A weekend full of table tennis magic: The 33rd andro Kids Open
Last weekend in Düsseldorf was all about table tennis - and what a spectacle it was! The 33rd andro Kids Open, one of the largest table tennis youth tournaments in Europe, transformed the German Table Tennis Center (DTTZ) into a true sports arena full of joy, energy and ambition. 950 enthusiastic children and young people from all over Europe met from the 16th to the 18th of August to celebrate their sport together and to compete against each other. For three days, the atmosphere was unparalleled.
From the first serves to the award ceremony, the event was a complete success. The tournament venues at the DTTZ were buzzing with enthusiasm. People were playing, cheering and laughing in every corner. There were numerous highlights: At the opening ceremony, European Minister Nathanael Liminski surprised the participants when he picked up a racket himself and competed with the kids in a game of round robin. But that was just the beginning of a weekend that will go down in the memories of everyone involved. Whether victory or defeat - the focus was on the fun of the sport. And you could feel it everywhere.
The young talents battled for the titles in a total of six age groups, both in singles and doubles. The lists of winners were as colorful as the flags flying in the ARAG Center Court. Among others, players from Belgium, Switzerland and Germany fought for the medals in exciting matches.
In addition to the competitions, there were numerous side events to provide extra fun: a large bouncy castle, crate climbing and table tennis at tables of all sizes - boredom? Not a chance! At the andro sales stand, participants were able to shop and find out about the latest trends and products. Creative tasks such as the Europe quiz and painting wooden bats also provided fun and variety. The children transformed the bats into real works of art. The team behind the Spinsight app also gave the children the opportunity to try out their technology and see first-hand how their tool can improve their own training in a targeted way.
For many participants, hitting a few balls with the YouTube stars from Tabletennis Daily was also a special highlight. At the evening event, Tabletennis Daily had to prove themselves in a team match against the andro Pro Youth Team, consisting of Andre Bertelsmeier, Wim Verdonshot and Noah Hersel. The team was supported by table tennis legends Sabine Winter and Danny Heister. Tabletennis Daily accompanied the event on video and will publish a video soon. The training sessions with the table tennis greats were also met with enthusiasm by young and old alike.
The andro Kids Open weekend was pure table tennis - full of passion, enthusiasm and unforgettable moments. A weekend that leaves everyone involved already looking forward to next year.