European Championships: A Festival of Skill in Linz

The LIEBHERR European Championships in Linz, Austria, provided a spectacular finale to the continental competitions, with several surprising outcomes and memorable performances.

In the Womens Doubles, Hana Matelova (Czechia) and Barbora Balazova (Slovakia) clinched their first-ever medal together, upsetting reigning champions Sofia Polcanova (Austria) and Bernadette Szocs (Romania) in the final.

The Mens Doubles saw French brothers Alexis and Felix Lebrun crowned champions, defeating Swedens Anton Kallberg and Truls Moregard in straight games.

Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao of Spain emerged victorious in the Mixed Doubles, overcoming the Austrian duo of Robert Gardos and Sofia Polcanova.

In singles events, Sofia Polcanova delighted the home crowd by successfully defending her Womens Singles title. The Mens Singles gold went to Alexis Lebrun, who defeated Benedict Duda of Germany, securing his second title in Linz.

Oceania Championships: Australia Dominates in Auckland

The 2024 ITTF-Oceania Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, saw Australia assert its dominance across multiple events.

In the individual events, Hwan Bae and Minhyung Jee of Australia claimed the Mens and Womens Singles titles respectively. The doubles events also saw Australian success, with Nicholas Lum and Finn Luu taking Mens Doubles gold, Minhyung Jee and Yangzi Liu winning Womens Doubles, and Nicholas Lum and Yangzi Liu securing the Mixed Doubles title. The team events further underscored Australias strength, with their mens and womens teams both clinching gold medals.

These championships mark the conclusion of an intense and exciting period of continental competitions. From Asia to the Americas, Africa to Europe and Oceania, the past two weeks have highlighted the global reach and competitive spirit of table tennis.

As the dust settles on these continental showdowns, attention now turns to the upcoming global events. The performances and results from these championships will undoubtedly shape strategies and expectations as the worlds best players prepare for future international competitions. The ITTF congratulates all medallists and participants for their outstanding performances and thanks the host cities and organising committees for their dedication in staging these successful events.