Germany Names Seven-Player Squad for 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana: Dang Qiu Leads the Charge

The German Table Tennis Association has officially announced a seven-player squad for the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The line-up combines some of the most experienced names in German table tennis with a new generation ready to make its mark at senior level. Leading the contingent is Dang Qiu, a former European champion expected to spearhead Germany's medal charge at the continent's most prestigious tournament. Dang Qiu is 29 years old and 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 Kraków-Małopolska, Dang Qiu collected two more gold medals, in Mixed Doubles and the Men's Team event. Beyond European competition, 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. That record makes Dang Qiu an irreplaceable cornerstone of the German squad. Dang Qiu heads to Ljubljana encouraged by his recent victory at the 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. 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,” Dang Qiu said. Germany will have another major contender in Benedikt Duda, who produced his best European Championships Singles result in Linz two years ago. 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 earlier this year. That run once lifted him to No. 8 in the world ranking. “That period propelled me all the way to No. 8 in the world ranking. 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,” Benedikt Duda said. 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. My victory over Truls Möregårdh 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,” Dimitrij Ovtcharov stated. 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. 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,” Patrick Franziska assessed. 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. 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,” Andre Bertelsmeier said. Wim 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,” Wim Verdonschot shared. 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,” Kay Stumper expressed. Germany will also have considerable experience in the Doubles events. Dang Qiu will partner Benedikt Duda in Men's Doubles, while Patrick Franziska and Dimitrij Ovtcharov join forces. Both pairings are highly rated and could deliver important medals for the German delegation. For Dang Qiu and Benedikt 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. We have been working towards it for quite some time. We hope that, with a little luck, it will finally happen in Ljubljana,” Dang Qiu said. Looking at Germany's seven-player line-up, the federation's long-term development strategy is clear. On one hand, it continues to place its trust in the golden generation of Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Patrick Franziska, Dang Qiu and Benedikt Duda, who have kept German table tennis at the top of Europe for more than a decade. On the other hand, it is deliberately handing opportunities to Andre Bertelsmeier, Wim Verdonschot and Kay Stumper, young talents who need top-level competition to grow. That generational transition is unfolding against a rapidly changing European landscape. The rise of French players such as reigning European champion Alexis Lebrun and his younger brother Felix Lebrun has created a powerful new force. Alongside them stand names like Sweden's Truls Möregårdh, whom Dimitrij Ovtcharov beat recently, and Slovenia's Darko Jorgic, who will play on home soil. That is why Patrick Franziska's assessment that the tournament is as evenly matched as ever is well founded. No longer do a handful of players dominate absolutely as in previous eras, and any round can produce an upset. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for Germany, because the elite experience of its veterans could prove decisive in tight matches. For Dang Qiu, the goal is clear: to reclaim the Men's Singles title he first won in Munich in 2026. With his current form and the confidence gained from winning the WTT Star Contender Astana, the 29-year-old can realistically dream of a deep run. Yet he is also well aware that table tennis is a sport where form can change overnight. Dimitrij Ovtcharov, meanwhile, enters the tournament as the most decorated player in the squad. At 38, he continues to prove he has no intention of slowing down. The target of another European medal is entirely realistic for a player with six Olympic medals to his name. For Benedikt Duda, Ljubljana is a chance to rediscover his form and his place in the world ranking. The 32-year-old admits he lost focus on his own path after climbing to No. 8 in the world, but insists he is learning from those mistakes. For the three young talents Andre Bertelsmeier, Wim Verdonschot and Kay Stumper, the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana represent an important stepping stone. The experience of facing the continent's leading players will be valuable preparation for the road ahead and will help Germany build for the future. Overall, Germany's seven-player squad reflects a balance between immediate ambition and long-term direction. With four highly decorated veterans and three ambitious young talents, the German team is expected to be one of the most formidable forces in Ljubljana, in both the individual and doubles events.