Germany Names Seven-Player Squad for 2026 European Championships: Dang Qiu Leads, Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Patrick Franziska Add Experience

Dang Qiu, the 2026 European champion in Men's Singles, will lead Germany's seven-player squad at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The line-up combines the country's most decorated names at continental and world level with a new generation that has just delivered strong results at youth level and is now preparing to step onto the biggest stage. The seven players selected are Dang Qiu, Benedikt Duda, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Patrick Franziska, Andre Bertelsmeier, Wim Verdonschot and Kay Stumper. Four of them have already won medals at previous editions of the European Championships, giving Germany considerable depth in both the singles and doubles events. The 2026 European Championships take place in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Germany traditionally targets medals at this event, even as competition from other strong European table tennis nations continues to intensify. With seven players named, Germany is signalling both an ambition to defend its traditional position and a plan to build for the next competitive cycle. 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. His record extends beyond European competition. At the 2026 European Games in Krakow-Malopolska, he collected two more gold medals, in Mixed Doubles and the Men's Team event. At world level, 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. That result is seen as an important milestone in his preparation for the biggest European event of the year. Speaking about the win, Dang Qiu said: “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.” His message reflects the caution that is necessary in modern table tennis. The gap between Europe's leading players has narrowed considerably, and a multi-day tournament always carries the potential for surprises. By stressing that the cards are reshuffled every day, Dang Qiu made clear he does not want Germany to take any opponent lightly. 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,” said Duda. His admission highlights a familiar problem for top players: once a career peak is reached, maintaining focus and a clear playing identity becomes harder. Duda's willingness to analyse the causes of his decline is seen as a positive signal ahead of Ljubljana, where he will need to rediscover his best form to repeat his 2026 result. 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. “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 Moregardh 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's presence brings an intangible mental factor to the German team. Experience in big matches, the ability to handle pressure and authority in the dressing room are values that no statistic can measure. For the player himself, another medal at 38 would be proof of the rare durability of one of the greatest table tennis players in European history. 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. Assessing this year's event, Franziska said: “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.” His assessment reflects the current state of European table tennis, where the number of players capable of winning a title continues to grow. That means even the highest-ranked players cannot afford to overlook any round, especially in the early stages when fitness and feel for the ball have not yet peaked. 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. Bertelsmeier said: “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.” 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.” 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.” 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 are expected to challenge for medals. For Dang Qiu and Benedikt 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,” said Dang Qiu. Taken as a whole, the German squad shows a generational transition taking place alongside the maintenance of traditional strength. While Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Patrick Franziska represent the golden generation of German table tennis, Andre Bertelsmeier, Wim Verdonschot and Kay Stumper represent the future. This mix allows Germany to compete for medals immediately while accumulating experience for major events in the years ahead. Competition in Ljubljana is expected to be fierce. Rivals from France, Sweden and Slovenia all have players capable of producing an upset, while other European table tennis nations continue to close the gap. With seven players in the squad, Germany is regarded as one of the countries with the best depth, but that does not guarantee medals unless the leading players reach their highest level. With Dang Qiu at the peak of his career, Benedikt Duda searching for his best form, Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Patrick Franziska bringing a wealth of achievement, and three young players eager to prove themselves, Germany enters the 2026 European Championships with ambitions across every event. The results in Ljubljana will show whether this blend of experience and youth is enough to restore German table tennis to the top of Europe.