European Championships | 11 Oct 2024

SZOCS: I hope it would be third time lucky for me

Bernadette Cynthia SZOCS, a Romanian table tennis star, continues to carve her name into the sport's history with an impressive career spanning over a decade. Born in 1995 in Târgu Mureș, Romania, SzOcs has risen to become one of the most formidable players on both the European and global stage.

At the LIEBHERR European Championships in Linz from October 15th to 20th, SZOCS is once again one of the favorites. She narrowly missed a medal in Munich two years ago, losing to Sofia POLCANOVA, the eventual winner, in the quarterfinals. However, the two later teamed up to win the doubles championship together. In mixed doubles, Bernadette reached the second position alongside Ovidiu IONESCU.

In Paris, SZOCS advanced to the round of 16 at the Olympic Games. Reflecting on her busy schedule, she explained:

"I didn’t have any break after the Olympics in Paris. Just a few days, and then I left for UTT." SzOcs is a member of the Ahmedabad SG Pipers in India’s Ultimate TT League.

"I think it was the best choice I could make for my mental health after the Olympics."

Now, SZOCS is focused on the upcoming LIEBHERR European Championships in Linz. When asked about her preparations, she shared:

"Yes, we had a training camp in Romania. The boys and girls worked together."

Regarding her goals for Linz, SZOCS said, "I will take it step by step, match by match. I don’t want to think too far ahead because it’s a long journey. Of course, I would like to defend my doubles title and at least maintain my second-place finish in mixed doubles. But playing in all three events won’t be easy, so I need to stay focused. I don’t want to put any more pressure on myself, as it won’t help."

SZOCS has faced POLCANOVA in key moments, such as the final of the European Championships in Munich and the Round of 16 at the Olympics.

"Yes, I played against my doubles partner Sofia in two important tournaments. It’s not easy to play against her, but every match is different, and I hope the third time will be lucky for me."

When asked about other medal contenders in Linz, SZOCS noted, "All the players will be tough, and it won’t be easy at all. But my goal is to enjoy the game, play with pleasure, and take each match step by step."

A highlight of SZOCS' career came in 2017 when she won gold in the team event at the European Championships, showing her resilience and ability to perform under pressure. In 2018, she captured the prestigious Europe Top-16 title, defeating LI Jie of the Netherlands 4-1. The pinnacle of her career so far came in 2023 when SZOCS won the gold medal in singles at the European Games in Kraków, Poland. She also played a vital role in helping Romania secure gold in the team event. SZOCS’ reached a career-high ranking of 8th in the world in April 2024.