German Table Tennis Names Seven-Player Squad for 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana: Dang Qiu Leads as Ovtcharov and Duda Add Experience

The German table tennis team will enter the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with a seven-player squad, with European champion Dang Qiu serving as its centrepiece. The line-up is widely seen as a blend of Germany's most decorated names and a new generation that has just completed its junior journey and is ready to make its mark at the highest level on the continent. Dang Qiu – Germany's number one hope At 29, Dang Qiu 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, 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. 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. With the experience of a former European champion who has also won medals at world and Olympic level, Dang Qiu is regarded as a leading candidate for a Men's Singles medal in Ljubljana. His ball handling over the table, his composure in decisive points and a physical foundation maintained consistently over many years keep him among the highest-rated players in European table tennis. Notably, Dang Qiu is strong not only in singles but also as a leading doubles player, with combination play and match reading that experts rate very highly. Benedikt Duda – the man who once reached the final 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 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,” Duda said. Duda's return is one of the most intriguing variables in the German squad in Ljubljana. If he recovers the feeling he had in Linz, he could easily make a difference in his section of the draw. His experience in big matches, together with the pressure generated by his powerful forehand loop, are important weapons for the 32-year-old. Dimitrij Ovtcharov – a legend still hungry for medals 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. His presence in the squad carries not only sporting value but also serves as a source of mental support for his younger teammates. “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 Moregard 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,” Ovtcharov stated. Patrick Franziska – experience and consistency 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,” Franziska assessed. Two young faces from the European Under 21 Championships 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,” Bertelsmeier said. 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,” Verdonschot said. Kay Stumper – a first individual European 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,” Stumper expressed. Strength in the doubles events 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 bring together experience, technique and tactical coordination. 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. 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. Context and prospects The seven-player German squad clearly reflects the generational transition strategy German table tennis has pursued for years. Four veterans – Dang Qiu, Benedikt Duda, Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Patrick Franziska – remain the pillars, while Andre Bertelsmeier, Wim Verdonschot and Kay Stumper represent the next generation being given the chance to accumulate experience on the continent's biggest stage. This balance allows Germany both to chase medals immediately in Ljubljana and to prepare for the future. In the team events, squad depth is the decisive factor, and fielding seven players of relatively even standard gives the coaching staff greater flexibility in setting up match line-ups. However, European table tennis is in a period of unprecedented competition. Alexis Lebrun, the reigning European champion, is the biggest threat to any player. Alongside him are experienced and talented opponents from countries with strong table tennis traditions. Patrick Franziska himself acknowledged that the gap in standard between Europe's leading players has narrowed considerably, making results harder to predict than ever. With Dang Qiu at the peak of his form, Benedikt Duda eager to rediscover himself, Dimitrij Ovtcharov still full of ambition and Patrick Franziska consistently reliable, Germany enters the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana with ambitions of medals in both Men's Singles and the doubles events. The biggest question is whether the young players can seize the opportunity to turn their careers around, and whether the experience of the big names will be enough to restore German table tennis to a dominant position in Europe.