Turkey, France win singles titles at European Table Tennis Championships

Frenchman Emmanuel Lebesson clinched the men's singles title while Hu Melek of Turkey won the the women's event at the Liebherr 2016 ITTF European Table Tennis Championships here on Sunday.

In the final, Lebesson beat his compatriot Simon Gauzy 4-1 (14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6) to give France the first men's singles medal in 18 years in European Championships. Jakub Dyjas of Poland and Timo Boll of Germany won bronze medals.

Hu Melek beat Fu Yu of Portugal 4-1 (11-3, 11-2, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7) in the final. Li Jie of the Netherlands and Elizabeta Samara of Romania won bronze medals.

In the men's doubles event, the combination of Germany's Patrick Franziska and Denmark's Jonathan Groth beat Jakub Dyjas and Daniel Gorak of Poland 4-2 (4-11, 11-4, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 12-10) in the final. Portugal's Tiago Apolonia and Joao Geraldo and Sweden's Kristian Karlsson and Mattias Karlsson clinched bronze medals.

In the women's doubles final, Germany's Kristin Silbereisen and Sabine Winter beat their fellow pair Shan Xiaona and Petrissa Solja 4-3 (12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 2-11, 7-11, 11-9). Hungary's Dora Madarasz and Szandra Pergel shared the bronze with Romania's Daniela Monteiro Dodean and Elizabeta Samara.

On Friday, Portugal's Joao Monteiro and Romania's Daniela Monteiro Dodean became the first ever married couple to clinch the gold medal in mixed doubles event. They overcame Sweden's Mattias Karlsson and Matilda Ekholm 3-2 (11-5, 12-10, 5-11, 6-11, 12-14).

A total of 254 players from 44 countries and regions attended the Championships which reeled off on Tuesday. Endit