ETTU Awards Władysławowo and Sarajevo the 2028 European U13 and U21 Championships: A Quiet Decision Redrawing Europe's Youth Table Tennis Map

A rainy night in Shenzhen. I sat in front of the screen, reading a short bulletin from the ETTU website that a colleague in Poland had just forwarded. The Executive Board of the European Table Tennis Union decided to award the hosting rights for two European youth championships in 2028: Władysławowo in Poland will host the U13 championship, while Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina will host the U21 championship. The bulletin had no photographs, no quotes from the federation president, no infographic. Seven discrete facts packed into a few lines, yet I read it three times.

At 47, after 31 years observing the table tennis industry through the lens of a female sports broadcaster, I have learned one thing: the most dry administrative announcements sometimes contain more information than the most grandiose press conferences. Because when a continental federation decides to put two city names on its youth calendar, it is not merely choosing venues. It is redrawing the development map for an entire generation of athletes.

Context: The ETTU and Europe's Youth Table Tennis Challenge

To understand why this announcement merits analysis, it must be placed in the broader context of European table tennis over the past two decades. Since Asian table tennis - particularly China - came to dominate the highest-level competitions, Europe has been struggling to close the gap. In the 1990s and early 2000s, players like Jan-Ove Waldner and Jörgen Persson of Sweden or Jean-Philippe Gatien of France made European fans believe in a balance of power. But by the 2010s, the gap had widened beyond easy repair.

The ETTU understands that if it focuses only on elite competitions, it will forever be chasing. The only path to changing the game lies at the grassroots level: building a sustainable youth pipeline from U13 through U21. The decision to award two youth championships to two different countries in the same year, 2028, is the clearest expression of that strategy.

Over 31 years of following international table tennis, I have observed that continental federations typically take one of two approaches when allocating hosting rights. The first is to concentrate on traditional centres - countries with impeccable infrastructure, large audiences and deep organisational experience. The second is to spread hosting rights to stimulate development in emerging markets. The ETTU's 2028 decision leans firmly toward the second approach, and that is a notable signal.

It should be emphasised that this is a purely administrative decision. The ETTU Executive Board - the highest governance body of the continental federation - made its ruling based on internal criteria that were not publicly disclosed. No bid documents were revealed, no list of unsuccessful candidates was published, no transparent evaluation scorecard was provided. This is common practice among many international sports federations, but it is also something independent observers must always keep in mind.

Władysławowo and the Cetniewo Training Centre

Władysławowo is a small town on the Baltic coast in northern Poland, with a population of only about 15,000. But the notable detail is the venue for the 2028 European U13 Championship: Cetniewo. This is one of Poland's most important sports training centres, having developed generations of athletes across multiple sports, not just table tennis.

As someone who has visited many sports training centres in Asia and Europe, I understand the value of placing a youth championship at a professional training centre. When U13 players step into Cetniewo, they are not merely attending a tournament. They breathe the atmosphere of an elite training environment, see where their seniors train, and most importantly, are inspired about a long-term career path.

Poland has a respectable table tennis tradition in European history. Players like Andrzej Grubba were the pride of Polish table tennis in the 1980s and 1990s, with an attacking style full of variation and excellent game-reading ability. The next generation included Lucjan Błaszczyk, who reached the world top 20. But in recent years, Polish table tennis has not maintained its former standing. Hosting the 2028 European U13 Championship can be seen as an effort to restore that tradition, starting from the most grassroots level.

Choosing Cetniewo as the venue for the 2028 European U13 Championship also carries symbolic meaning: the ETTU wants to turn the tournament into a training and development event, not just a competition. Children at U13 age are still in the phase of forming basic technique - grip, footwork, habits in the first three shots. Placing the tournament at a professional training centre is the ETTU's way of sending the message that it cares about training quality more than audience size.

On a work trip to Europe a few years ago, I had the chance to visit a similar training centre in Germany. What I remember most was not the modern equipment, but the serious training atmosphere and the discipline of the young athletes. Children aged 10-12 trained with an intensity and focus that many adults would envy. If Cetniewo can create a similar atmosphere for the U13 players at the 2028 European Championship, that will be a legacy more precious than any medal.

Sarajevo and the Balkan Story

If Władysławowo represents the depth of Polish table tennis tradition, Sarajevo tells an entirely different story. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a European table tennis powerhouse. The country endured brutal war in the 1990s, and rebuilding sports infrastructure remains a long journey.

Arena Hills in Sarajevo will host the 2028 European U21 Championship. The ETTU's choice of a Balkan venue for the highest age bracket in the youth system reveals a clear ambition: to expand table tennis's presence into regions that have not been fully tapped.

I have had the chance to follow table tennis tournaments in Southeast Europe over the years, and I have observed that the Balkan region has a strong sporting tradition but is often undervalued on continental table tennis development maps. Countries like Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia have produced many quality athletes in other sports. Table tennis has similar potential but lacks opportunities to compete at high-level tournaments to develop.

Awarding the 2028 European U21 Championship to Sarajevo is a way for the ETTU to create that opportunity. Young players from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro will have the chance to compete at home, before home crowds, with the pressure and motivation of a continental championship. That experience is priceless.

The history of Balkan table tennis has proud pages. In the 1970s and 1980s, the former Yugoslavia was a formidable table tennis power in Europe, with players like Dragutin Šurbek and Zoran Kosanović. After Yugoslavia's dissolution, the region's table tennis development system fragmented and weakened. Sarajevo hosting the 2028 European U21 Championship can be seen as a first step in efforts to revive the Balkan table tennis tradition.

One notable detail is that Arena Hills in Sarajevo is not a dedicated table tennis arena. It is a multi-purpose sports centre, often used for various sports and cultural events. Hosting a European table tennis championship there requires adjustments to facilities, particularly lighting, flooring and air conditioning. This is a significant technical challenge, but also an opportunity to upgrade local sports infrastructure.

The U13 Championship: Investing in the Distant Future

The European U13 Table Tennis Championship is a relatively new concept in the international competition system. For decades, federations typically started youth competition systems from U15 or U18. The ETTU's organisation of a dedicated continental U13 championship shows a shift in development philosophy.

When we talk about U13, we are talking about children aged 11 to 13. At this age, they are still in a phase of strong physical development, and basic table tennis skills are still being formed. Organising an international tournament at this age is not without controversy. Some argue that children at this age do not need to bear the pressure of international competition, that it could negatively affect their psychology and natural development.

However, from a system-development perspective, organising a U13 championship has clear benefits. First, it creates a milestone for national federations to build structured training programmes from an early age. Second, it helps young talents gain early exposure to international competition, learning to adapt to different playing styles. Third, it creates a continuous pipeline: U13 leads to U15, U15 to U18, U18 to U21, and ultimately to the national team.

During my years following Chinese table tennis - where the youth development system is among the most tightly organised in the world - I have observed that one of the key factors behind their success is early talent identification and training. Training centres in China typically start working with children from ages 6-7. The ETTU's lowering of the continental championship age to U13 is a step in a similar direction, albeit at a slower pace and taking into account the specificities of the European sports system, where the role of family and school in developing young talent is more important than in Asia.

It is worth noting that organising a European U13 Championship also raises technical questions about competition. At this age, physical differences between players can be enormous. A 13-year-old who has gone through puberty may have a significant physical advantage over an 11-year-old who has not. This poses a challenge for organisers in ensuring fairness. Some federations have addressed this by dividing into smaller age groups (separate U11, U12, U13) or by using seeding systems based on skill level rather than age.

Another aspect to consider is the psychological impact of international competition at a young age. Sports psychology research on children shows that early competition pressure can lead to burnout, loss of motivation and even dropping out of sport altogether. However, if organised properly - with emphasis on learning and development rather than just results - youth tournaments can be a positive experience with high educational value.

The U21 Championship: A Transitional Stepping Stone

If U13 is the starting point, U21 is the transition point. This is the age at which players have completed their basic technique and are preparing to enter the senior professional arena. The European U21 Championship is not just a competition; it is an opportunity for young players to prove their ability before scouts, professional clubs and national federations.

In Asia, the U21 age group is often seen as a screening phase - players not capable of entering the national team are eliminated from the professional development system. In Europe, the system is somewhat softer, but the pressure is no less. An outstanding U21 player at the European Championship can receive sports scholarships at American universities, be invited to ITTF World Tour events, or sign contracts with clubs in strong national leagues such as Germany's Bundesliga or France's Pro A.

Sarajevo hosting the 2028 European U21 Championship has special significance for the Balkan region. In recent years, some young players from this region have begun to attract attention at international tournaments. Organising a high-level tournament in the region will give young players additional motivation and opportunities to develop.

It is important to remember that the U21 Championship is not just a sporting event. It is part of a broader talent development ecosystem, including training camps, national development programmes and domestic tournaments. For the 2028 European U21 Championship to be truly meaningful, it needs to be connected to other development activities taking place in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in the Balkan region generally.

Another notable aspect is that the 2028 European U21 Championship will take place against a backdrop of changing regulations on player eligibility. Rules on nationality, federation transfers and age eligibility can affect the composition of the tournament. These are factors organisers need to monitor closely to ensure the tournament proceeds as planned.

The 2028 Olympic Year: Opportunities and Challenges

An important detail that many might overlook: 2028 is the year of the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This means the two European youth table tennis championships will take place in the context of a busy Olympic year.

On the positive side, an Olympic year typically attracts special public interest in sports generally. This is a time when fans, sponsors and media pay more attention to sports than usual. If the ETTU knows how to leverage this, the youth championships could ride this wave of interest to attract attention.

On the negative side, an Olympic year is also a year when the competition calendar becomes extremely crowded. Top players focus on Olympic preparation, and youth tournaments can be overshadowed. National federations may struggle to allocate resources between preparing their Olympic team and sending young players to continental championships.

In my experience following Olympic cycles, I have observed that youth tournaments held in Olympic years typically have fewer spectators and less media attention than in other years. This is a challenge the ETTU needs to consider when planning organisation and promotion. One way to address this is to schedule youth tournaments at less competitive times of the Olympic year, such as autumn or early winter, when Olympic events have concluded.

Another factor to consider is the impact of the Olympic year on player movement between age groups. In an Olympic year, some U21 players may be called up to the national team to prepare for the Olympics, preventing them from participating in the European U21 Championship. This could affect the quality of the tournament, but also creates opportunities for younger players to compete at a higher level.

A Counterintuitive Angle: Commercialisation or Development?

There is a question I always ponder when analysing sports federation decisions: are they genuinely investing in development, or are they using youth tournaments as a tool to satisfy corporate social responsibility and public relations requirements?

Looking at the ETTU announcement, there are a few details worth pondering. First, the announcement does not mention any specific investment in infrastructure or youth development programmes at the two selected locations. Second, there is no information on bid evaluation criteria, nor any information on unsuccessful candidates. Third, the announcement was made about two years before the events, a reasonable timeframe but long enough for things to change.

In my many years in sports media, I have witnessed no small number of cases where federations announced hosting decisions with grandiose statements about sustainable development and giving opportunities to the younger generation, but when the events took place, reality was far different. Infrastructure was not upgraded as promised, youth development programmes were not implemented, and the legacy of the event was just a few weeks of competition and a few lines of news.

This does not mean I am sceptical about the ETTU's intentions. On the contrary, I believe the decision to award hosting rights to two different countries, including a small country like Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a positive sign of a desire to broaden European table tennis's base. But I also believe fans and media need to monitor closely to ensure development commitments are fully implemented.

With European table tennis facing fierce competition from Asia, investing in youth tournaments is a matter of survival. If Europe cannot build a new generation of talent capable of competing with players from China, Japan or South Korea, the gap will continue to widen and European table tennis will become increasingly irrelevant on the international stage.

I once witnessed a similar case in another sport. A continental federation announced an ambitious youth development programme, with a budget of millions of dollars and participation from many member countries. But after three years, the programme was significantly scaled back due to lack of resources and lack of commitment from national federations. The lesson: youth development programmes only succeed when there is active participation from all stakeholders, not just the continental federation.

Lessons for Southeast Asian Table Tennis

Viewed from Vietnam, the ETTU decision offers much food for thought for Southeast Asian table tennis. We face a similar challenge: how to build a sustainable youth development system when resources are limited and competition from Asian table tennis powers is increasingly fierce?

In recent years, Vietnamese table tennis has made notable progress. Young players like Nguyễn Anh Tú, Đinh Anh Hoàng and Nguyễn Thị Nga have begun to attract attention at regional tournaments. But to compete at continental and world level, we need a more structured pipeline, starting from an earlier age.

The ETTU's organisation of a European U13 Championship is a hint that starting young talent development early is essential. In Vietnam, many table tennis talents are discovered relatively late, often at ages 10-12. If we could start earlier, combined with a more tightly organised youth competition system, the development potential is enormous.

Another lesson from the ETTU decision is the importance of spreading opportunities. Awarding hosting rights to Bosnia and Herzegovina - a country that is not a table tennis powerhouse - shows the ETTU understands that development cannot be concentrated in just a few centres. In Southeast Asia, we also need to ensure smaller countries like Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar have access to high-level tournaments for development.

I recall my own experience in the early years of my career, when I worked with young athletes in Ho Chi Minh City. What I observed was that they had plenty of talent and passion, but lacked regular international competition opportunities. Each overseas trip was a valuable experience, but high costs and complex procedures prevented many from participating. If we could organise more regional tournaments, creating more competition opportunities for young talents, that would be an important step forward.

What Happens Next?

Over the next two years, from now until 2028, there will be many signals indicating whether the ETTU decision is fully implemented. We will follow announcements on preparation progress at the two locations, youth development programmes implemented in Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and how the ETTU promotes these two championships in the context of an Olympic year.

As someone who has followed international table tennis for decades, I will pay special attention to one question: will these championships produce a new generation of European players capable of competing with Asian powers? The answer will not come immediately. The children competing at the 2028 U13 Championship will only be in their twenties around 2035-2036, when they reach their career peak. It is a long journey, requiring patience and sustained investment.

Meanwhile, the U21 players competing in Sarajevo will have the opportunity to prove their ability sooner. If a player from Bosnia and Herzegovina or another Balkan country can shine at the tournament on home soil, that will be a wonderful inspirational story, capable of attracting media and public attention to regional table tennis.

I will also monitor whether the ETTU publishes additional information on bid evaluation criteria. This would be a sign that the federation is moving toward greater governance transparency, something many international sports federations still lack.

Conclusion: When the Arena Falls Silent, I Hear Clearly the Voices of Those Who Never Had a Seat on Air

The ETTU's decision to award the 2028 European U13 and U21 Championships to Władysławowo and Sarajevo is an administrative decision. It does not create dramatic moments at the table, no spectacular rallies, no wild celebrations. But it is precisely decisions like these that form the foundation for all future dramatic moments.

Throughout my career, I have learned that the greatest changes in sport do not always begin with loud events. Sometimes, they begin with a short announcement on a federation's website, a decision made in a closed meeting, a city name added to a competition calendar. These decisions are quiet, but they shape the future of the sport in ways few recognise.

When the arena falls silent, I hear clearly the voices of those who never had a seat on air. The U13 children who will compete in Cetniewo in 2028 have never appeared in any news bulletin. But perhaps, just perhaps, one of them will become a world champion in a decade. And when that happens, we will remember that it all began with a quiet decision in Luxembourg on an August day.

The 2026 pandemic closed the stands, but it could not close a community that knows how to love. I believe that spirit remains intact in table tennis today. Decisions like the ETTU's, however dry, are also a way for the table tennis community to show care for the next generation. And in a sport where the gap between powers and developing nations remains wide, every opportunity given to a young talent has value.

I listen to players before discussing tactics; because the heart always goes before the diagram. For European youth table tennis, the hearts of the children in Władysławowo and Sarajevo are beating their first rhythms for a long journey ahead. And we, the followers of this sport, have a responsibility to follow that journey, not only when they stand on the podium, but from their very first steps on the court.