After defeating Egypt’s Hana Goda in the semi-final and China’s Zong Geman in the final, compass alumni Annett Kaufmann became the first German in over 20 years to win a singles gold medal at a World Youth Championships. And the first German female player at all.

“I can’t believe it,” said the newly crowned junior world champion. “It feels surreal.”

In the final, Annett started well. She played hard on the first balls, a bit risky, which worked and showed Zong Geman that this was not going to be a walk in the park. The German won the first game 11:4.

“The beginning gave Annett a psychological advantage which she kept throughout the match,” said Krisztian Nagy, Annett’s personal coach. “She almost immediately found the right distance to the table and a good rhythm, which was also important for the result.”

There were moments of frustration for Annett in the second and fourth game, which the Chinese won, but in the fifth and sixth game she was calm and steady, her body language saying that she was in control. She stood her ground well in the longer rallies that Zong Geman probably wanted to play. Annett surprised with many placements down the line and played with determination on her backhand.

The German used her whole register of different serves with perfect timing when to go for which one. In the sixth game, the Chinese player twice led by three points and even had a set point before Annett closed the match when Zong put the ball in the net after an intense rally: 11:4, 9:11, 11:6, 8:11, 11:6, 12:10.

“I am very grateful for all the people who have supported me here on site, but also at home and throughout the years,” Annett told Tischtennis.de. “Many thanks to Lara (Broich, the German national youth coach) who coached me through the whole tournament. Thanks to the whole team in the background, to my family, to my sponsors. I wouldn’t be here without their trust.”

In total, compass supported and former compass supported players like Annett won six medals at the World Youth Championships. In addition to her triumph, the pure compass U15 boys’ doubles team of Emanuel Otalvaro, Colombia/Danilo Faso, Italy, and Flavien Coton, paired with compatriot Nathan Lam in the U19 boys’ doubles, won bronze. As did Annett Kaufmann/Anna Hursey (Wales) in the U-19 girls’ doubles. Josi Neumann won bronze with the German U15 girls team. And Danilo Faso with the Italian U15 boys team.

Danilo and Emanuel defeated Sandra Cavaille/Noah Vittel in the quarter-finals and Hong Kong’s Lau Eden/Lo Ka Kit 3:1 in the last 16. In the semi-finals, the U15 dominators Le Hechen and Tang Yiren were a number too strong and won in straight games.

Coton/Lam were level at 9:9 in the fifth and deciding game of the semi-final against the eventual champions Huang Youzheng/Wen Ruibo from China, but lost 9:11. Kaufmann/Hursey also had to play the eventual champions Qin/Zong and lost 1:3.

Josephina Neumann won a medal in the U15 girls team event. Germany beat Uzbekistan in the round of the last 8 and lost to China in straight games in the semi-finals.

In the singles, “Josi” made it to the last eight, beating Poland’s Katarzyna Rajkowska 4:2 in the round of 16, before losing in straight games to the finalist Yao Ruixuan, perhaps the strongest player of the tournament.

Sweden’s Siri Benjegård, paired with compatriot Adam Grawsiö-Wallin, had 9:9 in the fifth and deciding game against Korea Republic’s Lee Seungsoo/Choi Seoyeon, but lost 9:11. In the singles, Turkey’s Görkem Öclan, Colombia’s Emanuel Otalvaro and Puerto Rico’s Steven Moreno all reached the last 16.

In addition to Annett, Danilo Faso, who was born in 2010 and still has one year left in his U15 career, also won two medals:

“I am very happy about the two medals,” said Danilo after the competition. “I was confident that we could do something in the teams since we won the European Youth Championships. I was happy to win my two matches against Poland in the semi-finals, but my teammates were also very close to getting another point, which would have put us in the final against China.”

Perhaps this situation with the team affected their desire to play the Chinese in the doubles instead. Which they did. But the Colombian-Italian team was stopped there.

“I am happy to have won two medals at a World Youth Championships with one year left in the U15 event. Now I am looking forward to 2025”.

14 World Youth Championship titles were up for grabs in Helsingborg. China won 11 gold medals, while Germany, Korea Republic and Chinese Taipei each won one.

Two boys – Li Hechen (U15) and Huang Youzheng (U19) – won all four possible titles and one girl – Yao Ruixuan (U15) – won three. Here is the list of all 14 World Champions:

ITTF World Youth Championships 2024