needed to level up against in order to win. You can’t afford to relax from the beginning—you have to be ready from the first game and I succeeded in that. Afterward it was just a matter of maintaining control. I felt he struggled with most things and his style suited me well ” BERGLUND added. In the Preliminary Round tonight at 21:25 he will face Gabrielius CAMARA of the Netherlands. Also playing in the Preliminary Round at 20:45 is Konstantinos ANGELAKIS of Greece who will take on Andrii GREBENIUK of Ukraine. ANGELAKIS caused another upset in the group stage with a five games win over Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary and Pero TEPIC of Serbia. Since he finished second ANDRAS will now face the highest-ranked player in the qualification stage Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal. Another exciting clash in the Preliminary Round will feature host nation favorite the experienced Robert GARDOS (45) against Milo DE BOER of the Netherlands who is 20 years old. Additionally doubles partners Samuel ARPAS of Slovakia and Balasz LEI of Hungary will face each other for a place in the main draw.

Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ created the biggest upset of the qualification stage at the 2024 LIEBHERR European Championships in Linz. Born in October 2009 and without points in the European or World Rankings she made an impressive debut for the national team securing a spot in the Preliminary Round after three wins in the group stage. Nina defeated Aleksandra JERSOVA of Latvia in straight games Ema LABOSOVA of Slovakia (ranked No. 182 in the world) and Natalia BOGDANOWICZ of Poland (ranked No. 290). “I decided to give it my all to fight and show what I can do. I didn’t have any great expectations. The fact that I ended up with three wins makes me very happy I didn’t expect that ” said SKERBINZ who recently achieved 4th place at the Europe Youth Top 10 last week in Poland. In the Preliminary Round she will face Matilda HANSSON of Sweden. Overall the Austrian women competing in the singles qualification grouped in sets of four also delivered outstanding performances. Liu YUAN (39) secured her place in the main draw directly after three wins finishing in the No. 1 position in group 16. She triumphed over Patricia SANTOS of Portugal Ozge YILMAZ of Türkiye and Anna BRZYSKA of Poland. Karoline MISCHEK and Anastasia STERNER will advance to the Preliminary Round. Karoline MISCHEK will face Ines MATOS of Portugal after victories over Camelia Merenco of Moldova and Maja HANSEN of Denmark only losing to Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine. Sterner will meet Zdena BLASKOVA of Czechia following her wins against Marina DONNER of Finland and Vitalia REINOL of Estonia.

After two preliminary rounds of the Mixed Doubles event at the 2024 LIEBHERR European Championships all 32 pairs for the opening round of the main draw are now confirmed. The draw for the event took place tonight. You can view the draw here. In the preliminary rounds Andrei PUTUNTICA of Moldova and Kornelija RILISKYTE of Lithuania caused an upset by defeating the highest-ranked pair in the qualifications Ukraine’s Mykyta ZAVADA and Veronika MATIUNINA. Same was in the match between Aleksa GACEV and Sabina SURJAN of Serbia  against Juan PEREZ and Sofia-Xuan ZHANG of Spain. Meanwhile Mattias FALCK and Linda BERGSTRÖM of Sweden went the full distance to overcome the spirited Greek duo of Konstantinos ANGELAKIS and Aikaterini TOLIOU. The Round of 32 will commence tomorrow at 17:40.

At just 18 years old Félix LEBRUN has already carved his name into table tennis history. Born on September 12 2006 in Montpellier France his rapid ascent through the ranks of the sport has been nothing short of remarkable. Currently ranked 5th in the world he is both the top-ranked European and French player. His achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics have further cemented his status as a rising star. Félix will lead the pack of Europe’s elite at the 2024 LIEBHERR European Championships. LEBRUN became the youngest male player to medal in Olympic table tennis winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Games: one in the individual event and another in the team event with France. What is your strongest memory from Paris 2024? “Hard to pick one moment but I would say all the celebrations in France after the team’s medal were truly amazing. Sharing that moment with so many people who supported us during the Olympics was unforgettable ” recalled Félix. How has your life changed both privately and professionally since then? “It feels incredible. Winning an Olympic medal was something I dreamed of since I was a little kid. My life has changed a bit—there’s definitely more media attention and recognition from the French public. In Montpellier we get recognized often now. It’s a new experience but for now it’s nice because people have been very kind. If the hype continues for a long time it could be challenging at times like when I want to go to a restaurant with my family.” How did you spend your break after Paris 2024? “After a week of media I went to Barcelona with my family and then with my friends. It was great to relax and celebrate the Olympics with my loved ones.” You reached the Round of 16 at the China Smash just two weeks before the European Championships in Linz. How do you feel right now? “Yes China Smash was my comeback tournament since the Olympics. I was happy with the level I played at. Of course I hoped to go a bit further in singles but I was really pleased with my performance in training and in doubles. Alexis and I had a great tournament. I feel like I’m coming back into top form at just the right moment for the European Championships.” Considering the hectic season did you have the time to train with the national team? “We only had one week between China Smash and the Europeans with matches in every league. We prepared for the European Championships in Montpellier for a week.” How do you view the competition at the European Championships in Linz? “The competition is very exciting. I have great memories from my first European Championship in Munich so I hope to have another great tournament in front of a lot of spectators. Many players are tough to beat. Of course Truls [Möregårdh] is in great shape with two silver medals from the Olympics and Dang QIU the defending European champion will also be hard to beat. Every tournament has its own story and challenges.” What is your goal for Linz? “My goal is to play my best and of course if I can win a title in singles or doubles I’ll be very proud and happy.” Growing up in a table tennis family Félix’s path to success seemed almost inevitable. His father Stéphane LEBRUN was once ranked 7th in France and his uncle Christophe LEGOÛT represented the nation at three Olympic Games. Alongside his older brother Alexis Lebrun who is also an elite player Félix began honing his skills from the age of three. The family’s deep-rooted connection to the sport combined with mentorship from renowned coach CHEN Jian helped shape Félix’s unique playing style. LEBRUN’S breakthrough year came in 2023 when he clinched the gold medal at the European Games in a thrilling final against Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS. This victory was followed by wins at prestigious World Table Tennis (WTT) events propelling him into the ITTF’s top ten world rankings for the first time in October 2023. His momentum carried into 2024 where he triumphed at the WTT Star Contender event in Goa and played a crucial role in guiding the French team to their first World Team Championship final appearance in nearly three decades.

Table tennis fans across the world will have the opportunity to witness the continent’s finest in action as the LIEBHERR 2024 European Championships will be broadcast in multiple regions from Europe to Asia and the United States bringing this historic event to a global audience. You can watch all the matches live and free at www.ettu.tv and for the below listed countries on their respective channels: Sweden: SVT will broadcast all matches. France Andorra Monaco Mauritius: L’Equipe 24/24 will cover tables 1 and 2. Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Moldova Russia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan: V-Broadcasting will cover tables 1 and 2. Portugal: Sport TV will cover tables 1 and 2. Romania: Antena 2 will cover tables 1 and 2. China: Douyin Sports Channel will cover table 1 on Saturday and Sunday. USA Mexico India Philippines Vietnam Saudi Arabia Sub-Saharan Africa Japan Korea Kuwait Bahrain Qatar UAE Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Moldova Russia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan: All Women’s Sport Network will cover all women’s matches. Austria: ORF will cover tables 1 and 2. Switzerland: Leman Bleu will cover tables 1 and 2. Slovenia: TV Slovenija will cover tables 1 and 2. The competitions commenced today.  

Sofia POLCANOVA is gearing up for the LIEBHERR European Table Tennis Championships which commenced today in Linz. The defending champion in both singles and doubles will not take part in the singles competition until Thursday when the main draw begins. As she prepares for the tournament POLCANOVA is eager to savor every moment on home soil. POLCANOVA and her national team have been training in Linz in the final days leading up to the European Championships. What was your focus in the final days before the tournament? “First I took a short break to recharge after an exhausting week. Now it’s all about building intensity and playing as many practice matches as possible including doubles and mixed. When Bernadette (SZOCS) and Robert (GARDOS) joined us in Linz we focused on training together. In China it was clear we hadn’t played together in a while so we have some work to do.” As the defending champion in singles and doubles and after an impressive Olympic performance (reaching the quarterfinals) how do you feel about your chances in Linz? “Starting as the reigning champion in two events motivates me. I don’t see it as pressure—what I achieved in Munich is something no one can take from me or Austria. I’m usually an introvert so playing in front of a big crowd can be challenging but when it’s your home fans it’s different. I’m really excited to play in Linz. While expectations are high my main goal is to enjoy the tournament. An athlete’s career is short so every match is a great experience.” With nearly 60 journalists from across Europe covering the event the added media attention does not faze Polcanova. Does this increased media coverage give you a boost? “It’s great that table tennis and Austria are getting attention but it doesn’t affect me personally. I need to focus on myself and not let what’s happening around me influence my game.” After competing in her first tournament since the Olympics the China Smash Polcanova reflected on her experience in Beijing. What insights did you gain from the China Smash? “In the first round I faced a tough opponent Japan’s Kihara. I was behind for most of the match but I fought hard and managed to win. In the second round I played well but my Chinese opponent was better that day. Despite the result my coach and I were pleased with my performance. Plus my back which has been bothering me held up well ” Polcanova shared.

Dang QIU who rose to the top of the world like a comet two years ago and claimed his first individual gold at the European Championships in Munich is all too aware of the rocky road ahead as he prepares for the next individual championships in Linz from October 15th to 20th. “With Felix LEBRUN Truls MÖREGARDH Dima OVTCHAROV Patrick FRANZISKA Darko JORGIC and many other strong players competing there are an incredible number of top athletes fighting for the title ” said Dang QIU. Dang QIU reached the Round of 32 at the Paris 2024 Olympics and became the first European to reach the final of a WTT Champions tournament in Macau in September. However he had to withdraw from the China Smash a few weeks later due to back problems. When asked about his condition and form ahead of the LIEBHERR European Championships he commented: “I was able to use the time off after canceling the China Smash to recover and I am currently doing well again. I hope that I can now prepare properly for the European Championships. My form in training is good even though the packed schedule with lots of travel always leaves me somewhat fatigued. But apart from that my form is okay.” At the European Championships in Munich QIU became European champion in his first individual appearance. Defending the title he admits will be an even greater challenge. “Defending a title is always more difficult than winning it the first time. With Felix Lebrun Truls MÖREGARDH Dima OVTCHAROV Patrick FRANZISKA Darko JORGIC and all the other competitors behind me there are so many excellent players in the field. Two Europeans even won individual medals at the recent Olympics. The competition in Linz is wide open and this could be one of the strongest European Championships ever. I just hope my preparation goes well.” The table tennis schedule is relentless and QIU explained how this impacts preparation for such important events. “The already full schedule has gotten even fuller in recent years. For example we have two TTBL matches in the week before the European Championships. Of course that’s not ideal for us players. We end up playing almost every tournament without any specific preparation which is actually quite problematic. The constant competitions leave little room for recovery or proper training phases. This isn’t healthy nor does it help us improve our game. We’ve adapted as best we can but it’s not a good trend. Personally I wish we had more time for training.” Jörg ROSSKOPF Men’s National Coach answered on the question regarding the team. German players are usually among the favorites for medals especially at European Championships. What are the goals for the men in Linz?  “The European Championships are happening relatively soon after the Olympics with little time for focused preparation. However it remains the most prestigious tournament in Europe and the motivation of all athletes not just my boys is very high. Our goal is always to win. Germany has traditionally dominated this event but the balance of power in Europe has shifted and the pool of contenders is larger. With Dang QIU as the defending champion alongside Patrick FRANZISKA Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Benedikt DUDA we have four world-class players who can beat anyone and compete for the title. As for our younger players Fanbo MENG and Andre BERTELSMEIER we are excited to see how they perform on the international stage against Europe’s best.”

The much-anticipated draw for the 2024 LIEBHERR European Table Tennis Championships was held today in Linz Austria. The tournament running from October 15 to 20 will feature intense competition as players vie for the coveted titles in men’s and women’s singles doubles and mixed doubles events. The championship will kick off with a two-day qualification phase where competitors will battle for their place in the main draw. Notably the first round of the mixed doubles event will commence on Wednesday October 16. On Sunday evening the official draw was conducted for both the qualification tournament and the seeding of players in the main draw setting the stage for exciting matchups in the upcoming week. Fans can now view the full draws for the men’s and women’s singles doubles and mixed doubles events here. Stay tuned for daily updates as Europe’s top table tennis players compete for continental glory in Linz!

Nina MITTELHAM who was stopped by injury in the final of the European Championships two years ago in Munich against Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA heads to the LIEBHERR European Championships in Linz with different goals than her teammate reigning champion Dang QIU. After disc problems at the Olympic Games in Paris the Munich runner-up will compete in her first international tournament in three months. “The most important thing for me is that I am pain-free ” Mittelham explains. This week MITTELHAM is preparing with the national team at the German Table Tennis Center. The German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) will travel to Linz with a 14-strong squad consisting of five men and five women as well as four young talents who earned their spots through the Continental U21 Championships. A painful disc injury halted your Olympic run. Now the European Championships will be your first international tournament since Paris. What has your recovery looked like and are you fully fit again? “I wasn’t able to do anything for two weeks after Paris due to extreme pain. Even on holiday I spent most of the time just lying down. It got better after rehab and I’ve recovered well to this day. Currently I’m pain-free but I still need to be cautious with certain movements. Mentally I’m still thinking too much which prevents some things from becoming automatic again. But that’s okay. I’ve been back to training for about four weeks starting very slowly. I only began playing freely last week and had my first full session recently so my workload is still much lower than before the injury. But the key thing is that I’m pain-free.” You’ve already won the Europe Top 16 as well as European mixed and doubles titles. After finishing second in 2022 how do you assess your chances of winning the individual title this time in Linz? “At the moment I don’t think it’s realistic for me to aim for the title in Linz. But I will do my best to arrive in good physical condition. From there we’ll see how things develop round by round. I’m excited for every set and match in Linz.” In Munich 2022 an injury during warm-up prevented you from playing the final against Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA who became champion. Does that experience still haunt you? “Originally my plan after Munich was to go for the title in Linz. But now I must adjust my expectations. It will be my first international competition in months and it’s a major one. It’s not easy. I don’t really know where my form stands right now so I’ll just go to the European Championships see how it goes and try to enjoy myself in Linz.” The European Championships will feature singles doubles and mixed events. The 14 DTTB players and coaches have shared their hopes and expectations for Austria ahead of the competition. Germany has traditionally performed exceptionally well at the European Championships with Munich 2022 bringing gold for Dang QIU silver for Nina MITTELHAM and bronze for Sabine WINTER and Xiaona SHAN. What is the goal for Euro 2024? Richard PRAUSE Sporting Director: “Such extraordinary results are only possible when everything aligns perfectly which rarely happens. In Linz we will face increasingly balanced competition as shown by recent results at the European Team Championships Team World Championships and the Olympics. We’re looking forward to the exciting battles with stars like France’s Felix and Alexis Lebrun and Sweden’s Truls Möregardh. These high-level matches with unpredictable outcomes are great for table tennis. Despite the growing competition I’m optimistic that both our women’s and men’s teams will be in contention for medals in Linz. I’m also eager to see how our young players fare at their first European Championships.”