The Palau d’Esports Catalunya in Tarragona hosted the Spanish National Table Tennis Championships, where Miguel Ángel VÍLCHEZ and María XIAO claimed the titles. VÍLCHEZ, from La Zubia (Granada), secured his first title, completing his journey after winning in all youth categories. María XIAO, meanwhile, clinched her fifth national title, her second consecutive victory in Tarragona, after a closely contested 4-3 final against Sofía-Xuan ZHANG. With this victory, XIAO continues to cement her legacy in Spanish table tennis, securing her fifth absolute title. The UCAM Cartagena TM player had previously won this championship in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Born in Calella (Catalonia), XIAO has once again demonstrated her consistency and dominance on the national stage, solidifying her position as Spain’s top female player. In the men’s tournament, VÍLCHEZ triumphed in the final against Juan PÉREZ (4-1), who came into the match in excellent form after reaching the round of 16 at the European Championships. The Andalusian player defeated Carlos MACHADO (4-1) in the semifinals, while PÉREZ eliminated Daniel BERZOSA (4-3). The biggest surprise came in the quarterfinals when BERZOSA upset Álvaro ROBLES (4-3), highlighting the tournament’s competitiveness. The men’s doubles final featured a family showdown, with brothers Alberto and Diego LILLO facing off for the title. In the end, Alberto LILLO and Miguel NÚÑEZ won 3-1 against Diego LILLO and Ander CEPAS. CEPAS, a member of the Equipo Promesas Paralímpicas Verallia and a medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, continues to show his talent across competitions, now adding a medal at the Spanish National Championships, reinforcing table tennis’s inclusivity. In the women’s doubles, María BERZOSA and Sofía-Xuan ZHANG claimed gold after a dramatic comeback from 1-2 and 5-7 in the final against Elvira Fiona RAD and Jana RIERA (3-2). The mixed doubles event made history, as siblings María and Daniel BERZOSA became the first brother-sister pair to win this category since 1999, defeating Iker GONZÁLEZ and Martina SANS (3-0) in the final.
