ITTF: Mixed team event a catalyst for women's table tennis development

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2025-04-18 20:27:15

Liu Guoliang (L), deputy president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and president of Chinese Table Tennis Association, Petra Sorling (C), president of ITTF, and Steve Dainton, ITTF Group CEO, attend a press conference of the ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup 2025 in Macao, China, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

MACAO, China, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The mixed team event will be a "powerful catalyst" for the development of women's table tennis globally, said Petra Sorling, president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), on Friday at a press conference during the ITTF World Cup Macao 2025.

Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board decided to include the mixed team event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Simultaneously, the men's and women's doubles events were set to replace the men's and women's team events, increasing the number of table tennis events at LA28 to six.

When asked whether there is concern about the United States not being a traditional table tennis market, ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton said that the ITTF is not concerned but will put a lot of attention on the U.S. market in the next few years.

All countries are eager to win this first gold medal because they all want to make history, but one thing that is most important about the mixed team is that it promotes gender equality, said Liu Guoliang, ITTF deputy president and a Chinese table tennis legend. "This presents both opportunities and challenges."

As an Olympic doubles gold medalist, Liu said he was looking forward to the return of the doubles event. He underlined that doubles is an integral part of table tennis, and the inclusion of any event will add to the sport's overall appeal. ■

Liu Guoliang, deputy president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and president of Chinese Table Tennis Association, attends a press conference of the ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup 2025 in Macao, China, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)