Sofia Polcanova triumphed at the European Table Tennis Championships, securing gold in singles and silver in both women’s and mixed doubles. In the singles final in Linz, she showcased her skill and composure, overcoming her friend Bernadette Szócs with a 4:1 victory to retain her title. Despite earlier losses in doubles, Polcanova’s perseverance shone through, earning her accolades in front of a home crowd and contributing to Austria’s impressive medal haul in the tournament.
Sofia Polcanova has solidified her status as the reigning champion in European table tennis. The 30-year-old athlete claimed gold in singles and silver in both women’s and mixed doubles at the European Championships held at the Tips Arena in Linz.
LINZ: What an extraordinary final! Sofia Polcanova showcased her exceptional skills during the championship match, demonstrating remarkable composure under pressure. Competing against her close friend and doubles partner, Bernadette Szócs of Romania, Polcanova achieved a decisive 4:1 victory, successfully defending her title from the 2022 Championships in Munich.
Earlier, in a gripping doubles final, Polcanova and Szócs faced a challenging match against the Czech-Slovak duo of Hana Matelova and Barbora Balazova, ultimately settling for silver after a hard-fought battle that went to five sets. Additionally, Polcanova secured silver in the mixed doubles alongside her partner, Robert Gardos, just days prior.
Challenging Circumstances
For both competitors, the lead-up to the singles final was fraught with tension. “I cried so much in the dressing room after losing the doubles. Bernadette and I consoled each other before getting ready for our singles match,” Polcanova shared, reflecting on their emotional state. The Linz player started strong, winning the first set 11:8, but Szócs fought back, taking the second set 13:11 and building a 7:1 lead in the third, putting Polcanova’s chances at risk.
Displaying remarkable determination, Polcanova clawed back, winning the third set 12:10, which she later identified as the turning point of the match. “Somehow I managed to turn it around. After that, I was confident I could win,” she stated. In the fourth and fifth sets, the now two-time European singles champion exhibited dominant play, ultimately finishing with set scores of 11:6 and 11:9.
‘Not Sure How I Did It’
After her victory, Polcanova expressed her gratitude in an interview: “I truly have no words. I owe so much to my family, my husband, my mother, and my dad, who made everything possible for me to stand here today. I am also grateful to the entire team at the Olympic Center for their unwavering support. It was a tough match, and I feel for Bernadette. I would have loved for her to win as well; it was tough after our doubles loss. In the dressing room, I was in tears and unsure how I would manage to play the singles final. I can’t believe I pulled it off.”
The Austrian Table Tennis Association celebrated a successful European Championships, attracting 24,500 spectators to the Tips Arena in Linz. Alongside Polcanova, emerging stars like French talent Félix Lebrun and Swedish Olympic bronze medalist Truls Möregardh wowed the crowd. Overall, Austria’s performance was commendable, with the athletes bringing home four European Championship medals. In addition to Polcanova and Gardos, Maciej Kolodziejczyk paired with Vladimir Ursu from Moldova to achieve bronze in men’s doubles.
‘Four Medals Are Outstanding’
ÖTTV Sports Director Stefan Fegerl positively reflected on the event: “Everything went remarkably well; four medals are exceptional! Hats off to the whole team. Sofia played an outstanding tournament, rightfully rewarding herself for all her hard work—especially in front of a home crowd! The quality of play was incredibly high, and the atmosphere in the hall was fantastic. It’s also great to see our guys shine on such a prominent stage and gain valuable experience.”
Final Match Summaries
Women’s Final:
Bernadette Szócs (ROU/No. 1) vs Sofia Polcanova (2) 4:1 (8, -11, 10, 6, 9)
Men’s Final:
Alexis Lebrun (FRA/7) vs Benedikt Duda (GER/10) 4:0 (5, 8, 6, 2)
Women’s Doubles Final:
Sofia Polcanova/Bernadette Szócs (Ö/ROU/7) vs Barbora Balazova/Hana Matelova (SLK/CZE/2) 2:3 (-7, 7, -9, 7, -6)
Men’s Doubles Final:<