Lebrun Brothers Defend European Championship Title in Thrilling Five-Set Final
The French table tennis duo of Alexis and Félix Lebrun secured their second European Championship men’s doubles title, defeating Sweden’s Anton Källberg and Kristian Karlsson 3:2 in a five-set thriller at the 2024 event in Ljubljana, [tischtennis.de] reported. The victory marks the brothers’ third EM medal overall, with a bronze in 2022 in Munich and their first gold in 2024 in Linz. The French duo repeated their 2024 Linz triumph, having previously beaten the same Swedish pair, Anton Källberg and Truls Moregard, in the final.
Close Contest Sees Lebrun Brothers Overcome Early Deficit
The final saw the French pair trail 1:0 after losing the first set 11:5. They responded with back‑to‑back 11:5 and 11:8 victories, after which the Swedish duo equalised the match. In the deciding fifth set the Lebruns held their nerve, clinching the match 10:8. The Swedish duo initially led 3:0 in the fifth set, but the French brothers fought back to win 10:8, securing their second EM title.
Polish‑Slovak Combination Claims Women’s Doubles Gold
Natalia Bajor of Poland and Tatiana Kukulkova of Slovakia claimed their first joint European Championship title, defeating Poland’s Anna Brzyska and Zuzanna Wielgos 3:0 in the women’s final. The match featured intense rallies, with Bajor and Kukulkova winning the first and third sets. In the semifinals, the duo defeated the experienced Romanian pair Bernadette Szocs and Elizabeta Samara 3:0, after previously overcoming the French pair Prithika Pavade and Charlotte Lutz.
Germany Earns Bronze in Women’s Doubles
Annett Kaufmann and Nina Mittelham of Germany took bronze after a 2:3 loss to Brzyska and Wielgos in the semifinals. The Polish pair advanced to the final.
France Secures Second Doubles Medal with Bronze in Men’s Event
Florian Bourrassaud and Esteban Dorr of France claimed bronze in the men’s doubles, after losing to the Lebrun brothers in the semifinals. The French duo had earlier eliminated Sweden’s Truls Möregårdh and Elias Ranefur on their path to the semifinals.
Key Match Scores and Progression
– Men’s Final: Alexis Lebrun/Félix Lebrun (FRA) 3:2 Anton Källberg/Kristian Karlsson (SWE) (-5,5,8,-7,8)
– Women’s Final: Natalia Bajor/Tatiana Kukulkova (POL/SVK) 3:0 Anna Brzyska/Zuzanna Wielgos (POL) (14:12, 11:8, 13:11)
– Semifinals: Källberg/Karlsson defeated Andrei Putuntica/Vladislav Ursu (MDA) 3:0 (5,9,13); Lebrun brothers beat Bourrassaud/Dorr 3:0 (10,9,7)
What’s Next for the Champions?
The Lebrun brothers, who also won bronze at the 2022 EM, continue to solidify their status as one of Europe’s top doubles teams. Meanwhile, Bajor and Kukulkova’s victory follows their semifinal defeat of Romania’s Szocs and Samara. The dominance of German pair Timo Boll and Christian Süß, who won four consecutive EM golds between 2007 and 2010, is highlighted by the Lebrun brothers’ success.
FAQ
Who won the men’s doubles at the 2024 European Championships? How did the women’s final unfold? Which German pair earned bronze in women’s doubles?
Worth a look