ITTF Executive Board Celebrates Landmark Year for Table Tennis
Written by I Dig SportsThe ITTF Executive Board convened in Chengdu, China, on 9 December 2024, to review what has been an extraordinary year for table tennis. The meeting followed the conclusion of the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2024, the final event of the season, and provided an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the past year.
The Board commended the record-breaking milestones that underscored 2024 as a transformative year for the sport. Highlights included the historic ITTF World Championships in Korea Republic, the highly anticipated return of the Singles World Cup in Macao, the largest-ever table tennis event in Rome with more than 6,000 Masters players, the unparalleled success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, and the revamp of the ITTF World Para Circuit. The year also marked the debut of the World Esports Championships, expanding table tennis into the digital arena.
Particular praise was given to the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup Chengdu 2024, hailed as a resounding success. The Board also received a detailed report on the trial of the Table Tennis Review (TTR) system during the event, showcasing ITTFs commitment to innovation in officiating.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Board expressed confidence in the sports trajectory, with updates on the ITTF World Championships Finals, World Cups, development initiatives, Athletes Commission work, progress from the ITTF Foundation, and World Table Tennis presenting the 2025 calendar with a record number of events. The Executive Board also approved the renewal of the anti-doping services agreement with the International Testing Agency (ITA) for the period 2025-2028, and selected Abdulla Al-Mulla as Chair of the Nominations Committee.
On 7 December, the ITTF Continental Council also gathered to finalize a proposal for the qualification pathway and competition format for the ITTF World Championships Finals London 2026, which will be submitted to the ITTF Council.
With a year of historic firsts and monumental achievements behind them, the ITTF Executive Board looks forward to continuing the sports momentum into 2025. Its next meeting is scheduled in February 2025.