The recent team events at the 2026 JOOLA Europe Youth Series Serbia Open in Beočin showcased thrilling competition, with Ireland, Serbia, Italy, and Türkiye each securing gold medals in the U15 and U13 categories. The tournament was a testament to the exciting talent emerging in youth table tennis.
U15 Boys’ Team Final: Ireland’s Stunning Comeback
In the U15 Boys’ category, Ireland pulled off an impressive comeback to defeat the top-seeded Poland. Initially, Poland took a strong lead, with Maksymilian Ksiązek narrowly beating Peadar Sheridan in a five-game match and Olaf Glanert defeating Ryan Li in straight sets. However, the tide turned during the doubles match, where Sheridan and Li showcased their skills and decisively beat Ksiązek and Glanert 3-0. This victory revitalized the Irish team, propelling them forward in the match.
Following the pivotal doubles, Sheridan triumphed over Glanert, recovering from an early loss to clinch the win 3-1. Li then sealed the deal with a straight-games victory against Ksiązek, leading Ireland to an overall score of 11-7 and securing the gold medal. This victory capped an impressive journey for the second-seeded Irish team, who had previously battled through a nail-biting semi-final against Denmark.
U15 Girls’ Team: Serbia Takes Home Gold
The U15 Girls’ Team event adopted a round-robin format, which resulted in some exhilarating matches. Serbia 1 captured the gold, much to the delight of their home crowd. They finished at the top of the standings with seven wins out of eight games and a total of 64 points. Their only setback was a close match against Denmark, which they lost 5-8. However, their consistent performances throughout the tournament ensured their victory.
Denmark, seeded fourth, managed to go through the competition unbeaten, taking silver with eight wins and 62 points. They also claimed victory over Serbia 1 but fell short in total points as Serbia consistently accumulated more across their matches. The bronze medal went to the top-seeded duo from Bosnia and Herzegovina/Croatia, who finished with six wins and two defeats for a total of 56 points.
U13 Boys’ Team: Italy’s Unstoppable Dominance
Italy’s U13 Boys’ Team exhibited remarkable skill, finishing the round-robin stage with a flawless record, winning all nine matches. Led by top seeds Giorgio Borgese, Pietro Campagna, and Luca Franzoni, they gathered a total of 78 points. Their most challenging game was against Greece, where Italy triumphed narrowly with a final score of 6-5, which ultimately proved crucial for their championship run.
Greece, the second seeds, concluded the competition with a solid 8-1 record, securing the silver medal with 77 points. Bulgaria outperformed expectations by coming in third, moving from the eighth seed to clinch bronze after achieving seven wins.
U13 Girls’ Team: Türkiye’s Stunning Victory
In what was perhaps the most captivating storyline, Türkiye, seeded fifth, pulled off an incredible victory over Italy in the U13 Girls’ Team final. Their journey included a dramatic semi-final where they eliminated the top-seeded Serbian team, winning on points after a closely contested match. Moving into the final, Türkiye initially struggled as Italy’s Weilan Chen took a quick lead. However, Türkiye’s Beren Bozkurt and Gizem Cigıl regrouped and went on to dominate the final, winning 10-5 in games and earning Türkiye a well-deserved championship title.
Türkiye’s performance was underpinned by Cigıl’s remarkable contributions, where she won all her singles matches in the semi-final and repeated her success in the final, further displaying her prowess in table tennis. Italy took home the silver medal for their efforts, while Serbia 1 and Bulgaria 1 secured bronze after reaching the semi-finals. This exciting installment of the Europe Youth Series not only showcased skilled play but also highlighted the emerging talent in youth table tennis across Europe.