Doha Qatar will host the WTT Middle East Hub with two events to take place consecutively at the Lusail Sports Arena between 3 March – 13 March 2021.
The Middle East Hub will feature two tiers of the new WTT event structure. A WTT Contender event will get the 2021 calendar under way before players move to the first WTT Star Contender event the following week providing the perfect setting for some of the world’s leading stars to be challenged by the best up-and-coming athletes in table tennis.
The cancellation of the postponed 2020 World Table Tennis Championships that were to be held in Busan has also provided WTT with the opportunity to move the Middle East Hub forward from its previously announced dates granting players a chance to compete at WTT events earlier than originally planned. The confirmed dates of the individual events are:
WTT Contender – Wednesday 3 March – Saturday 6 March 2021
WTT Star Contender – Monday 8 March – Saturday 13 March 2021
Qatar enjoys a significant and longstanding association with table tennis with the President of the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) and ITTF Deputy President Khalil Al-Mohannadi spearheading the nation’s contributions to the sport.
This year marked the 25th anniversary of the ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open one of the most prestigious events on the ITTF calendar consistently attracting the world’s best players and offering among the highest prize money on the tour.
“We are honoured to be hosting the first-ever WTT events in Qatar. We have made many special table tennis memories over the years and we cannot wait to kick off the WTT era on our shores. This confirms Doha as a truly global sports hub and demonstrates the QTTA’s commitment to establishing WTT ” said Khalil Al-Mohannadi QTTA President and ITTF Deputy President
To launch the WTT era the WTT Board has approved the prize money levels for the Middle East Hub with these two events offering a combined prize pool of USD 600 000.
