France’s Félix Lebrun captured the European table tennis singles championship on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Slovenia, defeating Sweden’s Anton Kallberg 4-3 in a decisive final set. The world number two secured his first continental singles title by scores of 7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, and 11-1. The victory completed a sweep for the French player, who paired with his older brother Alexis Lebrun to win the men’s doubles tournament just one day prior.
Championship Sunday and the Final Duel Against Anton Kallberg
The singles final tested the mental resolve of the younger Lebrun brother against an opponent who started the match with high precision. Kallberg, ranked 29th in the world, pushed the Frenchman through long rallies and claimed early advantages before Lebrun settled into his attacking rhythm. Propelled by a vocal crowd with significant French support in the arena, Lebrun recovered from a 3-2 deficit in games to dominate the sixth and seventh sets. The final game ended in an 11-1 rout that sealed the gold medal.
Historical Context and Elite Company in French Table Tennis
With Sunday’s victory, Félix Lebrun succeeds his brother Alexis, cementing a family presence at the continental level. The 2026 title places Félix alongside just two other Frenchmen in history who have captured the European singles championship: Jacques Secrétin in 1976 and Emmanuel Lebesson in 2016. The latest gold adds to an already extensive resume that includes two French national titles, two bronze medals (in double and team events) at the World Championships, a European team championship, and a Swedish Grand Smash singles victory earlier in the summer.
Early Round Battles and Fellow French Medalists
The path to the podium required surviving grueling encounters throughout the tournament bracket. Earlier on Sunday, Félix Lebrun eliminated compatriot Léo De Nodrest in the semifinals to secure his place in the title match. De Nodrest, a 26-year-old qualifier who began his tournament in the preliminary rounds, claimed the bronze medal after a notable run that included a quarterfinal win over Germany’s Benedikt Duda (4-3) and a prior victory against 12th-ranked Darko Jorgic.
In the women’s draw, 22-year-old French player Prithika Pavade earned a bronze medal, marking the first European medal for French women’s table tennis since 2012 and the first singles podium finish of her senior career. Pavade fell just short in a narrow semifinal defeat to Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian, losing 4-3 (11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-13) after holding a match point in the deciding game. Pavade reached the medal rounds following an upset over European top-ranked player and world number nine Sabine Winter in the round of 16.
