Romania achieves silver at the European Junior Table Tennis Championship 2026

Romania has proudly secured the second spot on the continental podium at the European Junior Table Tennis Championship 2026 held in Gondomar, Portugal. The nation achieved this remarkable feat by winning two silver medals across both the men's and women's U19 teams.

The men's U19 team, ranked as the 9th favorite, demonstrated exceptional skill and determination throughout the competition. Comprised of Robert Istrate, Mihai Nagy, Robert Podar, Andrei Țîbîrnă, and Luca Trașcu, they showcased their prowess by achieving six victories in both the group stage and the main draw. A standout moment for the team was defeating Spain in the semifinals with a decisive score of 3-0.

In the final, however, the Romanian men faced a formidable opponent in France, where they ultimately fell short with a score of 0-3. Robert Istrate faced Nathan Lam, losing in straight sets, while Robert Podar and Andrei Țîbîrnă also suffered defeats against their French counterparts.

On the women's side, the U19 team, which held the 2nd favorite position, included talented players Andreea Băiașu, Bianca Mei-Roșu, Alesia Sferlea, Maria Stoian, and Patricia Stoica. Their impressive performance also earned them silver medals, though they too encountered France in the final, where they lost 0-3.

Bianca Mei-Roșu, Alesia Sferlea, and Patricia Stoica each faced challenging matches against their French opponents, with Mei-Roșu narrowly missing out with scores of 6-11, 9-11, and 9-11. Sferlea's match ended with scores of 9-11, 4-11, and 9-11, while Stoica put up a valiant fight, falling just short in a nail-biting five-set match.

Overall, these results reflect the growing talent and competitiveness of Romanian junior table tennis on the European stage, highlighting a promising future for the sport in the country.