The race to host the Global Home of Table Tennis is heating up after 28 cities declared their interest in the chance to be known as the “Table Tennis Capital of the World” for many years to come. Spanning 18 countries across four different continents an exciting list of cities provides sky-high competition for the venue of the ITTF’s next Headquarters which will enable the centralisation of the overall workforce and drive the continued growth of the sport. Starting Wednesday 15th January the candidate cities have received their request for proposal documentation in order to submit their initial bids between now and Wednesday 15th April 2020. Within this timeframe more cities can express an interest to the ITTF and submit their bids too. The strongest bids will be shortlisted in June with final proposals to be submitted by Tuesday 15th September 2020. The preferred Home of Table Tennis will subsequently be selected on Wednesday 30th September 2020. The ITTF is looking for a thriving new hotspot for table tennis players business professionals coaches and officials from across the globe to unite in a single location and collectively take table tennis to the next level among the world’s leading sports. Indeed the Home of Table Tennis represents far more than office space within a new Global Headquarters but also training facilities a research lab educational hub centre for innovation local community centres and much more. “We have grown tremendously as an organisation since June 2017 and we now have over 70 full-time staff members. Our strategy is to centralise the workforce in one location to allow for more efficient operations. What’s great is that we have received significant interest from some very big cities which interest us “ said Thomas Weikert ITTF President. “We have adopted a professional approach to our search for a Global Home of Table Tennis with the consultation of Deloitte Withers LLP and HASSELL. Due to the high level of interest we are sure that we will end up somewhere great but we needed to make sure we invested in this with a professional approach to ensure we get the best outcome. This won’t just be any old-style headquarters. We want our future property to have plenty of table tennis activity in contrast to our current home “ added Steve Dainton ITTF CEO. Click here to express an interest to become the Global Home of Table Tennis.
TTCLM: Guests win first leg
2019/20 Table Tennis Champions League Men Borussia Dusseldorf made big steps toward 2019/20 TTCLM semi-finals by winning first away leg of quarter-finals against Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61. TTCLM record-holder 11-time winner beat Danish team in straight matches. Each of three encounters in the Danish city of Roskilde has been decided after four games. First Ricardo WALTHER prevailed against former Saarbrucken’s player Bojan TOKIC then 2009 individual European champion Michael MAZE was beaten by seven-time European champion Timo BOLL. Sweden’s Anton KALLBERG concluded first leg by his win over ZHAI Yujia. Second match held tonight January 15th saw full five encounters: Post SV Muhlhausen – FC Saarbrucken 2:3. SHANG Kun defeated Ovidiu IONESCU in straight game of the opening match in Muhlhausen. One of the most thrilling moments has happened in late fifth set between Lubomir JANCARIK and Patrick FRANZISKA when guest managed to win in spite of facing match ball. Slovenian rising star had a good chance to secure victory for his side but Steffen MENGEL reversed the score. Ovidiu IONESCU showed fantastic table tennis in first two games against Patrick FRANZISKA but needed five sets to tie the score at 2:2. German survived 2:0 8:6 in a favour of Romanian player but had no energy in the fifth game. China’s SHANG Kun decided all-German clash as he defeated Lubomir JANCARIK in straight games. 2019/20 TTCLM quarter-finals leg 1 Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 – Borussia Dusseldorf 0:3 Bojan TOKIĆ – Ricardo WALTHER 1:3 (4:11 12:10 4:11 7:11) Michael MAZE – Timo BOLL 1:3 (11:7 9:11 14:16 9:11) ZHAI Yujia – Anton KALLBERG 1:3 (6:11 7:11 12:10 7:11) Post SV Muhlhausen – FC Saarbrucken 2:3 Ovidiu IONESCU – SHANG Kun 0:3 (7:11 9:11 2:11) Lubomir JANCARIK – Patrick FRANZISKA 2:3 (11:8 10:12 4:11 11:9 10:12) Steffen MENGEL – Darko JORGIC 3:2 (11:8 6:11 12:14 11:9 11:8) Ovidiu IONESCU – Patrick FRANZISKA 3:2 (11:3 11:4 5:11 9:11 11:6) Lubomir JANCARIK – SHANG Kun 0:3 (8:11 4:11 6:11)
Top Spin Messina lifted the second Italian Cup in a row
Top Spin Messina Carrubamia won the second consecutive Men’s Italian Cup. At PalaTennistavolo “Aldo De Santis” in Terni the final clash opposed the winners of the last two editions of the event. The team trained by the Chinese coach WANG Hong Liang defeated Apuania Carrara 3-2. João MONTEIRO from Portugal was the key player in the team. He won in the opening double with Marco RECH DALDOSSO against Gabriele PICIULIN and Aleksandr KHANIN of Belarus and in the second single match by accounting for KHANIN. Jordy PICCOLIN ended the challenge not leaving any game to PICIULIN. Bojan TOKIC from Slovenia concluded undefeated but it was not enough for Apuania. Antonino AMATO was also part of Top Spin and Matteo PETRICCIOLI of Carrara. The awards were presented by the alderman to sport of the municipality of Terni Elena PROIETTI and the president of Italian Table Tennis Federation Renato Di NAPOLI. In the semifinals Top Spin beat Aon Milano Sport 3-2 e and Apuana Carrara got the better of Il Circolo Prato 2010 3-0 The club of president Giorgio QUARTUCCIO won his fourth trophy in a row after last year’s national cup and Italian championship and the Super Cup earlier this season. FINAL: Top Spin Messina – Apuania Carrara 3-2 João MONTEIRO/Marco RECH DALDOSSO – Aleksandr KHANIN/Gabriele PICIULIN 3-2 (9-11 11-7 11-8 4-11 11-3) Jordy PICCOLIN – Bojan TOKIC 1-3 (12-14 11-8 7-11 10-12) João MONTEIRO – Aleksandr KHANIN 3-2 (13-11 11-8 5-11 6-11 11-5) Marco RECH DALDOSSO – Bojan TOKIC 1-3 (5-11 14-12 6-11 4-11) Jordy PICCOLIN – Gabriele PICIULIN 3-0 (11-5 11-4 11-5) SEMIFINALS: Top Spin Messina – Aon Milano Sport 3-2 Jordy PICCOLIN/Marco RECH DALDOSSO – Leonardo MUTTI/Matteo MUTTI 0-3 (10-12 6-11 7-11) João MONTEIRO – GUO Ze 3-0 (11-6 11-4 11-8) Marco RECH DALDOSSO – Matteo MUTTI 0-3 (7-11 10-12 3-11) João MONTEIRO – Leonardo MUTTI 3-2 (11-4 10-12 11-8 13-15 14-12) Jordy PICCOLIN – GUO Ze 3-2 (10-12 7-11 11-0 11-0 11-0) w/o Apuania Carrara – Il Circolo Prato 2010 3-0 Aleksandr KHANIN /Gabriele PICIULIN – KANG Zhihao/John Michael OYEBODE 3-0 (12-10 11-2 12-10) Bojan TOKIC – Arseniy GUSEV 3-0 (11-8 11-3 11-6) Aleksandr KHANIN – KANG Zhihao 3-1 (11-9 8-11 11-6 11-8)
TTCLM: Three German clubs enter quarter-finals
2019/20 Table Tennis Champions League Men quarter-finals leg 1 (January 15-17) First games of 2019/20 TTCLM will be held from Wednesday to Friday January 15-17 with three German teams involved two from Russia and one from Denmark Poland and France: Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 – Borussia Düsseldorf (Jan 15 18:30 CET) Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. – FC Saarbrücken TT (Jan 15 19:30) GV Hennebont TT – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg (Jan 16 20:00) KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – TTSC UMMC (Jan 17 18:30). All-German clash will decide one semi-finalist as 2018/2019 quarter-finalist Post SV Muhlhausen (no. 5 seed) faces 2011/12 TTCLM semi-finalist FC Saarbrucken TT (no. 3). Muhlahsen’s player Lubomir JANCARIK promises big fight: „Saarbrücken has a strong team but first match we are playing home with our fans so they should be ready for a big fight. “ His teammate Ovidiu IONESCU agrees that his side has special motivation in front of its fans: „After the shape we showed in the last month I believe we can produce the surprise and defeat Saarbrücken. At home together with our supporters we are a very strong team.“ The 2017/18 TTCLM quarter-finalist Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 (Denmark no. 4) challenges TTCLM record holder 11-times winner Borussia Dusseldorf (Germany no. 2). Roskilde’s sport director Allan BENTSEN explaines: „We look forward to welcome Düsseldorf in Roskilde. They are of course big favorites especially when we did not make 3 matches with PITCHFORD but we will do our best and are happy to start in Roskilde. After a hard start for TOKIC have he played good in last matches and if all 3 players can perform in same match we hope to make a result.” Borussia’s coach Danny HEISTER emphasizes that his team is going to play in its best line-up: “We are happy that the knock out stage will start now. Roskilde versus Düsseldorf is an interesting duel and we hope that we will win it. The Danish team has got strong players but one of them is missing in this part of the season Liam PITCHFORD. This is unhappy for Roskilde. But we know about the strength of ZHAI Yujia Michael MAZE and Bojan TOKIC so we will be focused and well prepared for the match in Roskilde. We will play with our best line-up.” Anton KÄLLBERG is looking forward playing in Denmark reaching good shape in last few matches: “We had a big disappointment at the beginning of this year when we lost in the semis of German Cup. But we had a perfect reaction and won both League matches of TTBL last Friday and Sunday against the Cup Champion Grünwettersbach and Bremen. So I think our team is in a good shape. I played very well and I feel very confident at the moment. So we are looking forward to the games against Roskilde.” Defending champion and five-time winner Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg (Russia no. 1 seed) is going to play against former quarter-finalist GV Hennebont TT (France no. 8). Fakel-Gazprom vice-president Victor ANDREEV stated that his team is determined to win first away leg: “There are no weak matches in the play-offs of the European Champions League. TTC Fakel-Gazprom – the current European champion aims only to win. Our team is waiting for interesting and exciting matches. Of course all our players carefully prepare for the upcoming QF1 and ready to please their spectators. We hope for a good fight.” Former quarter-finalist Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (Poland no. 7) hosts actual TTCLM runner-up UMMC (Russia no. 6) in the latest quarter-final clash scheduled for January 17th. 2019/20 TTCLM quarter-finals leg 1 Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 – Borussia Düsseldorf (Jan 15 18:30 CET) Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. – FC Saarbrücken TT (Jan 15 19:30 CET) GV Hennebont TT – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg (Jan 16 20:00 CET) KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – TTSC UMMC (Jan 17 18:30 CET)
Key decisions made at ITTF Executive Committee meeting
The International Table Tennis Federation Executive Committee held its first meeting of 2020 in Delhi India on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th January 2020. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Senior Vice President Mr Anil Khanna together with the Advisor of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) Mr Dhanraj Choudhary welcomed the ITTF Executive Committee members to Delhi in order to discuss the progress of table tennis in India and worldwide. “The ITTF Executive Committee is pleased to be present in India for the first time in many years. The Table Tennis Federation of India is putting a lot of effort towards the future development of the sport and we appreciate the remarkable performances and success of the Indian players at international level. The ITTF is looking forward to seeing more international table tennis events in India!” – Thomas Weikert ITTF President The Executive Committee reflected on a highly successful 2019 which saw table tennis continue to grow to new heights and discussed the strategy for the continued growth of the sport making the following key decisions: Implement Table Tennis Review (TTR) technology at major ITTF events and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This follows the successful introduction of TTR at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in which players left positive feedback about the opportunity to use technology to review the original decisions of umpires. Therefore the ITTF Executive Committee has agreed to implement TTR at major ITTF events in 2020 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games while constantly working to deliver the best possible product such as reducing the time spent between the player’s call to review and the final decision. “With the tech trend already so prominent in sports we felt it was important to implement a new technology that will ensure a fair competition for all the athletes empowering them to challenge any decision made by the umpire. The benefits of using the TTR system are very positive and we can actually talk about an evolution of the sport of table tennis. We received very positive feedback from the players and we anticipate a major improvement in terms of the viewers’ experience going forwards.” – Steve Dainton ITTF CEO Enable multiple host cities at future World Team Table Tennis Championships events. The ITTF is in discussions with the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) about staging the 2022 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals – the first under the new format – across multiple cities in China. This will enable greater TV coverage of more matches during the competition as well as increased fan engagement over multiple host cities across the country as has been witnessed in other major sports events such as the FIFA and FIBA World Cups. “The philosophy of the new expanded World Table Tennis Championships Finals has always been focused on increasing the global footprint of our sport’s biggest event. This is a format that will eventually integrate all our members and maximise exposure of the event. “By providing relevant content in multiple locations and engaging with a larger community / audience in the host country the 2022 World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals have a higher potential to ensure worldwide media coverage and achieve commercial success. “Due to the popularity of the sport we believe that China is the ideal place to implement this new concept. Discussions have already been initiated with CTTA and they seem very positive.” – Steve Dainton ITTF CEO To put forward to the AGM to hold an extraordinary general meeting towards the end of 2020 in order to vote on the future ‘Home of Table Tennis’ and Good Governance review. The extraordinary general meeting would allow for national associations to vote on matters which require their input as per the ITTF Constitution at the most appropriate time avoiding inevitable delays by waiting until the AGM of the following year. For the ‘Home of Table Tennis’ the ITTF is seeking interest from cities around the world to become the future Headquarters in order to centralise the ITTF’s workforce and drive the growth of table tennis. Meanwhile the Good Governance review is aimed at aligning the ITTF Constitution with the modern standards upheld by other well-established international federations. “The ITTF has done a lot to be compliant with Good Governance regulations. In order to fulfil all the written and non-written criteria it is always necessary to continuously work on these rules for the benefit of our clean sport.” – Thomas Weikert ITTF President World Table Tennis (WTT) update The Executive Committee was updated on the significant progress made regarding World Table Tennis – the entity that will run the ITTF’s commercial business in the future. The WTT event structure branding and vision for the sport are close to being finalised and due to be released before the 2020 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in March. To circulate to the member associations a call for candidates for the Sustainability Working Group. Following the establishment of the Sustainability Working Group and the appointment of Mrs Petra Sörling as Chair at the last Executive Committee meeting the ITTF intends to make a call for applications for membership through the national associations in order to identify suitable profiles. ITTF Professional Staff Drive To continue the professionalism of all ITTF activities the ITTF will be opening several new staff positions including integrity and administration. The next ITTF Executive Committee meeting will be held on 21st March in Busan (KOR) during the 2020 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships.
World Table Tennis Day 2020: Three is a Charm
One month ago the event registration for the 6th edition of the 2020 World Table Tennis Day has started. “Let’s make a change and grow together to be more popular universal and inclusive” – that is this year’s WTTD motto because table tennis is not only fun for us but a tool to support our environment and our future! To get more information read more here: Welcome to 2020 World Table Tennis Day! TT4Ecological Environment TT4Economic Environment So far there are 17 registered events in 14 different countries from all continents: Africa: South Africa Asia: Bhutan India Malaysia Singapore Europe: Latvia Malta Portugal Latin America and the Caribbean: Costa Rica Mexico Peru Venezuela North America: Canada Oceania: Federated States of Micronesia Because of friends from Latvia and Ethiopia WTTD were able to expand promotional package from 9 up to 11 languages which includes the WTTD logo in different formats usable for own printing products e.g. t-shirts stickers banners etc. This means it is now available in Amharic Arabic Chinese English French German Japanese Latvian Portuguese Russian and Spanish. Let us help to individualize your event as well! So do not hesitate to send us the translation of your language of: World Table Tennis Day April 6 Popular Universal Inclusive Table Tennis for Everyone Everywhere! ITTF FOUNDATION are looking forward to welcoming YOU in the ITTF Foundation family and as an organizer of a World Table Tennis Day 2020 event.
Saint Quentinois’ complete success in Vic
„The first match was crucial for Polina (MIKHAILOVA) and her teammates” stated team manager of French team Jean-Louis POLARD after 3:0 win over Girbau-Vic in the 1st quarter-final leg of ECLW French club Saint Quentinois is very close to its first ECLW semi-finals after four quarter-finals in last five seasons. They beat Spanish team Girbau-Vic 3:0 (9:1) in the first away game held last Friday so everybody in the club are looking forward playing second leg in front of home fans scheduled for February 16th. “The away match for TT Saint-Quentin’s quarter final has been a complete success” explained team manager of French team Jean-Louis POLARD. “Our hosts were ever so nice in Vic and our team victory was a relief. Coach Franck DELCAMBRE led the way with the same group B players: Canadian Mo ZHANG and Russians Polina MIKHAILOVA and Olga MIKHAYLOVA. The first match was crucial for Polina and her teammates. She was under pressure (5/9 in the first game and 8/10 in the second one) but fortunately she won both of them (11/9 and 12/10) and her success was confirmed by her compatriot in the third match. Olga lost the only game of the competition. Now French supporters are confident and are looking forward to seeing the home match on Sunday February 16th in the sports hall of Saint-Quentin. Remember that TTSQ club has never reached ECLW semi-finals. “
Teco Corte Auto Cortemaggiore won the Italian Cup
For a first time Teco Corte Auto Cortemaggiore lifted the trophy at the Women’s Italian Cup held last weekend in Terni. In the final they prevailed against Polisportiva Bagnolese Panino LAB 3-0 avenging the 3-1 defeat that team suffered in the qualification round. At PalaTennistavolo “Aldo De Santis” Lithuania’s star Ruta Paskauskiene and Valentina SABITOVA of Russia led the team to victory. Trained by Olga DZELINSKA winners had a dream start by winning in the opening double match. Young Arianna BARANI only 17 years old and SABITOVA overcame Veronica MOSCONI and Cristina SEMENZA. In the team was also Valentina RONCALLO player of the same age of Barani In the semifinals Cortemaggiore accounted for Brunetti Castel Goffredo 3-2 preventing the defending champion from winning the ninth consecutive trophy after four Italian championships two National Cups and two Super Cups and Bagnolese beat Tennistavolo Norbello 3-0. The team of president Ettore DERNINI won the first Italian Cup the second title of the club after the Italian championship clinched in 2015. FINAL Teco Corte Auto Cortemaggiore – Polisportiva Bagnolese Panino LAB 3-0 Arianna BARANI/Valentina SABITOVA – Veronica MOSCONI/Cristina SEMENZA 3-2 (11-2 9-11 9-11 11-9 11-9) Ruta PASKAUSKIENE – TIAN Jing 3-0 (11-9 11-5 11-3) Valentina SABITOVA – Veronica MOSCONI 3-0 (11-7 12-10 11-6) SEMIFINALS: Teco Corte Auto Cortemaggiore – Brunetti Castel Goffredo 3-2 Arianna BARANI/Valentina SABITOVA – TAN Wenling/Gaia MONFARDINI 2-3 (8-11 11-9 5-11 11-8 9-11) Ruta PASKAUSKIENE – LI Xiang 3-1 (11-8 11-7 12-14 11-9) Valentina SABITOVA – TAN Wenling 3-1 (11-4 2-11 11-6 11-5) Arianna BARANI – LI Xiang 0-3 (4-11 3-11 5-11) Ruta PASKAUSKIENE – Tatiana KUKULKOVA 3-0 (11-4 11-3 11-8) Polisportiva Bagnolese Panino LAB – Tennistavolo Norbello 3-0 Margo DEGRAEF/Veronica MOSCONI – Giulia CAVALLI/Marialucia Di MEO 3-0 (11-9 11-7 11-3) Tian JING – Gaia SMARGIASSI 3-2 (11-5 8-11 11-5 9-11 11-3) Veronica MOSCONI – Marialucia Di MEO 3-1 (6-11 11-3 12-10 11-9)
ECLW: Reigning champion extended to full distance
2019/20 ECLW quarter-finals leg 1 Reigning ECLW champion KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg (Poland no. 3 seed) was extended to full distance in the first quarter-final leg held in the Czech city of Hodonin in spite of the fact that host team played without Hong Kong’s NG Wing Nam. Last year’s quarter-finalist SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin (Czech Republic no. 5) led after first two encounters but HAN Ying and WU Yue justified their status in the last two matches. Former Tarnobrzeg’s member Natalia PARTYKA beat WU Yue in the opener. HAN Ying tied at 1-1 as she easily defeated Marketa SEVCIKOVA but Solomya BRATEYKO secured new lead for the host side after win over Kinga STEFAŃSKA. HAN dominated once again against PARTYKA improving her season’s win-loss record to 8-0 while WUE overcame SEVCIKOVA. Four-time ECLW winner Berlin TTC Berlin Eastside (Germany no. 1 seed) made big step toward semi-finals after 3:0 away win over 2015/16 ECLW semi-finalist and 2018/19 Europe Cup winner UCAM Cartagena TM (Spain no. 7). Bernadette SZÖCS SHAN Xiaona and Nina MITTELHAM showed no mercy to the host team. Three-times in a row ECLW quarter-finalist in the last four seasons TT Saint-Quentinois (France no. 4) is very close to the semi-finals as they beat away Girbau-Vic TT 3:0 (9:1). It could say this clash was historic for both sides bearing in mind first ever presence of Spanish team among the best eight ECLW participants. Polina MIKHAILOVA improved her win-loss record to 6-0 after victory in straight games against Sofia ZHANG who lost just one match in the group stage. Strong Canadian player ZHANG Mo beat Gabriela FEHER in the second encounter while Olga MIKHAILOVA prevailed against Orsloya FEHER. The 2017/18 Europe Cup winner Metz TT beat former two-time ECLW champion Linz AG Froschberg 3:2 thanks to good team work as three players contributed with one point (Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO Adina DIACONU and Carole GRUNDISCH) while Sofia POLCANOVA provided two wins for Austrian side. This is a fourth knockout clash between these two clubs in last five seasons and Linz won previous three meetings including 2018/19 quarter-finals (twice 3:2). 2019/20 ECLW quarter final leg 1 SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin (CZE) – KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg (POL) 2:3 Natalia PARTYKA – WU Yue 3:1 (7:11 11:9 12:10 11:4) Marketa SEVCIKOVA – HAN Ying 0:3 (4:11 6:11 2:11) Solomya BRATEYKO – Kinga STEFAŃSKA 3:1 (9:11 11:9 11:9 11:8) Natalia PARTYKA – HAN Ying 0:3 (7:11 4:11 1:11) Marketa SEVCIKOVA – WU Yue 0:3 (7:11 5:11 8:11) UCAM Cartagena TM (ESP) – TTC Berlin Eastside (GER) 0:3 LIU Xin – Bernadette SZÖCS 1:3 Silvia ERDELYI DE SOUZA – SHAN Xiaona 0:3 Ana GARCIA MONTEIRO – Nina MITTELHAM 1:3 Girbau-Vic TT (ESP) – TT Saint Quentinois (FRA) 0:3 Sofia ZHANG – Polina MIKHAILOVA 0:3 (9:11 10:12 5:11) Gabriela FEHER – ZHANG Mo 0:3 (7:11 3:11 7:11) Orsloya FEHER – Olga MIKHAILOVA 1:3 (5:11 11:9 4:11 8:11) Metz TT (FRA) – Linz AG Froschberg (AUT) 3:2 Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO – Christina KALLBERG 3:2 (9:11 11:5 11:6 11:13 11:5) Adina DIACONU – Sofia POLCANOVA 1:3 (8:11 5:11 11:9 5:11) Carole GRUNDISCH – Linda BERGSTRÖM 3:1 (11:8 9:11 11:8 11:4) Pauline CHASSELIN – Sofia POLCANOVA 0:3 (5:11 8:11 9:11) Adina DIACONU – Christina KALLBERG 3:0 (11:6 11:6 11:3)
Liebherr announced title sponsor of 2020 ITTF Men’s World Cup in Düsseldorf
The ITTF announced that Liebherr’s long-standing partnership with international table tennis events will be extended yet further and will now include the Liebherr 2020 ITTF Men’s World Cup which will be staged in Düsseldorf Germany between 16 – 18 October 2020. Liebherr – a globally operating family-owned technology company that offers products and services for many industries including construction and domestic appliances – has been a significant supporter of table tennis for more than 20 years and has been title sponsor for many top-tier ITTF events including the World Championships in Düsseldorf (2017) Halmstad Sweden (2018) and Budapest Hungary (2019). The Men’s World Cup has also been a key element of Liebherr’s table tennis partnership strategy. Liebherr has been title sponsor for editions including in Saarbrücken Germany (2016) Liège Belgium (2017) and Disneyland Paris France (2018). “We are delighted to be the title sponsor of another ITTF Men’s World Cup and again in Germany one of Liebherr’s core markets. With the very best players from all Continents set to come to Düsseldorf to battle for glory in front of passionate and energetic supporters we are delighted to showcase our brand and products through on-site and digital activations with the ITTF and Event Organisers “ said Andreas BÖHM Member of the Board of Directors of Liebherr-International AG. “The ITTF team is very proud of its long-term relationship with Liebherr including the strength in brand partnership that has been created over the years for the World Championships and the Men’s World Cup. As we continue to explore new and innovative partnership activation opportunities with the Liebherr team we are excited about working together once again to deliver another world-class event “ stated Thomas WEIKERT ITTF President The ITTF World Cups (Men’s Women’s and Team) represent the second most prestigious events on the international table tennis calendar after the ITTF World Championships and they count towards the Grand Slam (Olympic Games World Championships World Cups). This will be the 41st edition of the ITTF Men’s World Cup which has been held every year since its inauguration in 1980 in Hong Kong China. The ITTF Men’s World Cup features 20 of the globe’s top male table tennis players 18 of which will have qualified through their respective Continental Cups together with the reigning ITTF World Champion and a wildcard. Quick Links: About Liebherr Liebherr’s Website ITTF Social Media: Twitter Facebook Instagram Youtube ETTU Social Media: Twitter Facebook Instagram
