Tokyo ready for ZEN-NOH 2019 ITTF Team World Cup before Olympics come to town

 

From the recently concluded Rugby World Cup to next year’s keenly awaited Olympic Games Japan is very much at the centre of the sporting world right now. Before Tokyo 2020 is duly paraded across the nation next summer there is a very important test event taking place this week in the form of the ZEN-NOH 2019 ITTF Team World Cup.  Twelve of the strongest national associations in each of the men’s and women’s competitions are battling for glory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium which will also be the venue for next year’s big event. In many ways this is a genuine dress rehearsal for Tokyo 2020.


 
The roadmap for the first two days of the Team World Cup was confirmed on Tuesday as teams were split into groups of three with the top two positions of each group proceeding to the knockout rounds.  As 1st and 2nd seeds in both men’s and women’s competitions China and Japan are the favourites to meet in Sunday’s finals. Their strongest challengers among the men’s teams are Germany (3rd) and Korea Republic (4th) while Chinese Taipei (3rd) and Hong Kong China (4th) are the other top seeds in the women’s team groups.
 
 
History suggests that it will be a monumental task for anyone to stop Team China from retaining their titles after seven straight gold medals in the men’s team event and eight for the women’s team. The defending champions and world no.1 sides have sent out stellar line-ups as they bid to extend their exceptional winning streaks including the reigning World Champions Ma Long and Liu Shiwen world no.1 players Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng as well as current 2019 ITTF World Tour leaders Xu Xin and Sun Yingsha.
 
Certainly in no mood to surrender their silverware Team China’s stars are also treating the event as a real test ahead of Tokyo 2020 providing added motivation in the eyes of Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Ma Long and Liu Shiwen who is hoping to becoming a Golden Grand Slam Champion at Tokyo 2020.  “The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium is the venue for Tokyo 2020 so Team China is going to give its all to prepare accordingly for the Olympics. I have played here before and been a champion here so I hope that the venue will be a lucky place for me once more.” – Ma Long.
 
“I am very honoured to be back here in Japan but this is my first time playing at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. It’s spacious and I like the look of the stadium. Tomorrow is the first day so I want to get used to the venue and prepare in the best way possible for the tournament.” – Liu Shiwen

 
Just like last year in London Japan’s men will lock horns with 2018 bronze medallists England in the group stage. Liam Pitchford famously defeated world no.4 Tomokazu Harimoto in straight games at that event – a result that the teenage star had clearly not forgotten:
 
“It was quite a battle last year against England and there are players that I would like to get my revenge against. This is the key match in our group.
 
“The men’s team has been training very well for the Team World Cup. We would like to win this tournament and we’ll do our very best to be champions.”
– Tomokazu Harimoto


 
Austria too will provide stiff competition in both men’s and women’s team events where both times they have been drawn into Group B and both times alongside Japan. Meanwhile by crossing paths with the United States’ women’s team Miu Hirano will have an attempt at revenge over Lily Zhang following the latter’s shock win in last month’s Women’s World Cup.


The 2019 Team World Cup is featuring several teams who have already confirmed their qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Brazil China Germany Japan and United States in the men’s competition and Brazil China Egypt Japan and United States in the women’s competition will get a sense of what is to come in just over eight months’ time at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.


 
For the rest the event will provide yet further motivation and drive to be among the world’s finest yet again at next year’s showpiece.


 
Quick Links:

Related News

Finlandia Open 2024 – U21 Titles Clinched by VAN DESSEL and Jeanne ROBBES

The first champions of the 2024 Finlandia Open table tennis tournament were crowned on Friday evening. In the U21 Men’s category, Mael VAN DESSEL of Luxembourg triumphed over Norway’s Alexander...

Read more

Moldova Hosts Successful Seminar on Training Young Table Tennis Talents

As part of the European Table Tennis Union’s (ETTU) National Association Assistance Program (NAAP), a practical-methodical seminar titled “The Process of Training Young Players – The Road to the Olympics”...

Read more

2025 Champions League Final 4 Saarbrücken: Book the tickets now

This year, 4,500 spectators in Saarlandhalle Saarbrücken contributed to the resounding success of the first-ever Champions League Final 4. The event returns next year, promising another thrilling experience for players...

Read more

33rd Finlandia Open – Everything You Need to Know

The traditional Finlandia Open returns this year, welcoming over 160 players from 27 countries to the enchanting home of Father Christmas. Hosted at the Kisakallio Sports Institute, just an hour’s...

Read more

Contact

About Us

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organization of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships.

Powered By

All Competitions

Senior Competitions

Club Competitions

Youth Competitions

More Competitions