In 2007, I found myself in Bratislava as a parent and supporter. My son, Martin, was competing at the European Youth Table Tennis Championships, his first continental event as part of the Hungarian national team. Although I had never attended a European or World Championship before, I had accompanied him to nearly every international tournament as his coach up to that point.
But this event felt entirely different. The atmosphere was electric. I had never witnessed this level of focus and intensity, not just from Martin, but from every player and every team. It quickly became clear that this was the kind of tournament that raises the bar for everyone. There were no easy matches, no lucky draws. Every point had to be earned with complete commitment. The stakes were higher, the pressure greater, and everyone brought their absolute best.
We arrived on the second day of the event and stayed until the very end. Martin and his teammate Gergely Perei made it all the way to the boys' doubles final, where they met the French pair Le Breton Thomas and Lorentz Romain, who proved stronger that day.
In the team competition, Hungary secured a bronze medal. On the team’s award ceremony photo, you can also spot a young Patrick Franziska and Simon Gauzy, names that still shine at the top level today.
Many years have passed since then, and countless blades have left my hand. But this spring, thanks to an invitation from Mr. Ivan Karkuš and Mr. Andrej Ftomin of stolnytenis.sk, I had the opportunity to return to Bratislava, not as a parent this time, but as a blade maker, showcasing the new Palatinus handmade series at the U21 European Championships.
This invitation defined the timeline for our launch. Everything had to be ready by then and it was. The displays were set up, the blades arrived on schedule, and photos started pouring in from friends and partners who had spotted them at the venue.
I couldn't stay away. I had to visit in person, to complete the circle. While there, I met players who had purchased blades from me back at the 2007 EU Championship and are still using them today. I also had the privilege of speaking with two legendary figures of the sport, Krisztina Tóth and Szilvia Erdélyi.
This weekend was more than a return, it was a profound moment of connection between past and present. From the podium to the workshop, the story continues.