Elizabet Abraamian becomes first qualifier to win European women's singles title, edging Kaufmann 4-3

Elizabet Abraamian has written her name into European table tennis history. The 23-year-old, seeded only 35th, beat Germany's Annett Kaufmann 4-3 in the women's singles final at the European Championships in Ljubljana on Sunday 18 October, becoming the first player to win the European women's singles title after starting the tournament in the qualification stage.

A seven-game final full of swings

The final was close from the very first game, which Abraamian won 15-13. She doubled her lead 11-5, but Kaufmann, 20, hit back to take the third 11-5 and the fourth 11-9 to level the match.

The fifth game proved pivotal. Abraamian trailed 10-8 and faced two game points, but saved both and won it 12-10. Kaufmann forced a decider by taking the sixth 11-6, before Abraamian controlled the seventh to win it 11-6.

The full score was 15-13, 11-5, 5-11, 9-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-6. It was the first senior European women's singles final for both players. Kaufmann, one of Germany's brightest young talents, had won every final she had previously reached, according to the European Table Tennis Union.

Saving a match point in the semi-final

Abraamian's route to gold was anything but smooth. In the semi-final against France's Prithika Pavade, she trailed three games to two and saved a match point before winning the decider 13-11.

Reports also noted that her preparation was disrupted by an injury, visa difficulties and lost luggage before the championships, which makes the result even more remarkable. Pavade and Germany's Nina Mittelham took the bronze medals.

The Russian outlet Izvestia described the gold as the best singles result by a Russian player at the European Championships, noting that earlier women's singles titles for the region came in the Soviet era.

Other titles decided in Ljubljana

The women's singles final rounded off a busy week at Arena Stozice. Germany's Benedikt Duda and Mittelham won the mixed doubles, beating France's Alexis Lebrun and Charlotte Lutz 3-2 in a final decided 17-15 in the fifth game.

In the women's doubles, Slovakia's Tatiana Kukulkova and Poland's Natalia Bajor beat Polish pair Zuzanna Wielgos and Anna Brzyska 3-0 on Saturday 17 October.

On the men's side, France's Felix Lebrun won both the men's doubles, with brother Alexis, and the men's singles, where he came from 3-2 down to beat Sweden's Anton Kallberg.

Why this one stands out

Qualifiers rarely go deep at a championship of this level, let alone win it. The men's event also featured a record run by a qualifier this week, with France's Leo de Nodrest reaching the semi-finals, but Abraamian went all the way. Her title shows how open the women's game in Europe has become below the very top tier.

Key takeaways

• Elizabet Abraamian beat Annett Kaufmann 4-3 in the European women's singles final on 18 October 2026.
• She is the first qualifier to win the European women's singles title.
• She saved two game points in the fifth game of the final and a match point in her semi-final against Prithika Pavade.
• Benedikt Duda and Nina Mittelham won mixed doubles gold; Tatiana Kukulkova and Natalia Bajor won the women's doubles.

FAQ

Who won the 2026 European women's singles table tennis title? Elizabet Abraamian won it, beating Germany's Annett Kaufmann 4-3 in the final in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 18 October 2026.

Why is Abraamian's win historic? She started the championships in the qualification groups as the 35th seed. No qualifier had previously won the European women's singles title.

Who won the other titles at the 2026 European Championships? Felix Lebrun won the men's singles and, with Alexis Lebrun, the men's doubles. Duda and Mittelham won the mixed doubles, and Kukulkova and Bajor won the women's doubles.

Sources: European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), Izvestia, Sportaran, Sport News Africa