Future table tennis champions competed in Veszprém
In a wonderful atmosphere, with nearly 100 talented players from twelve countries participating the European Open Table Tennis Championships for Young Talents took place between June 18 and 21. Supported by the Veszprém-Balaton European Region of Sport 2026 program, this international tournament was proudly hosted by ONE Veszprém Arena.
During the four-day tournament, the continent’s best U13 and U15 players, as well as young players from Asia and the Middle East, competed for European ranking points. Twenty-one elite teams from our country represented Hungary in the exceptionally high-level competition, which also served as the perfect preparation for this summer’s European Junior Championships. We are proud that the venue in Veszprém and the organization impressed the organizers so much that in the future it could even serve as a base for regular international table tennis training camps.
However, the event was about much more than mere athletic achievement— it was about a common language and community building, as Szilvia Bonyhádi, project manager of the Region of Sport, emphasized at the opening.
“When we were awarded the title of ‘European Region of Sport,’ our primary goal was precisely to support events like these that promote respect and fair play.”
The prestige of the tournament and the strength of the sport’s traditions in Hungary were reflected in the fact that the young athletes’ determination and competitive spirit were praised on site by Pedro Moura, President of the European Table Tennis Union, and László Fábián, Olympic champion pentathlete and Secretary General of the Hungarian Olympic Committee. With this successful international competition, Veszprém once again demonstrated that it is a worthy holder of the European Region of Sport title.
