Elizabet Abraamian claimed the women’s singles title at the European Table Tennis Championships in Ljubljana, defeating Germany’s Annett Kaufmann 4–3 in a dramatic final. Competing under the code “ETTU2,” Abraamian navigated through the qualification and main draw with eight consecutive wins to secure the gold medal.
The Ljubljana Final and Kaufmann’s Tears
The championship match stretched to a decisive seventh game before Abraamian edged out Kaufmann 4–3. Following the final point, Kaufmann broke down in tears. The 20-year-old German player offered a remarkably candid explanation for her emotional reaction, stating that she is simply unaccustomed to losing finals. Kaufmann noted that nearly every title match she has reached in her career—including her 2022 European junior title, 2024 junior world championship, and the 2024 German national singles crown—ended with her lifting the trophy.
Friendship Across the Net and Neutral Status
Despite the high stakes of the European final, any tension between the competitors melted away after the match. The two players embraced warmly on the court. Because Kaufmann speaks the Russian language, the pair share a close personal bond dating back to their junior years. Kaufmann noted ahead of the final that they are good friends who had supported each other throughout the tournament and retained mutual respect as fair competitors. Abraamian captured the title without her national flag on her jersey or her country’s anthem played during the medal ceremony, listed instead under the European Table Tennis Union’s designation. Reflecting on her triumph, Abraamian remarked that table tennis brings people together and forms a vital core of her life.
German Team Success and Injury Comeback Stories
Richard Prause, sports director for the German Table Tennis Federation, praised Abraamian’s performance while acknowledging the complexity surrounding the reintegration of Russian and Belarusian athletes. Prause stated that while the eligibility decisions rest with the governing bodies and remain a sensitive issue amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, the German federation separates political responsibility from individual athletes, treating all eligible competitors with fairness and respect. Prause also expressed satisfaction with Germany’s overall medal haul of five individual medals in Ljubljana. Nina Mittelham and Benedikt Duda captured gold in the mixed doubles, while Mittelham added a bronze in the women’s singles and another bronze in the women’s doubles alongside Kaufmann. Dang Qiu also secured a bronze medal in the men’s singles. Für Mittelham bedeuteten die drei Medaillen einen Erfolg nach einem im Jahr 2024 erlittenen Bandscheibenvorfall.
Next Steps in International Competition
Following the conclusion of the European Championships in Ljubljana, players turn their focus toward upcoming international tournaments, where Kaufmann and her German teammates aim to build on their momentum from Slovenia.
