Anna Hursey keeps breaking records. The 19-year-old from Cardiff became the first Welsh player ever to medal at the World Youth Championships — and she came home with all three colours.
History for Wales: Three Medals in Romania
Table tennis star Anna Hursey has made history as the first Welsh player to win a medal at the World Youth Championships. The 19-year-old from Cardiff left the event in Romania with three medals around her neck — gold, silver and bronze — capping a remarkable season that has already seen her break into the world’s top 50.
Gold in the Girls’ Doubles
Hursey’s standout achievement came in the under-19 girls’ doubles, where she partnered Germany’s Mia Griesel to gold. The pair had to dig deep, saving three match points to win the final — a display of composure that underlined their growing partnership.
The duo had already tasted success together this year, winning under-21 European gold earlier in the season. Their World Youth title adds a global trophy to an already impressive collection.
Silver and Bronze in the Individual Events
In the mixed doubles, Hursey took silver alongside home favourite Iulian Chirita of Romania, delighting the local crowd while collecting her second medal of the week.
She also earned a bronze in the singles after being beaten in the semi-finals by China’s Qin Yuxuan — a result that still made her only the second British athlete to reach the podium in an individual event at these championships, after England’s Paul Drinkhall in 2008.
A Career of Firsts
Hursey’s medal haul is the latest milestone in a career defined by breaking barriers:
- Age 10 — first represented Wales
- Age 11 — selected for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, becoming the youngest competitor in the history of the event
- 2022 — doubles bronze medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games
- 2024 — became the first Welsh table tennis player to compete at an Olympic Games (Paris 2024)
- 2026 — became the first Welsh player to break into the world’s top 50; she is currently ranked 46th
What the Champion Says
Hursey took to social media to reflect on her memorable week: she said she was grateful to finish her last tournament of the year — and her last youth championships — with a bronze, silver and gold, and that she would be “back soon to prepare for an even better year in 2026”.
Why This Matters for Welsh and British Table Tennis
Hursey’s achievements represent a significant moment for table tennis in Britain. Individual medals at the World Youth Championships have been rare for British players — Paul Drinkhall’s 2008 podium was the only previous one — and Hursey’s three-medal haul, achieved at just 19, suggests she could be a genuine contender at senior world level for years to come.
Her rise from youngest-ever Commonwealth Games competitor to world top-50 player has been steady and sustained. With the 2026 World Team Championships continuing this season and the next Olympic cycle approaching, all eyes will be on the Cardiff teenager to see just how far she can go.
Key Takeaways
- Anna Hursey is the first Welsh player to medal at the World Youth Championships
- She won gold (U19 girls’ doubles with Mia Griesel), silver (mixed doubles with Iulian Chirita) and bronze (singles) in Romania
- The doubles pair saved three match points to win the final, adding to their under-21 European gold
- She is currently ranked 46th in the world — the first Welsh player ever inside the top 50
- At 11, she was the youngest competitor in Commonwealth Games history; at 19, she is a three-medal world youth star
