Towards the end of the last century, there was some concern expressed amongst officials of the International Table Tennis Federation that the World Championships were becoming too large. At the time the tournament was held on a biennial basis with a two w,
Towards the end of the last century, there was some concern expressed amongst officials of the International Table Tennis Federation that the World Championships were becoming too large. At the time the tournament was held on a biennial basis with a two week programme seeing team events start proceedings followed by individual competitions.
The duration and weight of numbers placed high pressure on potential organisers; thus the decision was taken to hold the event annually, reduce the time scale and alternate between team and individual tournaments. An annual World Championships was also an attractive proposition. Logic suggested that perhaps players from some of the World’s smaller countries may decide not to enter when only individual events were held.
They would play in the team events where they would no doubt play more matches against players of a similar level.
So Much for Logic! Accepted there may be some cancellations but the preliminary entry for the LIEBHERR World Championships, to be staged in Paris from Monday 13th to Monday 20th May 2013, exceeds the entry for the LIEBHERR World Team Championships staged in Dortmund in 2012!
The Olympic Games may have assumed the status as the pinnacle but the attraction of the World Championships, whether team or individual, is a strong, if not stronger than ever.
A total of 139 national associations have entered players for the LIEBHERR 2013 World Championships; in Dortmund the final number was 120.
Also, in terms of individuals, the numbers are higher. A total of 477 men and 394 women competed in Dortmund; in Paris the provisional number is 482 men and 422 women.
Furthermore, more coaches offering words of wisdom are Paris bound; the initial number is 237, in Dortmund it was 190.
(courtesy ITTF)
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Photo: Paris Bercy awaits World Championships ten years after Werner SCHLAGER triumph
