Germany Names Seven-Player Squad for 2026 European Table Tennis Championships in Ljubljana: Dang Qiu Leads the Next Generation

GERMANY NAMES SEVEN-PLAYER SQUAD FOR THE 2026 EUROPEAN TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LJUBLJANA: DANG QIU LEADS THE NEXT GENERATION

A blend of experience and a new generation

Germany will head to the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with a seven-player squad. The line-up deliberately combines some of the country's most experienced names with a new generation ready to make its mark at senior level.

Former European champion Dang Qiu leads the contingent. Around him are the players who have shaped German table tennis for more than a decade: Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Patrick Franziska and Benedikt Duda. Completing the group are three young players who have just come through the Under 21 ranks and are preparing for their first encounters with the continent's elite: Andre Bertelsmeier, Wim Verdonschot and Kay Stumper.

Dang Qiu: the anchor

Dang Qiu, 29, knows exactly what it takes to succeed on the European stage. He won the Men's Singles crown in Munich in 2026, having previously claimed Mixed Doubles gold in Warsaw in 2026 and Team gold in Cluj-Napoca in 2026. He added Team bronze at the 2026 European Championships in Zadar and was runner-up at the Europe Top 16 in 2026. At the 2026 European Games in Krakow-Malopolska he collected two more gold medals, in Mixed Doubles and the Men's Team event. Beyond Europe, he was part of Germany's silver-medal-winning team at the 2026 World Championships in Chengdu and won Mixed Team bronze at the 2026 World Cup.

Qiu arrives in Ljubljana encouraged by his recent victory at WTT Star Contender Astana, where he defeated reigning European champion Alexis Lebrun on his way to the title. "Every victory gives you additional confidence, and winning a tournament and beating a world-class player like Alexis Lebrun even more so," he said. "But the fact is that the cards are reshuffled every day and I have to continue working hard on myself to be in top form at the European Championships. There is also the China Smash in between, where a lot can happen."

Benedikt Duda: rebuilding his own path

Germany will have another major contender in Benedikt Duda, who produced his best European Championships Singles result in Linz in 2026. Duda reached the final before taking silver behind Alexis Lebrun, a result that marked the beginning of the strongest period of his career. The 32-year-old also has two European Team titles, from 2026 and 2026, and added bronze at the Europe Top 16 in 2026.

"That period propelled me all the way to No. 8 in the world ranking," said Duda. "In 2026, however, I haven't progressed beyond the Round of 16 at any WTT tournament so far, and as a result I have dropped considerably in the ranking again. I think that after making that rise, I listened to too many people's opinions instead of consistently continuing on my own path. But I am learning from that and will do better again now."

Dimitrij Ovtcharov: still a title contender at 38

Few players in Ljubljana will be able to match the European record of Dimitrij Ovtcharov. The 38-year-old won the Men's Singles title in 2026 and 2026 and has eight European Team titles to his name. He returned to the Singles podium in Linz in 2026, taking bronze. His record extends far beyond Europe, with six Olympic medals and numerous World Championships honours, but Ovtcharov believes he can still challenge Europe's best.

"I have won two gold medals, one silver and three bronze medals. So the European Championships are a tournament that I have always really enjoyed and where I have usually played very well," he said. "My victory over Truls Moregardh a few weeks ago gave me a lot of confidence and the feeling that I can beat anyone and that I still belong among the title contenders. My goal is to win another medal. And once you reach the semi-finals, of course you want to go even further."

Patrick Franziska: the versatile veteran

Patrick Franziska adds further experience to the German line-up. The 34-year-old is a former Europe Top 16 champion and has won four European Team titles, as well as European Men's Doubles gold in 2026. He also has European Championships medals in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

"The European Championships are as evenly matched as they have been for a long time," said Franziska. "There are many very strong players in Europe. Of course, I am once again travelling there with high expectations, but making a prediction is difficult. There are many players who can win the tournament or go very far. That's why you simply have to take it round by round and see what is possible."

Bertelsmeier and Verdonschot: the Under 21 generation steps up

Germany's challenge will also include two players who earned their places through the 2026 European Under 21 Championships. European Under 21 champion Andre Bertelsmeier returns to the senior continental stage after reaching the Round of 16 on his European Championships debut in 2026, while European Under 21 runner-up Wim Verdonschot will make his first appearance at the senior event.

"My title at the European Under 21 Championships and reaching the Round of 16 in 2026 show that on a good day I can already cause problems for the leading players," said Bertelsmeier. "Of course, my goal is also to challenge the established players. However, the depth of quality in Europe is incredibly high. Almost anyone can beat anyone - so every round at the European Championships is a major challenge."

Verdonschot is approaching his senior European Championships debut without putting additional pressure on himself. "Since it is my first senior European Championships, I'll just see what is possible. Of course, I want to get through qualification and then simply see how far the journey takes me. I hope I can produce my best table tennis and get the maximum out of myself."

Kay Stumper: a first European Individual Championships

Kay Stumper completes Germany's seven-player squad. Already a European Team champion and World Championships Team silver medallist, he will make his European Individual Championships debut in Ljubljana. "I simply want to play as well as possible. I'm in good form at the moment and, of course, I would like to go far. I'm familiar with major tournaments, but I haven't played at a European Individual Championships before. I'm really looking forward to it."

Doubles strength

Germany will also have considerable experience in the Doubles events. Qiu will partner Duda in Men's Doubles, while Franziska and Ovtcharov join forces. For Qiu and Duda, Ljubljana presents an opportunity to add one of the few European honours still missing from their partnership.

"Benne and I are a world-class doubles pair, but surprisingly we really are still missing that European Championships medal," said Qiu. "We have been working towards it for quite some time. We hope that, with a little luck, it will finally happen in Ljubljana."

A wide-open continental field

One theme runs through every German assessment of the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana: the depth of the field. Franziska calls the tournament as evenly matched as it has been for a long time. Bertelsmeier says almost anyone can beat anyone. Duda admits he has not gone beyond the Round of 16 at any WTT event in 2026.

For Germany, that represents both risk and opportunity. Experienced players such as Duda could be eliminated early by a rising opponent, but the sheer depth of the seven-player squad gives the team a presence across multiple rounds and multiple events.

Conclusion

The 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana will be a comprehensive test for German table tennis. The seven-player squad blends athletes who have won medals at every level - from European competition to the Olympic Games and the World Championships - with young players who have just emerged from the Under 21 system.

Dang Qiu leads the group as a former European champion and the man who recently beat reigning European champion Alexis Lebrun at WTT Star Contender Astana. Dimitrij Ovtcharov brings eight European Team titles and two European Men's Singles titles. Patrick Franziska brings versatility and four European Team titles. Benedikt Duda brings the ambition of reclaiming his place among the world's top ten.

In the Men's Doubles, Germany fields two notable pairings: Dang Qiu with Benedikt Duda, and Patrick Franziska with Dimitrij Ovtcharov. For Qiu and Duda, Ljubljana is a chance to fill the one gap in an otherwise decorated partnership.

And behind them, three young players - Andre Bertelsmeier, Wim Verdonschot and Kay Stumper - are waiting for the chance to prove that the future of German table tennis is in good hands.

As Dang Qiu himself put it, the cards are reshuffled every day. Only the table in Ljubljana will deliver the final answer.