Rising Stars Converge at National Phase of “Eurotalents Spain” Mini Spin Program
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The Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation’s youth development initiative, the Mini Spin Program, recently concluded its national phase, identifying a promising cohort of young athletes poised to shape the future of the sport. The program, a collaboration between the Federation, the Higher Sports Council, and the Universo Mujer Program, aims to cultivate talent among boys and girls born in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Building a Pipeline of Talent
The Mini Spin Program’s latest edition followed a structured approach, beginning with a Zonal Phase encompassing eight regional training camps. This initial stage served as a crucial filtering process, leading to the selection of athletes for the highly competitive National Phase, known as “Eurotalents Spain.” According to a program official, the Zonal Phase was instrumental in “identifying potential across the country and providing a foundational level of training.”
Madrid Hosts National Concentration
From December 11 to 14, 2025, the High Performance Center (CAR) in Madrid played host to the National Phase concentration. The four-day event brought together the nation’s most promising young table tennis players for intensive training and evaluation. Leading the program was Yukinori Matsumoto, supported by technicians Sofía Barba and Judith Cobas.
Athletes Selected for National Phase
A diverse group of athletes earned selection for the national phase, representing clubs from across Spain. The women’s contingent included Alicia Fernández (CDE Antonio Mendoza), Fátima Burgos (CTM Alcalá), Iman El Mouhmouh (CTT Cambrils), Karen Yang (CN Sabadell), Lucía Lázaro (Novacartama TM), María Uría (Gijón TM), Nerea Hidalgo (TM Torrelavega), and Thais Puigmolé (TT Cassà).
The men’s roster featured Alejandro Martínez (Burgos TM), Antonio Ruíz (RCTM Linares), Daniel Casquero (CTT Esparraguera), Jiaming Guo (Finisterre TM), Manuel López (Burgos TM), Nicolás Fernández (TM Torrelavega), Nil Salán (CTT Calella), Pablo Martínez (CD Oberena), Pol Parera (CTT Calella), and Thiago Huguet (CN Sabadell).
Continued Development and Future Prospects
The completion of the concentration at the CAR in Madrid marks a significant milestone in the “Eurotalents Spain” Mini Spin Program. The program’s framework, established by the Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation (RFETM), provides a structured environment for monitoring and technical training. This latest stage builds upon the groundwork laid during the Zonal Phase, fostering a new generation of Spanish table tennis players. A senior official noted that the program’s success hinges on “creating a supportive ecosystem where young athletes can thrive and reach their full potential.”
. The RFETM will undoubtedly be watching these young athletes closely as they continue their development, potentially representing Spain on the international stage in the years to come.
