says
Shoo...nothing to see here. - zeio
says
Shoo...nothing to see here. - zeio
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Well-Known Member
Well-Known Member
You don't get it. It was done to cut further losses. WCQ, SYS and WMY (the first two are the real moneymakers for WTT) could've also pulled the plug as well if you put it that way.
ITTF/WTT created a task force after that and held a players' forum at Singapore Smash 2025 where many athletes were invited to have their voices heard. They specifically mentioned meeting with "representatives of some Member Associations such as China, and Japan". So please, Japan is a key stakeholder in this farce. Keep in mind JTTA and DTTB openly criticized and the latter even attempted to sabotage WTT (here, here, here, and here). At the end of the day, both caused embarrassment to themselves only and brought nothing beneficial to the world of table tennis here, and here. Decades later, those opposing associations have really remained as stubborn as ever since the Racket Standardization proposed by China in 1959 (here and here). They should take a page at KTTA that's turned a new leaf.
2025 #01 Executive Board Meeting minutes
https://documents.ittf.sport/sites/default/files/public/2025-05/2025-01-02_EB_Minutes_p.pdf
2. Matter of the retirement of three Olympic Champions
...
Ms SÖRLING passed the word to Mr LIU, in his multiple capacities as Deputy President, Chair of WTT
and President of the CTTA. Mr LIU emphasised that while our sport will continue to grow and develop
in 2025, at the present time, and following the withdrawals of the three Olympic Champions from China
from the World Rankings, this is a sensible matter that the ITTF EB has to tackle. Mr LIU thanked all the
colleagues for their readiness to meet so soon, indicating that this situation also affects other
stakeholders such as fans and their sentiment toward the sport, sponsors, partners, etc., which might
affect the growth and development of our sport; wondering if, following the conclusion of the Paris
2024 Olympic Games, is the time to adjust some of the events regulations, especially the mandatory
events, and the associated penalties, referring to the social media interactions of several international
athletes in recent days.
2025 #02 Executive Board Meeting minutes
https://documents.ittf.sport/sites/default/files/public/2025-05/2025-02-11_EB_Minutes_p.pdf
5. Athletes
5.1. Task Force Report
...
Dr MESHREF complemented the report of Mr ACHANTA, explaining about the process taken, which
started with the establishment of the TF by a decision of the EB on 2nd January, the meeting of the TF
at the end of January, including the Chair of the Entourage Working Group and the President of FIT, the
meetings with the Athletes in Singapore, as well as meetings/communications with representatives of
some Member Associations such as China, and Japan, and the fact that the TS has already successfully
delivered initial results, plus more to come as per the categorisation mentioned above.
2025 #03 Executive Board & Continental Council Joint Meeting minutes
https://documents.ittf.sport/sites/default/files/public/2025-12/2025-05-21_EB_Minutes.pdf
9. Athletes
...
Mr ACHANTA acknowledged the changes introduced in the WTT Handbook in January/February
2025, which the athletes received positively.
Regarding areas for improvement, Mr ACHANTA highlighted the high cost of participation, the timing
of the calendar announcement and the conditions for exceptions from mandatory events.
Dr MESHREF thanked Ms LIU and Mr ACHANTA for their report and expressed being glad at the end of
the mandate because most of the requests received from the athletes have been considered, thanking
WTT for accommodating them.
Mr DAINTON reported on the creation of a “Professional Players Association” wondering what the role
of this Association would be when there is an already existing ITTF Athletes Commission which
members are elected by the Athletes and with two co-chairs being members of the ITTF Executive
Board, with voting rights.
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