The 2025 U21 European Table Tennis Championships (May 7–11 in Bratislava, Slovakia) proved to be a resounding success for TIBHAR’s young athletes. From gold, through silver to bronze – the talented players from the international TIBHAR family made multiple podium appearances. With thrilling performances, they showcased determination, team spirit, and world-class skill. Here’s an overview of the outstanding medal achievements realized by the TIBHAR athletes.
Gold in Men’s Doubles: Eduard Ionescu triumphs
In the men doubles’ event, Eduard “Edy” Ionescu and his partner Darius Movileanu captured the European title. The Romanian duo defeated Andre Bertelsmeier (Germany) and Tiago Abiodun (Portugal) in four sets: 3:1 (11:6, 11:5, 9:11, 11:6). After finishing second the previous year, this gold medal marked the perfect conclusion to their U21 careers.
“It was a tight and hard-fought final, just like every match here,” said a jubilant Edy Ionescu. “Last year we were runners-up, and we came to Bratislava determined to win. I’m really happy that we managed to secure the title and that I was able to end my U21 career with gold.”
Despite the loss in the final, Tiago Abiodun had good reasons to celebrate as well – the Portuguese TIBHAR talent earned silver in the men’s doubles. In the semifinals, Bertelsmeier/Abiodun had previously defeated fellow Romanians Iulian Chirita and Andrei Istrate. Istrate, another member of the TIBHAR family, took home bronze alongside Chirita, further underscoring the strength of the Romanian table tennis school.
Silver in Women’s Doubles: Bianca Mei-Rosu on the podium
TIBHAR also had excellent reasons to celebrate the women’s doubles too. Romanian player Bianca Mei-Rosu won silver alongside her partner Elena Zaharia. The duo fell against the Welsh-German pair Anna Hursey/Mia Griesel in the final (0:3). As the reigning champions from the previous year, Mei-Rosu and Zaharia once again impressed with their aggressive offensive play.
“Of course, we would’ve loved to defend our title, but silver is still a great result,” Bianca Mei-Rosu said proudly. “We fought for every ball and congratulate our opponents on their win.”
Despite the final defeat, Mei-Rosu can look back with pride – it was her third consecutive appearance in a U21 European Championship final, an impressive personal milestone.
Another TIBHAR medal in women’s doubles came from Hana Arapovic. The 19-year-old Croatian, the tournament’s top seed, earned bronze with Romania’s Ioana Singeorzan. Arapovic/Singeorzan were stopped in the semifinals by the eventual champions Hursey/Griesel, but still claimed a well-deserved third-place finish.
“Winning a medal at the European Championships is always something special,” said Arapovic. “Even though we didn’t make the final, I’m proud of our teamwork.”
This wouldn’t be Arapovic’s only podium finish at these championships – but more on that later.
Mixed Doubles Surprise: Josephina Neumann Wins Silver
The mixed doubles event turned into a major highlight with strong TIBHAR representation. In a surprise run, 15-year-old Josephina “Josi” Neumann (Germany) and her partner Wim Verdonschot (Netherlands) reached the final. In a thrilling five-set battle, the duo (not a top seed) pushed the favored Romanian pair Movileanu/Zaharia to their limits, eventually falling just short: 2:3 (11:9, 8:11, 9:11, 13:11, 5:11).
Still, their silver medal was historic – the first-ever mixed doubles medal for Germany at a U21 European Championship.
“I’m super happy we made it to the final and so excited about the silver medal,” beamed Josephina Neumann after the match.
“It’s really something special – we had never played together before, not even in practice. That’s what makes this silver medal so amazing. No one expected this. We clicked really well on the table, and I had so much fun playing the mix with Wim.”
Tiago Abiodun and Hana Arapovic also impressed in the mixed doubles, reaching the semifinals before falling to Neumann/Verdonschot. As a result, Abiodun/Arapovic both earned bronze – the second medal for each at these championships. Abiodun left Bratislava with silver in men’s doubles and bronze in mixed, while Arapovic claimed bronze in both the women’s doubles and mixed events. Their versatility underscores the high level at which both TIBHAR players performed across multiple disciplines.
Dedication, team spirit, and the international scope of the TIBHAR family
The successes in Bratislava showcase the remarkable international diversity of TIBHAR athletes. Whether from Romania, Germany, Portugal, or Croatia – all these players from various nations celebrated their achievements together. Despite competing under different flags, they united as one team: cheering each other on and offering congratulations after matches.
“These medals are the reward for hard work and true team spirit,” a TIBHAR representative proudly stated. “No matter where they come from, our athletes support and push each other. That’s what makes the TIBHAR family so special.”
At the conclusion of the 2025 U21 European Championships, TIBHAR celebrates an impressive medal haul: gold for Edy Ionescu, silver for Bianca Mei-Rosu, Josephina Neumann, and Tiago Abiodun (twice), as well as bronze for Tiago Abiodun, Hana Arapovic (twice), and Andrei Istrate. This achievement highlights not only the individual excellence of the players but also the success of TIBHAR’s youth development and the strong spirit within the TIBHAR family. With dedication and unity across national borders, TIBHAR’s young talents accomplished something truly remarkable in Bratislava – writing a powerful new chapter in table tennis history.