From January 8th to 11th, the WTT Youth Contender took place on the Linzer Gugl. Around 250 participants from a total of 42 nations ensured an international showdown at the highest level.
LINZ. The Japanese “table tennis prodigy” Mika Matsushima caused a sensation when she won the girls’ U17 and U19 competition when she was just twelve years old. In the final she defeated the 18-year-old Froschberg player Wonglakhon Phatsaraphon. Organizer Robert Renner was impressed by the super talent’s performance. “Before she came to Linz, she had already won an international youth tournament in India. I have never seen a twelve-year-old girl play at such a high level. She could easily play with us in the Linz AG Froschberg Champions League team.” From an Austrian perspective, we were also pleased with the strong performances of the local young talents. Above all, 13-year-old Louis Fegerl (Lower Austria), who won gold in the boys’ U13 competition and bronze in the U15 competition.
Mia Wu took silver on debut
Eleven-year-old Mia Wu from TTV Bindermichl took part in the Youth World Cup in Linz for the first time. Top coach Bian Yandong’s protégé was in great form and made it to the final, where she was only stopped by the Swiss Elina Hu. With the silver medal, Upper Austria’s U13 national champion can look forward to her greatest success to date. Her club colleague Benjamin Bian took ninth place in the boys U15 category. SPG Linz young hopeful Tobias Tischberger also had to admit defeat in the quarter-finals of the U17 competition and also finished ninth. Whether the international youth tournament can be held in 2027 is currently still unclear. “I continue to hope for the support of the state of Upper Austria and the city of Linz, otherwise this event will no longer be financially viable,” emphasizes Renner.
The results of all ÖTTV starters
Girl:
U19: Nina Skerbinz (Lower Austria/5), 5th place
U17: Mariia Lytvyn (St), Platz 9
U15: Sophia Pichler (S/3), 5th place
U13: Mia Wu (Upper Austria), 5th place
U11: Mia Wu (Upper Austria), silver
Boys:
U19: Patrick Skerbinz (Lower Austria), 17th place
U19: Franci Kolodziejczyk (NÖ), Platz 17
U17: Tobias Tischberger (Upper Austria), 5th place
U15: Louis Fegerl (NÖ/3), Bronze
U15: Benjamin Bian (Upper Austria), 9th place
U15: Sung Chen (W), Platz 9
U15: Daniel Gschanes (W), 17th place
U15: Joshua Sams (S), Platz 17
U13: Louiser Ferge (NOR/1), Gold
U11: Julian Luginger (Upper Austria), silver
U11: Valentin Zittmayr (Upper Austria), bronze
Mixed:
U19: Nina Skerbinz/Patrick Skerbinz (Lower Austria), 9th place
U15: Maya Madar (Rum)/Louis Fegerl (NÖ), Platz 5
U15: Elena Siia (Rum)/Sung Chen (W), 9th place
