The anticipation is rising in Incheon and far beyond… for on Saturday (at 16.20 GMT+9) fans gathered at the Namdong Gymnasium and those watching on TV screens as well as Live on ITTF social media will be wondering if history is made in Saturday’s Mixed Doubles final at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.   The two players tasked with rewriting the history books are JANG Woojin of South Korea and CHA Hyo Sim of North Korea. Together they have formed what may have seemed the unlikeliest of Mixed Doubles partnerships.   Formed less than six months ago they tasted success at the first time of asking poignantly at July’s Korea Open. Now back in Korea they are just one step away from adding a magical new chapter to their incredible journey with the chance to claim gold at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.   More importantly this is a chance to reinforce bridges between both sides of the border and provide the latest crowning moment of the Unified Korea movement proving that Table Tennis can play its part in positive social change within the Peninsula and beyond.    This is a chance that JANG Woojin and CHA Hyo Sim have handed themselves following Friday’s emotional semi-finals victory over LIM Jonghoon and YANG Haeun incidentally both from South Korea.   Deep into the fifth game and with victory confirmed the cheers of joy ringing around the stadium were palpable for all present.   “To hear the cheer ‘Korea!’ was very meaningful and empowering ” admitted JANG Woojin post-match. “At times I felt goosebumps of excitement running through me. I’m always thankful for the cheers.”   What is certain is that there’ll be plenty more cheers coming their way on Saturday willing them over the line for a greater good.    Formed midway through the 2018 World Table Tennis Championships in April this year the Unified Korea team is an initiative set up and backed by the ITTF together with Sportsmaster.   STAY TUNED! Live Streaming Social Updates: Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Weibo  Youtube News Updates Media Kit Photos Flash Quotes

  For the next four days all eyes will be honed in on the Korean city of Incheon where Table Tennis’s biggest stars are all ready and set to go for glory at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.   Come Sunday champions will be crowned in the Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories. As ever this is a 100% knockout format from start to finish. No time to lose for those competing and looking to end the year in style!   Last year’s champion FAN Zhendong (CHN) will start his title defence on Friday (16:05 GMT+9) in the round of 16 against Koki NIWA (JPN). The World no. 1 who is fresh from claiming the 2018 Male Table Tennis Star award on Wednesday night is not looking any further ahead than his Japanese opponent.   “I’m taking each game at a time ” opened FAN during the pre-tournament press conference. “I’m familiar with Koki’s style of play and I’m just working on being fully prepared for tomorrow’s match.”   It will be business as usual too for CHEN Meng (CHN) who was victorious at the 2017 World Tour Grand Finals in Astana Kazakhstan.   The 24-year-old star takes on compatriot CHEN Xingtong tonight (19:00) and at the same time fellow Chinese talent and top seed WANG Manyu faces FENG Tianwei (SGP). Shortly afterwards (19:50) there’s an all-Japanese duel between Miu HIRANO and Kasumi ISHIKAWA while rising star Mima ITO (JPN) will look to kick off her tournament brightly against CHENG I-Ching (TPE).   “Mima has developed into a great player ” admitted CHEN Meng when asked about the threat posed by the 18-year-old who has already built a reputation for overcoming China’s strongest players in recent months.   “However we’ll be treating her like any other opponent as we train with the same high level of intensity for each and every challenge.”   It will be a World Tour Grand Finals Men’s Singles debut for Patrick FRANZISKA (GER) who gets up and running tonight (21:30) against Tomokazu HARIMOTO (JPN).   “Asia is very strong this year with 13 out of 16 representatives in the Men’s Singles competition ” said FRANZISKA. “We Europeans have to work hard in order to have more of us competing at this tournament next year.”   Winner of the 2018 ITTF Star Point award and top seed in Incheon XU Xin (CHN) kicks off his competition against WONG Chun Ting (HKG). There will be an all-Korean match-up between LIM Jonghoon and JANG Woojin (21:30) while LEE Sangsu (KOR) will too receive the backing of the home crowd against LIN Gaoyuan (CHN).   All quarter-final matches in the Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles will also be taking place on Thursday at Incheon’s Namdong Gymnasium.   The pick of the action already Unified Korea pair JANG Woojin (KOR) and CHA Hyo Sim (PRK) have got the home crowd buzzing following their victory over Maharu YOSHIMURA and Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) to reach Friday’s semi-finals (14.00) against fellow Koreas LIM Jonghoon and YANG Haeun.   Live Streaming Social Updates: Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Weibo  Youtube News Updates Media Kit Photos Flash Quotes

Amidst the glitz and glamour of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Incheon Korea the scene was set perfectly for the sport of Table Tennis to recognise and celebrate some of the greatest feats of the past year at the 2018 ITTF Star Awards.   With awards presented in the Female & Male Star Female & Male Para Star Breakthrough Star Star Coach and Star Point categories it was a night to remember once again at what has become a simply ‘can’t miss’ event on Table Tennis’ annual calendar.  DING NING DOES IT AGAIN!   For an incredible fourth time in the last five years Ding Ning is the Female Table Tennis Star capping off yet another stellar 12 months.   Helping China to gold medal finishes at the Team World Cup and World Team Championships the 28-year-old also excelled individually with title-winning campaigns at the World Tour Bulgaria Open and Women’s World Cup.   There’s no escaping Ding Ning’s special association with the ITTF Star Awards and she was understandably delighted with her latest accolade:   “It has been a challenge to win this award. I’ve had to make changes to become stronger and winning this award again gives me more strength. Thanks to all the people who support me.” Ding Ning 2018 Female Table Tennis Star  FAN ZHENDONG: FANTASTIC YEAR GETS EVEN BETTER!   Three Men’s Singles titles on the 2018 ITTF World Tour the Liebherr 2018 Men’s World Cup and the World no.1 spot since April 2018.   As far as the Men’s game is concerned 2018 has belonged to Fan Zhendong and the 21-year-old talent was understandably brimming with joy at his first ever Male Table Tennis Star award.   “I’m very glad to be winning this prize for the first time. I’d like to thank everyone: my team and my fans. I’ll keep working hard over the next year.” Fan Zhendong 2018 Male Table Tennis Star  BATRA THE BREAKTHROUGH STAR   A breakthrough year for Manika Batra has culminated in the 23-year-old Indian talent winning the 2018 Breakthrough Star award tonight in Incheon.    Batra enjoyed a sensational outing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games earning India its first-ever gold medal in the Women’s Singles category and she went on to leave the Gold Coast with three further medals to her name from the Women’s Team Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles events.   Batra becomes the first Indian athlete to be honoured at the ITTF Star Awards and she is also the first player from outside of Japan to be named the Breakthrough Star.   “I’m so honoured and happy to be here and nominated for this award. 2018 has been the best year of my career and of my life. Thank you to the ITTF and everyone who supported me along the way!” Manika Batra 2018 Breakthrough Star  MORALES & VAN ZON COLLECT PARA PRIZES   In October 2018 Jordi Morales shocked spectators across the globe going from unseeded competitor to Class 7 Men’s Singles champion at the 2018 ITTF Para World Championships.   Having also finished as Class 7 runner-up on home soil at the 2018 Spanish Para Open Morales completed a memorable 12 months with tonight’s Male Para Table Tennis Star Award.   Completing 35 months as World no. 1 Kelly van Zon’s extraordinary year saw her add the 2018 Female Para Table Tennis Star award to her bulging trophy collection.   The Dutch star secured title victories at this year’s Slovenia Para Open Spanish Para Open and Lignano Para Master Open as well as her Women’s Singles Class 7 gold medal at the 2018 ITTF Para World Championships – all achievements which make her thoroughly deserving of tonight’s award.  XU XIN MAKES HIS POINT!   Chinese star Xu Xin has collected the first Star Award of his career tonight in Incheon after his breath-taking rally against Stefan Fegerl was selected as the Star Point of 2018.    Leading Fegerl at the quarter-finals stage of the Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Xu Xin showed why he is one of the best in the business showing excellent pace and agility on the table before pulling off an unstoppable around-the-net winner to leave his Austrian opponent and all spectators watching on stunned!   Out-of-this-world around the net shot from Xu Xin is the 2018 Star Point presented by Seamaster at the Incheon 2018 #ITTFStarAwards! #Congrats pic.twitter.com/C0xJiTT7jb   — ITTF World (@ittfworld) December 12 2018 COSTANTINI NAMED STAR COACH   Head coach of the Indian national team Massimo Costantini has received the Star Coach award after leading the country to record-breaking performances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 Asian Games.   India collected an astonishing eight medals on the Gold Coast including three Golds across the Women’s and Men’s Team and Women’s Singles events. The country picked up two further medals at the 2018 Asian Games collecting Bronze in the Men’s Team and Mixed Doubles categories in Jakarta.  MIMA ITO JOINS THE PARTY!   For the first time the ITTF added an MVP Award for both Male and Female players at the World Table Tennis Championships.   While Fan Zhendong – a gold medallist with China – won in the Men’s category there would also be an award for rising Japanese star Mima Ito voted the Women’s MVP of the Liebherr 2018 World Team Championships where the 18-year-old (17 at the time) helped her country to Silver.   The burgeoning talent who also won two ITTF World Tour titles in Japan and Sweden this year is one of the players to watch out for now in Incheon as fourth seed at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals between 13-16 December.  THE FUN HAS JUST BEGUN!   The 2018 ITTF Star Awards as ever form the perfect prelude to the annual ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.   Follow all the action from Incheon as the best Table Tennis players in the world battle it out on ITTF.com  ITTV and ITTF social media: Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Weibo  Youtube.