The anticipation is building for the upcoming European Table Tennis Championships, set to take place in Linz, Austria, from October 15th to 20th, 2024. This prestigious event returns to Austria for the first time since 2013, with the previous edition held in the Schwechat Multiversum. This year, the action will shift to the TipsArena, a modern venue capable of accommodating up to 3,200 spectators daily.
The European Individual Championships have a rich history, first held in Budapest in 1958. The last edition, part of the multi-sport European Championships in Munich 2022, saw significant performances, including Sofia Polcanova's standout achievement of winning three individual medals—a feat matched by few, including record holder Zoya Rudnova. The Championships in Munich highlighted German prowess, with the German women’s team securing three medals in Women’s Singles, a first since 1960.
This year's Championships are poised to be equally thrilling. Among the expected stars are Truls Möregardh of Sweden, an Olympic silver medalist, and Felix Lebrun of France, who won bronze at the Paris Games. Defending champion Dang Qiu from Germany is another key competitor, recently securing silver at the WTT Champions in Macau, adding to his growing reputation as a gold favorite. The Slovenian Darko Jorgic, vice-European champion in 2022, will also be a strong contender.
In the women's field, Sofia Polcanova will lead the charge. The Austrian player, who won gold in both singles and doubles at the 2022 European Championships, is joined by Bernadette Szöcs of Romania. Polcanova's recent successes also include a bronze medal in mixed doubles. The Austrian team will aim to build on their impressive performance from 2022, where they achieved a notable record of 43 medals, including ten golds, in European Championships history.
Of special note this year will be the absence of German legend Timo Boll, who retired from international competition following the 2024 Olympic Games. A dominant force in European table tennis for over two decades, Boll's record of 13 European Championship golds is unlikely to be matched anytime soon. Though he has stepped back from international play, fans will still be able to watch him compete in his final season in the German Bundesliga (TTBL), bringing an era of excellence to a close.
Stefan Fegerl, ÖTTV sports director, shared his excitement about the event:
The European players were great at the Olympic Games in Paris. It was a great advertisement for our sport, and we want to build on that in Linz. The title fights will have an excellent line-up and promise a lot of attractiveness. We have set the bar very high for ourselves in terms of sport with the four European Championship medals in 2022, but we have high hopes for our team, led by Sofia Polcanova.
The European Championships promise a showcase of top-tier talent and intense competition. With a lineup featuring both established stars and rising talents, the event is set to be a highlight of the table tennis calendar. Fans from across Europe and beyond are expected to flock to Linz to witness the best of European table tennis in action.