Return of International TT Matches

[Janard]

2020 has been the most challenging year in living memory, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the international table tennis event calendar to a grinding halt early in the year. Many players, coaches and fans were confined to their homes or their local communities, unable to play or watch their beloved sport in the electric international environment that has lit up so many table tennis careers and engaged a captive worldwide audience over the years.

Ever since the pandemic struck, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has been working tirelessly to bring table tennis back to the global community in a safe and secure manner. While it has not been an easy journey, the ITTF would like to express its heartfelt gratitude towards all the stakeholders for their support in these challenging times.


After months of grit, hard work and preparation, we are proud to finally announce the return of table tennis into the international arena. Welcome to #RESTART!


#RESTART THE ACTION!


#RESTART is a special series of events scheduled for November 2020, taking a regional approach to ensure a smooth transition from national to international activity for players.


#RESTART will feature three of the most prestigious ITTF events (the Uncle Pop 2020 ITTF Women’s World Cup, the Liebherr 2020 ITTF Men’s World Cup and the 2020 ITTF Finals), all of which will be held in China with support from the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA). Therefore, the Women’s and Men’s World Cups will no longer be taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, and Düsseldorf, Germany, as originally planned.


“Ensuring a safe return to international table tennis has been our utmost priority ever since the pandemic broke out and so I am delighted that, with the fantastic support and hard work carried out by everyone at the ITTF over several months, we have managed to get events back up and running before the end of 2020.” – Thomas Weikert, ITTF President


“It is very significant that the ITTF has chosen China as the host to restart competitions after what has been an extremely challenging year for our sport. CTTA is honoured to be able to help bring international table tennis tournaments back into action. Thanks to many months of hard work carried out by the ITTF and CTTA, we are able to come out from the darkness and to celebrate our return to the table. This is a moment of immense joy for all members of the international table tennis family. We are working closely under the guidance and in cooperation with relevant authorities in China and doing everything possible to make the events a resounding success and to keep the players safe at the same time.” – Liu Guoliang, CTTA President


“After many months away from the table, it is extremely important for us to get international table tennis events back running again, and so we extend our thanks to China and CTTA President, Liu Guoliang, for helping us to make this happen. We are also very grateful to our friends in Thailand and especially Germany, who were committed to hosting the Women’s and Men’s World Cups respectively and have been fully cooperative in handing them to China given the very tough circumstances. We therefore thank them for all their hard work and dedication to the cause during this difficult period.” – Steve Dainton, ITTF CEO
STARS ON SHOW


After many months spent apart, #RESTART will be bringing together many of the world’s biggest table tennis stars for some much-anticipated, mouth-watering action!


The World Cups will feature 20 female and 20 male athletes, including the World Champion, qualified players from all completed continental events (Africa, Europe and Pan America) and players selected by world ranking from the other continents (Asia and Oceania) as well as the whole world according to the provisional World Cup playing system. For each World Cup event, there will be maximum two players per national association.


Meanwhile, the top 16 world-ranked male and top 16 world-ranked female players will lock horns in men’s singles and women’s singles competition at the ITTF Finals, where a cap of four players per national association will ensure an exciting spread of star talent from across the globe.


#RESTART provides players with the opportunity to battle it out for highly sought-after world ranking points to all participating players. The ITTF rankings have been frozen since April 2020 when all ITTF activities were suspended due to the pandemic, but now players have an indispensable opportunity to climb the world ranking charts before the end of 2020.


Players competing at the events will be announced shortly. Stay tuned!


HEALTH AND SAFETY


The ITTF is in close collaboration with CTTA to employ due diligence in ensuring that safety measures are in place to protect athletes, coaches, officials and supporting staff within the ‘bubble’.


The ITTF has issued a set of guidelines with mandatory requirements and recommendations to allow athletes and fans to continue to enjoy and participate in our sport during the pandemic.


More information on the ITTF’s COVID-19 updates can be found at ITTF.com/covid-19

https://www.ittf.com/2020/09/04/rest...ennis-returns/

[apacible]

While ITTF hasn't officially announced the entry list for those invited to compete in the Men's and Women's World Cup, they have already released a document detailing how players will qualify. https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uplo...UAL_SYSTEM.pdf

It is pretty much the same as previous years with the only difference being the qualification of players from Asia and Oceania. Because there was no Asian Cup held, but an invitation list was released, ITTF will invited the highest-ranked Asian players based on the Asian Cup invitation list. Please refer to this document https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uplo...Cup_2020_1.pdf

For players from Oceania, since there was no Oceania Cup held and no invitation list released, ITTF will invite the highest-ranked player from Oceania.

I have taken the time to draft the predicted entry list for the 2020 World Cups based on the provisions of the ITTF World Cup Qualification System document cited above. The World Ranking follows the latest WR released which is April 2020. Of course, the entry list is subject to change based on factors such as injury, travel restrictions, etc., and players may be replaced following the substitution process outlined in the ITTF World Cup Qualification System document, so please keep checking the ITTF website for updates on the official entry list. However, assuming none of these circumstances take place, this is the predicted entry list:

Men's World Cup


Women's World Cup

[MaLin2.0]

2020 has been the most challenging year in living memory, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the international table tennis event calendar to a grinding halt early in the year. Many players, coaches and fans were confined to their homes or their local communities, unable to play or watch their beloved sport in the electric international environment that has lit up so many table tennis careers and engaged a captive worldwide audience over the years.


Ever since the pandemic struck, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has been working tirelessly to bring table tennis back to the global community in a safe and secure manner. While it has not been an easy journey, the ITTF would like to express its heartfelt gratitude towards all the stakeholders for their support in these challenging times.


After months of grit, hard work and preparation, we are proud to finally announce the return of table tennis into the international arena. Welcome to #RESTART!


#RESTART THE ACTION!


#RESTART is a special series of events scheduled for November 2020, taking a regional approach to ensure a smooth transition from national to international activity for players.


#RESTART will feature three of the most prestigious ITTF events (the Uncle Pop 2020 ITTF Women’s World Cup, the Liebherr 2020 ITTF Men’s World Cup and the 2020 ITTF Finals), all of which will be held in China with support from the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA). Therefore, the Women’s and Men’s World Cups will no longer be taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, and Düsseldorf, Germany, as originally planned.


“Ensuring a safe return to international table tennis has been our utmost priority ever since the pandemic broke out and so I am delighted that, with the fantastic support and hard work carried out by everyone at the ITTF over several months, we have managed to get events back up and running before the end of 2020.” – Thomas Weikert, ITTF President


“It is very significant that the ITTF has chosen China as the host to restart competitions after what has been an extremely challenging year for our sport. CTTA is honoured to be able to help bring international table tennis tournaments back into action. Thanks to many months of hard work carried out by the ITTF and CTTA, we are able to come out from the darkness and to celebrate our return to the table. This is a moment of immense joy for all members of the international table tennis family. We are working closely under the guidance and in cooperation with relevant authorities in China and doing everything possible to make the events a resounding success and to keep the players safe at the same time.” – Liu Guoliang, CTTA President


“After many months away from the table, it is extremely important for us to get international table tennis events back running again, and so we extend our thanks to China and CTTA President, Liu Guoliang, for helping us to make this happen. We are also very grateful to our friends in Thailand and especially Germany, who were committed to hosting the Women’s and Men’s World Cups respectively and have been fully cooperative in handing them to China given the very tough circumstances. We therefore thank them for all their hard work and dedication to the cause during this difficult period.” – Steve Dainton, ITTF CEO
STARS ON SHOW


After many months spent apart, #RESTART will be bringing together many of the world’s biggest table tennis stars for some much-anticipated, mouth-watering action!


The World Cups will feature 20 female and 20 male athletes, including the World Champion, qualified players from all completed continental events (Africa, Europe and Pan America) and players selected by world ranking from the other continents (Asia and Oceania) as well as the whole world according to the provisional World Cup playing system. For each World Cup event, there will be maximum two players per national association.


Meanwhile, the top 16 world-ranked male and top 16 world-ranked female players will lock horns in men’s singles and women’s singles competition at the ITTF Finals, where a cap of four players per national association will ensure an exciting spread of star talent from across the globe.


#RESTART provides players with the opportunity to battle it out for highly sought-after world ranking points to all participating players. The ITTF rankings have been frozen since April 2020 when all ITTF activities were suspended due to the pandemic, but now players have an indispensable opportunity to climb the world ranking charts before the end of 2020.


Players competing at the events will be announced shortly. Stay tuned!


HEALTH AND SAFETY


The ITTF is in close collaboration with CTTA to employ due diligence in ensuring that safety measures are in place to protect athletes, coaches, officials and supporting staff within the ‘bubble’.


The ITTF has issued a set of guidelines with mandatory requirements and recommendations to allow athletes and fans to continue to enjoy and participate in our sport during the pandemic.


More information on the ITTF’s COVID-19 updates can be found at ITTF.com/covid-19

https://www.ittf.com/2020/09/04/rest...ennis-returns/

That's awesome, again hopefully they can fit in more tournaments to try get ranking system back on track.

This probably has some hopes Tokyo 2021 might proceed, but different scenario all together as they are inviting saying small range of athletes compared to say 11,000 plus coaches, staff, trainers, spectators etc

Overall good news

[ttfunfan]

can players from euro travel to china for this event with no probelm?

[zeio]

CNT: World No. 1 = U for Useless

Now, the only way China can replace ZYL with CM depends on the definition of host.

https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uplo...UAL_SYSTEM.pdf

2.7.1 The top 3 ranked players fromthe Asian Cup players list published on the 2020 Asian Cup prospectus, with respect to the limit of 2 players per Association, according to the latest available ITTF World Ranking will qualify, for a total of 3 players.

...

3.3. If the host association player is not available or withdraws, he or she shall be replaced by another host association player nominated by the host association.

[zeio]

can players from euro travel to china for this event with no probelm?

Normal flights between China and Europe are back up. Flights between China and US are up as well. International players don't have to worry as long as they are healthy.

https://www.thejakartapost.com/trave...europeans.html
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1199705.shtml
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKCN25E2W0

[apacible]

All that effort to make the predicted entry list for the World Cup just for ITTF to release the final invitation list for the Men's and Women's World Cup a day later. Haha. Fortunately, I was accurate with my list. The only exception being Suthasini Sawettabut replacing Suh Hyowon since ITTF considers the host nation to be the "original host nation," which was Thailand and not the current host nation, China. Though I did leave a note in my original post outlining the possibility that this may happen. "*This is assuming China is considered the host nation of the WWC. If ITTF considers the host nation to be Thailand, as orginally planned, this spot will be given to Suthasini Sawettabut instead."

The thing also missing from my predicted entry list are the Wild Cards. Given the low number of European qualifiers in this year's World Cups compared to previous editions, (Both Men's and Women's having only 4 European Players each), it makes sense that ITTF gave the wild card spots to European Players: Ovtcharov for Men's and Szocs for Women's.

For the official list of invited players to the World Cups, please see these documents:

Final 2020 Men's World Cup Invitation List: https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uplo...list_FINAL.pdf

Final 2020 Women's World Cup Invitation List: https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uplo...list_FINAL.pdf

[Janard]

For the official list of invited players to the World Cups, please see these documents:

Final 2020 Men's World Cup Invitation List: https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uplo...list_FINAL.pdf

Final 2020 Women's World Cup Invitation List: https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uplo...list_FINAL.pdf

Would love to see LSW play but that's unlikely? Well, I hope Ito takes down whoever China sends in her stead then.

Also can't help but think that the mock Olympics was just CNT/CTTA making sure that they could manage a big event in the midst of a pandemic. Lol.

[driversbeat]

Why wouldn't Liu Shiwen play? I need a Liu Shiwen X Mima Ito final.

[Janard]

Why wouldn't Liu Shiwen play? I need a Liu Shiwen X Mima Ito final.

That would indeed be great – since they are the top 2 seeds – but LSW hasn't rejoined the team, at least that is how it seems according to her weibo post on 29 August wherein she was alone with the physiotherapist. Her name was also noticeably missing (alongside DN and ZYL) from the list of members who have remained in Hainan for another round of training. But maybe I'm wrong.

[zeio]

Ito:
1st stop - A̶s̶i̶a̶n̶ ̶C̶u̶p̶ ̶2̶0̶2̶0̶ World Cup 2020

https://hochi.news/articles/20200721-OHT1T50159.html

美誠の1年後
「想像してなかった強さに
もっと確実に金と言える」

The Mima a year from now
Strength beyond imagination
Gold beyond question


Fun fact: The last time Ito played in the Asian Cup and World Cup was back in 2016.

[zeio]

The thing also missing from my predicted entry list are the Wild Cards. Given the low number of European qualifiers in this year's World Cups compared to previous editions, (Both Men's and Women's having only 4 European Players each), it makes sense that ITTF gave the wild card spots to European Players: Ovtcharov for Men's and Szocs for Women's.

Ovtcharov getting the wild card is consistent with past practice, namely the "privilege" of being the (original) host. The current rules reflect that. Szocs getting the wild card as the next highest on the WR after the invited players(other than the host) got in through qualifiers makes sense as well.

http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum...-of-now#890551
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/for...ld-Cup-in-2015

[zeio]

https://www.ittf.com/2020/09/07/rest...world-ranking/

World Cups explained

Since the World Ranking points for last year’s Men’s and Women’s World Cups will expire, those players who qualified for both 2019 and 2020 events will be determined to defend the points earned from last year, not least the 2019 champions, Fan Zhendong (China) and Liu Shiwen (China).

...

ITTF Finals explained

It’s a different story at the ITTF Finals, where the points from the 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals will remain valid. Therefore, at the 2020 ITTF Finals, all the participating players have the chance to improve their World Ranking points, by counting the event among their best 8 results.

[Janard]

Timo and several European players seem to be against reinstating international events (https://www.sport1.de/tischtennis/20...tieren-restart). I don't understand German but it seems like the following are the four main points raised in the article:

- Significant time to be spent on quarantine/isolation (upon arrival in China and when back to their home countries)
- Added risk of contracting covid19 during travel
- Clashes with German League which is the main source of income for many European players
- Caught in a dilemma as the three events slated to be held award WR points which will impact the players' Olympics standings next year

German speakers please correct any misinterpretations.

[LittleSeki]

first and second point are right

with the german league the have a contract and it is like a break

and they cancel the points the got in the last two tournaments.

[zeio]

Andere Topasse folgen seinem Beispiel.

Other topasses follow his example.

Gotta love Google Translate.

---

https://www.dw.com/de/timo-boll-und-...na/a-6648361-0

Ist China für Sie eine zweite Heimat geworden? Oder nur ein netter Standort, um gutes Geld zu verdienen?, fragt "fantuanjun_TIM".

Wenn man schon so oft in China war wie ich, dann ist China sicherlich eine zweite Heimat geworden. Ich lerne nicht umsonst Chinesisch. Ich möchte mich mit den Menschen unterhalten können, vielleicht die Sprache für mein spätes Berufsleben nutzen.

Has China become a second home for you? Or just a nice location to earn good money? Asks "fantuanjun_TIM".

If you've been to China as often as I have, then China has certainly become a second home. I don't learn Chinese for free. I want to be able to talk to people, maybe use the language for my later professional life.

https://www.dw.com/zh/%E4%B9%92%E4%B...D/a-15484515-0

德国之声："饭团君TIM"问，你认为中国是第二故乡呢还是挣钱的大本营？

波尔：（笑）我已经去过这么多次中国，而且是从小就与中国有往来，中国自然已经成了我的第二故乡。我想即使在退役以后，也能继续与中国保持关联，中国对我的一生都有影响和改变，我非常尊重和喜爱这个国家。

Deutsche Welle: "The rice ball prince TIM" asked, do you think China is the second hometown or the base for making money?

Boll: (LOL) I have been to China so many times, and I have been in contact with China since I was a child. China has naturally become my second hometown. I think I can continue to be associated with China even after I retire. China has influenced and changed my life. I respect and love this country very much.

[zeio]

https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/ti...hina-1.5024700

Als im März die Olympischen Spiele auf nächstes Jahr verschoben wurden, war Timo Boll ein bisschen erleichtert. Er ist zwar immer noch einer der besten deutschen Tischtennisspieler, aber halt auch schon 39 Jahre alt; ein verlorenes Sportjahr wie 2020 tut ihm also besonders weh. Doch echte Schmerzen bereitet Boll seit dem Frühjahr nur der Rücken. Überbelastung hatte ihm eine Entzündung eingebrockt. Als die Spiele für 2020 abgesagt wurden, war er insgeheim froh. "Sonst wäre bei mir echter Stress ausgebrochen", sagt er über den kurzen Zeitraum, in dem er wieder hätte fit werden müssen: "Durch die Verschiebung erhalte ich die Chance, nächstes Jahr in Tokio topfit zu sein."

...

Der seit 2014 amtierende Präsident betont, dass er bei der Abstimmung der Kommission namens "World Ranking Group", der auch er angehört, gegen den aktuell geplanten Punktevergabemodus votiert habe; er sei aber überstimmt worden. "Ich bin sehr für diese Turnierserie, finde aber, man darf die Spieler mit dem Druckmittel Weltrangliste nicht zwingen teilzunehmen. Spieler, die teilnehmen, sollten vielmehr mit einer Art Bonus für die Weltrangliste belohnt werden." Er wolle das Thema im ITTF-Exekutivkomitee noch einmal auf die Agenda bringen: "Ich hoffe, dass das letzte Wort noch nicht gesprochen ist."

When the Olympic Games were postponed to next year in March, Timo Boll was a little relieved. He's still one of the best German table tennis players, but he's also 39 years old; a lost sports year like 2020 is particularly painful for him. But since spring Boll has only caused real pain in his back. Overwork had given him an infection. When the games for 2020 were canceled, he was secretly happy. "Otherwise I would have had real stress," he says of the short period in which he should have gotten fit again: "The postponement gives me the chance to be in top shape next year in Tokyo."

...

The president, who has been in office since 2014, emphasizes that he voted against the currently planned scoring mode when the commission called the "World Ranking Group", of which he is also a member, voted; but he had been outvoted. "I am very much in favor of this tournament series, but I think you shouldn't force the players to participate by using the world ranking as a means of pressure. Players who take part should rather be rewarded with a kind of bonus for the world ranking." He wanted to bring the topic back on the agenda in the ITTF Executive Committee: "I hope the last word has not yet been spoken."

[zeio]

https://hochi.news/articles/20200910...medium=twitter
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2a...72a0effeeca18f

　コロナ禍で大会の中止が相次いでいた卓球界が動き出す。国際連盟は１１月に国際大会を約８か月ぶりに再開すると４日に発表。石川は感染防止対策など、選手が安心してプレーできる環境が整うことを期待し、出場への意欲を示した。

　「何か行動しないと始まらない。安心できる環境であれば、私は出たいです。少しずつ試合が開催されるというニュースを聞いてすごくうれしく思いますし、またいいプレーができるように、さらに気合を入れて準備したいなと思います」

　１１月は男女Ｗ杯とＩＴＴＦファイナルが中国で開催。現状で参加選手は１か月以上の滞在が求められ、帰国時の２週間の隔離期間も考慮が必要だ。難しい判断を迫られるが、いずれも世界ランキングの格付けが高い大会。受け入れ態勢が不透明な中で前向きな姿勢を示したのは、五輪上位シードを争う覚悟の表れでもある。

　「もちろん不安もありますけど、ドリームマッチでも検温（記録の提出）だったり無観客だったり、今までとは違う。いきなり今までのような形は無理だと思うんです。でも自分自身も試合に出たいし、そうやって新しい形を受け入れつつもいろんなことをやっていって、東京五輪につながればいいなと思っています」

The table tennis world, where tournaments were canceled due to the corona disaster, has started to move. The ITTF announced on the 4th that it will resume international competitions in November for the first time in 8 months. Ishikawa has expressed her willingness to participate, expecting that an environment in which players can play with peace of mind, such as measures to prevent infection, will be established.

“If you don't do anything, then it won't start. I want to go out, if it's a safe environment. I'm very happy to hear the news that competitions will be held little by little, and I'd like to prepare more and more so that I can play well again.''

In November, the Men's and Women's World Cup and the ITTF Grand Finals will be held in China. At present, participating players are required to stay for at least 1 month, and it is necessary to consider a 2-week isolation period when returning to Japan. Although it is difficult to make decisions, all of them are highly rated in the world rankings. The positive attitude, despite uncertain acceptance, is also a sign of the determination to compete for a high seeding position at the Olympic.

"Of course I'm worried, because it's either temperature check(submitting records) or spectator-free at the Dream Match, which is different from the past. I realized the current way is infeasible. But I want to play competitions, and while doing so, accepting new formats, doing various things, and connecting to the Tokyo Olympics.''

[Sali]

Normal flights between China and Europe are back up. Flights between China and US are up as well. International players don't have to worry as long as they are healthy.

https://www.thejakartapost.com/trave...europeans.html
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1199705.shtml
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKCN25E2W0

Not exactly or maybe something has changed, two weeks ago when I checked you needed to take two weeks of quarantine after landing on China.

[zeio]

14-day quarantine is standard procedure now. The fact is there was next to no flight between China and Europe/US a few months back.

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/...rope-for-china
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/dipl...s-restrictions