Anna Hursey Makes History As First Welsh Player To Win European Singles Medal For 25 Years

By Paul Jones

Anna Hursey has spoken of her pride after returning from Poland with a bronze medal at the European Youth Championships in Poland.

The 17-year-old Wales Commonwealth Games star became the first Welsh player to win a singles medal at the championships for 25 years, since Adam Robertson in 1998.

Charlotte Carey – Hursey’s doubles partner when they won Commonwealth Games bronze in Birmingham last year – was a double winner at the tournament in 2013.

Hursey battled through to the semi-finals and looked destined to fight for silver and gold, before a comeback from Romanian Ioana Singeorzan denied her.

Cardiff-raised Hursey led 3-1 at one stage but eventually went down 4-3 and had to settle for bronze.

“I’m extremely proud to win a medal for Wales in this Europeans championships,” said Hursey.

“I am a little bit disappointed to lose out on two medals in doubles but glad to have bounced back and won a medal in singles. I want to say thank you so much to everyone who supported me.”

@annaLhursey @sportwales Well done Anna Hursey! https://t.co/55Evze5KSh

— Owen Rodgers (@owenrodgers4) July 23, 2023

Wales national coach Stephen Jenkins said: “This achievement is very special and I am so proud of Anna for her fight and determination throughout the competition.

“She is the first Welsh female to win a singles medal at these championships and that shows just how hard this competition is.

“I know this is only the beginning and a stepping stone in her career.”

After coming from behind to overcome Hursey in one of the best matches of the tournament, Singeorzan said: “After being down 0-2, I told myself I had to keep calm and maintain my composure.

“When I was losing, I thought to myself that she is not the first player who left me in reverse. It happened many times, and still, I was able to win. It also made me very angry but in a good way. It motivated me to play even stronger.”

@Davidwebbertt @walesTT @gllsf @sportwales @BBCSport @Kings_InterHigh @UNFCCC @FeetInMotionAce @LinQsport @stirlofizz @ittffoundation @ETTU_TTennis
so touched & inspired that you flew all the way back to Cardiff with the team and then straight back to Poland to watch my match! pic.twitter.com/ZK9MmDOxpJ

— Anna Hursey Table Tennis (@annaLhursey) July 24, 2023

The medal is Hursey’s first major achievement in singles tournaments after she won a bronze at the Birmingham Games in the women’s doubles, alongside Carey.

Hursey also won a bronze in the U15 girls doubles at the World Youth Championships in Portugal in 2021.

Singeorzan was beaten in the final by fellow Romanian Elena Zaharia, 4-2.

@Kings_InterHigh @LinQsport @gcpawards@CardiffCityTTC@gllsf@chscurriculum@Grangetown_PS@BirchgrovePrm@SchoolGwyrosydd@walesTT @ETTU_TTennis @TeamWales @birminghamcg22 @UNFCCC @ittffoundation@Dai_Sport_
@BBCSportWalesl@skyandrew3@TS4WALES@FeetInMotionAce https://t.co/EqXzLq5n5D

— Anna Hursey Table Tennis (@annaLhursey) July 23, 2023