England retained both their titles at the ESF European Mixed Team U15 & U17 Championships while Ukraine won a historic U15 bronze.
Esther Chak was England’s heroine in the U15s’ final against Poland as she recovered from a painful shot to the thigh to win seven successive points and seal victory in the deciding rubber against Anna Jakubiec.
The U17 final was less dramatic, despite the 2-2 scoreline, with England going unassailably 7-3 up in games against France before the dead rubber was played out, thanks to wins for Harriet Broadbridge and Ameerah Ismail.
England’s victory was their 24th title out of the 26 stagings of the U17 championship since it changed from an U16 event in 1999. The U15s’ victory was England’s 20th title out of 24 since the age category was added in 2001.
U15s
In a repeat of last year’s U15 final in Bordeaux, England faced Poland — and once again the contest featured a dramatic conclusion.
Kylen Calder defeated Benjamin Morzyc 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 to give England the lead, but Poland’s no.1 boy, Kacper Stachowiak — winner of the 2026 German and Czech Junior Open titles — levelled matters by beating Alex Koa-Wing 11-7, 11-9, 11-6.
That set up a decider, in which British and English junior U15 champion Chak battled into a two-game lead. But at 5/8 down in the third, she was accidentally drilled in the back of her right leg by her opponent Jakubiec (who was part of Poland’s women’s squad at the recent European Team Championships in Amsterdam).
Medical staff and coaches came onto court and there was a lengthy stoppage in play as Chak received treatment. Resuming at 9-5 down due to the stroke, Chak tinned on the next point and faced game ball.
But incredibly, Chak than rattled off seven points in a row with a flurry of attacking strokes to complete a 11-8, 11-9, 12-10 victory and win the U15 title for England for a 20th time.
“It really hurt and I couldn’t move my leg at all,” said Chak. “I thought it was going to be the end. But after a couple of minutes, it was better and I told myself, ‘Push through!'”
Reflecting on her superb finish to the match, the 14-year-old said: “My movement wasn’t that great, but I trust my shots. I thought, ‘Just hit it long and if you get the chance, smash some nicks! It feels great!”
The other heroes of the U15 event were Ukraine, who won bronze for the first time ever courtesy of a 2-1 victory over France.
Victoria Syvoplyas was Ukraine’s heroine with a 11-8, 7-11. 11-3, 11-6 triumph over Rafaella Guidoni in the deciding third rubber.
Earlier, Nikita Tomenchuk had won the boys’ no.2 match 14-12, 11-8, 12-10 over Pierre-Emmanuel Haillet, then Adam Rameau had equalised for France by beating Nestor Saplashenko in three.
Ukraine’s only previous medal at the European Mixed Team u15 & U17 Championships was a bronze in the U17 event in Eindhoven in 2022.
U17s
The U17 final was less dramatic as England took the title 8-5 on games countback after what was technically a 2-2 draw (although England were already unassailably 7-3 ahead in games before both sides decided to play the dead rubber).
Theo Baudry, ranked European no.1 at U17, gave France an early lead but Matthew Leung took the first game in his 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7 defeat, which would later prove crucial.
Broadbridge then dismissed 15-year-old Cassy Lincou 15 (niece of former world champion Thierry) 11-7, 11-2, 11-2 and when Ismail breezed past 14-year-old Elia Grossi 11-2, 11-3, 11-5, England had an unassailable 7-3 lead in games.
Both teams decided to play out the dead rubber in a best-of-three, in which Leo Gaillard beat George Barker 12-10, 4-11, 11-9. It was France’s 13th U17 silver medal, all of which have been defeats to England (although they did beat Czechia to win in 2022).
Czechia were bronze medallists after a 2-1 win over Poland, thanks to wins for Johana Jedlickova and Denisa Otahalova.
Check out all the images from the 2026 ESF European Mixed Team U15 & U17 Championships
Full results from the 2026 ESF European Mixed Team U15 & U17 Championships
