Anna Hursey and coach John Murphy have reflected on a stellar World Youth Championships campaign that saw the Welsh and Great Britain teenager win three medals.
It was one of every color for Anna as she won the women’s doubles title with Germany’s Mia Griesel, took silver in the mixed doubles alongside Iulian Chirita of hosts Romania and claimed a historic medal in the singles, bronze.
Anna said: “It was personally great to win a medal in singles and very special to reach the final with Iiulian in Romania in front of a home crowd. It was very special to become world champion with Mia.
“There were a lot of difficult moments and a lot of close matches. In singles, I tried to prepare for every match the same way and warm up the same way and think it was every different match.”
“In doubles it was important for both couples to talk to each other, try to encourage each other and have confidence in each other.
“For example, in the women’s doubles I think there were a lot of difficult times and we were 2-0 down, so I think at that moment we were just trying to fight for every point and trying to believe that we could win. We played a lot better after the 2-0, but it was a very difficult match.”
Coach John Murphy was in Anna’s corner the entire time and he described some of the preparation and thoughts that went into the tournament.
“It was one of the most important goals for Anna in 2025, along with the European Youth Championships and the European Under-21 Championship. We planned everything around that,” he said.
“We had identified them as championships where she could have a big impact and after focusing on the Paris Olympics last year, it was a good year to bring her back to her age group and focus on these events, and it was good for her as an athlete to know that these were the events we were focusing on.
“It was crucial for Anna to have a good rest at home after Star Contender London, as she had been on the road for some time.
“But we know she plays well when she does back-to-back tournaments, so we had a build-up at the (Vila Nova de Gaia) Feeder Portugal and Star Contender Muscat, where she had one of her best wins ever, against Elizabeta Samara.
“So she was fresh because she had the time at home, but also sharp from the tournaments, so that was a real positive going into the World Cup.
“She has also improved her endurance and physicality over the past twelve months, so to get on the podium in three events is down to a lot of discipline and the way she works, prepares and rests.”
Murphy said discussions with doubles partners Chirita and Griesel started last year and a lot of preparation had gone into these events, both in the practice room and at the playing events.
It was the first round of the Mixed that acted as the catalyst for the rest of the event as Chirita & Hursey got past Chinese duo Wen Ruibo & Zong Geman to come from 2-0 down to win.
Hursey & Griesel also had difficult moments, not least in the final when they were 2-0 down but turned the tables and defeated Zong Geman & Qin Yuxuan.
“The big turning point for me was in mixed doubles,” Murphy said. “We had a tough draw against probably the favorites on paper. If you can survive and win a match at that level, it takes your tournament to the next level and I think she was full of confidence from that moment on.
“In the girls’ doubles final they were a bit nervous at the start and got a bit nervous, but they relaxed after being 2-0 down and a good start in the third gave them that confidence again. Tactically nothing changed, it was more about belief and momentum which allowed them to execute the tactics.”
John was also keen to acknowledge the enormous contribution of the coaches from Germany and Romania – Lara Broich and Madalin Ionescu respectively.
And he said two other members of the GB delegation – under-15 athlete Kacper Piwowar and coach Carlo Agnello – had also played key roles, not only in the training room but also by providing support in other ways.
“We are a small team,” he said, “especially when you look at the huge delegations from some countries, so it was important to have that team element.”
The results also serve as both an asset and an incentive for the GB Performance Pathway, based at the Elite Training Center in Sheffield.
Murphy said: “First and foremost it’s a great result for Anna and Wales, but it’s also a great result for the GB programme.
“The work she’s put in, she’s one of the most dedicated athletes. It’s a good message to the other athletes going through the journey that if you do the right things, special results are possible.”
Anna added: “I would like to thank the program for all the support they have given me and all the daily work they have done with me. Without that, results like these would not be possible.”
From Romania, Anna and John go to China for a five-week training block.
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