(by Steve Hopkins, photos Manca Meglic)

USA’s Jenson Van Emburgh traveled to Slovenia to play in a pair of Para events, and after his performance there, he returns to the United States as as World No. 1.  Van Emburgh secured back-to-back gold medal performances at the ITTF World Para Challenger Lasko and the ITTF World para Elite Lasko events.  

The first of the two events was the World Para Challenger Series event in Lasko, and Van Emburgh entered the event as the top seed. He maneuvered through the draw, showcasing his signature blend of precision, consistency, and power as he dominated the competition from start to finish. Van Emburgh never dropping a match.  He controlled the pace in each round, and his Gold Medal match was a “statement” win – adding an exclamation point to the event with one more dominant performance.  

Just days later, Van Emburgh returned to the court for the World para Elite Series Event.  This event was more competitive,  featuring the best players in the world.  This time as the second seed, Van Emburgh pressed through a tough draw on his way to the Final.  Waiting in the Final was Thomas Schmidberger of Germany, the reigning World No. 1 – a player that Van Emburgh had never beaten.

Van Emburgh started strong, winning the first two games with aggressive play.  But the veteran German showed his experience and tactical mastery by adjusting his strategy, winning the next to games to even the match 2-2.   

In the final game, Schmidberger surged ahead opening up a daunting 8-2 lead, but momentum shifted.  Digging deep and turning up the aggression, Van Emburgh attacked early and often.  What followed was a stunning display of resilience and mental toughness as he managed to score nine straight points on his way to the most remarkable comebacks of his career.  From 2-8 to 11-8 to capture gold.  

Jenson Van Emburgh has left Slovenia as World No. 1.  Jenson is here, and he’s not backing down.

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Q&A

*Jenson, congratulations on an incredible run in Lasko — winning gold at both the ITTF World Para Challenger and Elite events. Did you do anything different to prepare for back-to-back tournaments?  What was your mindset going into each one?  

I went into the Challenger with the mindset of trying to find my game and getting the feel of the hall and the tables for the Elite. After the Challenger, I practiced a little bit trying to keep the feeling of the ball and rested so my body would be healthy for the Elite. The mindset that I went into for the Elite is that I knew the competition was going to be tougher but just to fight for every point and try to get into a rhythm. 

*In the final against Thomas Schmidberger, you took a two-set lead, then found yourself down 8–2 in the fifth.  Can you walk us through what was going through your mind at that moment, and what changed to spark that incredible nine-point comeback?

At that moment, I just said to myself that I wasn’t going to lose the match myself  and that he would have to earn it. I started to be a little bit more aggressive and put the pressure on him and point by point I slowly felt better and better and the possibility of actually winning! It felt really good to win it this way because I have never beaten him before. 

*With these two victories, you’re now World No. 1  for the first time in your career.  How does it feel to reach the top of the rankings, and what does this milestone represent for you and your journey in para table tennis?

With all the ups and more downs as of recently since Paris 2024, I am very happy to reach number one in the world and is definitely giving me more motivation to keep going and train hard.

*What does the rest of the year look like for you in terms of competition? Are there any key tournaments or goals you’re especially focused on for the remainder of 2025?

I still have quite a busy year, as I will be heading to Spokane, Washington for two more ITTF International Para Tournaments and then in October I go to Sao Paulo again for two big International Competitions. 

*For young para athletes watching your journey, especially in the U.S., you’re now a role model.  What message would you share with others who dream of reaching the top like you have?

My message to others who dream to reach the top in a sport is that hard work really does pay off and just to keep going and enjoy. There will be some difficult moments and losses but those losses will make the victories even sweeter. 

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Jenson Van Emburgh’s commanding victories in Slovenia mark a major milestone in his career.  This American athlete has now reached the World No. 1 ranking for the first time.  He has also cemented his place among the Para Table Tennis Elite. 

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