The first medals of the ITTF World Youth Championships 2024 have been awarded in Helsingborg following three days of exhilarating team action, highlighted by a historic breakthrough in the Under-19 girls’ event. For the first time in ITTF World Youth Championships history, neither China nor Japan would claim the team title, as Korea Republic wrote their names into the record books with a remarkable campaign.
The Korean squad created this piece of history by first overcoming top-seeded China with a breathtaking 3-2 victory in the semifinals. They then maintained their momentum against Chinese Taipei in the final, securing a memorable 3-1 victory, with China and France claiming bronze. This triumph held special significance for Korea Republic, particularly after their unexpected early exits in the Under-19 boys’ and Under-15 events.
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China, however, demonstrated their continued excellence in other categories, securing both the Under-15 titles. In the Under-15 boys’ final, they displayed clinical precision with a 3-0 victory over Poland, with Li Hechen, Tang Yiren, and Wu Yifei proving too strong for their European counterparts, while Chinese Taipei and Italy secured bronze.
The Polish contingent, however, emerged as one of the championships’ most compelling stories. Their Under-15 boys showed remarkable resilience throughout the tournament, particularly in their extraordinary quarter-final comeback against Korea Republic, where they fought back from 2-0 down. They followed this with another five-match thriller against Italy in the semifinals, eventually prevailing 3-2 to secure their place in the final.
The Under-19 category provided even more drama. Whilst China secured the boys’ title with a 3-0 victory over Poland, the Polish team’s journey to the final was nothing short of remarkable. They overcame tournament favourites Korea Republic before producing a stellar performance in a five-match thriller against Japan in the semifinals, showcasing the depth of talent in Polish table tennis, with Romania and Japan earning bronze medals.
In the Under-15 girls’ category, China reclaimed their title after last year’s setback, though they faced strong resistance from Chinese Taipei before securing a 3-0 victory that was closer than the scoreline suggested, with Germany and Hong Kong, China completing the podium.
As the teams events conclude, attention now turns to the individual competitions. Mixed doubles action is already underway, with Day 4 promising more excitement as the Under-15 boys’ and girls’ doubles competitions begin, alongside the mixed doubles quarter-finals.
Table tennis enthusiasts worldwide can catch every moment live on the World Table Tennis YouTube channel, whilst real-time match results and scheduling information are available here. Relive the intensity through a collection of captivating event photos available on ITTF Flickr.
