ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025, Chengdu, 11/30-12/7

[JackJohnson]

here is the ruling:

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To me, it is clear that each team match needs to be based on the playing system. It doesn't say you can just play with 2 and it doesn't say each team list shall consist of 3 or 4players.
From what we interpret when asked, is either 3 mens/womens or 4mens/womens needs to play (these are the only 2 options). So for a team like France having 6 players and one get injured, that is a problem.

It doesn't talk about team entries, France played with a team of 2 males. so they can only field max 2 females. based on the other ruling. So this means the team does not meet 3 or 4 players per gender ruling for the team matches.
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how would you interpret it to say it is okay for two?

I am sure we can both agree, ITTF and rules, have a world class track record of poorly written (and from what we saw, poorly officiated too)

So if France field 2 females and 2 males does that mean the opponent has to field 2 females and 2 males as well or could the opponent field 3 females and 3 males?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

So if France field 2 females and 2 males does that mean the opponent has to field 2 females and 2 males as well or could the opponent field 3 females and 3 males?

the rule is you as a team, can field 3 or 4 per gender.

so one team can be 3, the other team 4, it doesn't matter.
it doesn't say you can field 2 - if it says you can field 2, the other team can field 3 or 4.

some teams don't even have 4 there.

 

[JackJohnson]

the rule is you as a team, can field 3 or 4 per gender.

so one team can be 3, the other team 4, it doesn't matter.
it doesn't say you can field 2 - if it says you can field 2, the other team can field 3 or 4.

some teams don't even have 4 there.

Just read the playing system again that you posted and to me it’s clear that France broke the rules by fielding 2 males and 2 females only. It says must field at least 3 per gender.

Sometimes I wonder what the point on these rules if even ITTF are not going to follow them. From WYC to XDWC umpires/match referees have been really bad.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Just read the playing system again that you posted and to me it’s clear that France broke the rules by fielding 2 males and 2 females only. It says must field at least 3 per gender.

Sometimes I wonder what the point on these rules if even ITTF are not going to follow them. From WYC to XDWC umpires/match referees have been really bad.

all I can say, even the umpires and match referee is still learning it.
its not like they can practice this before a "world cup".

one would imagine you would have national tournaments and international tournaments with such playing system before getting to a world cup. But not in table tennis, we have way too many playing systems, we can write a book of all of them

 

[JackJohnson]

all I can say, even the umpires and match referee is still learning it.
its not like they can practice this before a "world cup".

one would imagine you would have national tournaments and international tournaments with such playing system before getting to a world cup. But not in table tennis, we have way too many playing systems, we can write a book of all of them

Technically France should have been disqualified by now as they haven’t followed the rules. The matches against Brazil, Germany and now Romania they have only fielded 2 females and 2 males. So technically they should have 0 wins right now so that effectively puts them bottom of the group lol.

If Romania end up losing their match against France someone from the Romania team got a clear right to complain to the umpires/match referees. Their argument is valid.

 

[JackJohnson]

Watching the Brazil vs Germany match both teams have only fielded 2 males and 2 females each as well.

 

[driversbeat]

Finally Yuan and Pavade playing doubles. Never knew why France isn't trying out this pairing more (they're losing though lol).

Always felt that it made more sense for Yuan to play WD and Pavade for XD given their styles.

 

[driversbeat]

all I can say, even the umpires and match referee is still learning it.
its not like they can practice this before a "world cup".

one would imagine you would have national tournaments and international tournaments with such playing system before getting to a world cup. But not in table tennis, we have way too many playing systems, we can write a book of all of them

Everyone is confused about the rules. Commentator today (I assume mistakenly) said that Szocs could play WS after XD.

 

[zeio]

S1 G2 M5
JPN vs CRO
Hayata/Togami - Ban/Arapovic
Harimoto2 - Rakovac
Harimoto1 - Pucar
Harimoto2/Odo - Jerger/Rakovac
Matsushima/Togami - Kojic/Ban

Good call to bench Ito for WS, Matsushima for MS and Ito/Hayata WD after the cold sweat against IND. Losing to CRO would be disastrous.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Watching the Brazil vs Germany match both teams have only fielded 2 males and 2 females each as well.

With the Brazil match, we didnt see the doubles.
But it is clear teams of 2 is being allowed by ITTF

 

[JackJohnson]

With the Brazil match, we didnt see the doubles.
But it is clear teams of 2 is being allowed by ITTF

They showed the players who are playing womens and mens doubles and both teams would have only utilised 2 players per gender if all games were played.

ITTF need to come out with a statement on what the rules are. We seeing teams only fielded 2 per gender but the rules state that a team needs to field at least 3-4 per gender. So which rule is correct?

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

here is the ruling:

View attachment 39288

View attachment 39289
View attachment 39290

To me, it is clear that each team match needs to be based on the playing system. It doesn't say you can just play with 2 and it doesn't say each team list shall consist of 3 or 4players.
From what we interpret when asked, is either 3 mens/womens or 4mens/womens needs to play (these are the only 2 options). So for a team like France having 6 players and one get injured, that is a problem.

It doesn't talk about team entries, France played with a team of 2 males. so they can only field max 2 females. based on the other ruling. So this means the team does not meet 3 or 4 players per gender ruling for the team matches.
View attachment 39291

how would you interpret it to say it is okay for two?

I am sure we can both agree, ITTF and rules, have a world class track record of poorly written (and from what we saw, poorly officiated too)

I do agree that it's poorly written.

However, playing devil's advocate here, but technically, there is a team of 3/gender for France. It's just that 1/gender are cheerleading from the bench. There's no explicit rule that you must play all 3/4 players, and you can see that teams of 4 don't necessarily play all 4 players. So France can reason that since teams of 4 don't play all 4, why do we need to play all 3? Now, it's quite possible that France is following the letter, but not the spirit of the "law", or maybe ITTF intended all along that what France is doing is perfectly fine, but who knows ... ITTF should have clarified from the very beginning what is acceptable.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I do agree that it's poorly written.

However, playing devil's advocate here, but technically, there is a team of 3/gender for France. It's just that 1/gender are cheerleading from the bench. There's no explicit rule that you must play all 3/4 players, and you can see that teams of 4 don't necessarily play all 4 players. So France can reason that since teams of 4 don't play all 4, why do we need to play all 3? Now, it's quite possible that France is following the letter, but not the spirit of the "law", or maybe ITTF intended all along that what France is doing is perfectly fine, but who knows ... ITTF should have clarified from the very beginning what is acceptable.

Thats asking too much from ITTF
this is why I would love media interviews

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

So I asked them to ask ITTF
Teams of 2s is also allowed

 

[JackJohnson]

Have they change the rules when it comes to reviewing if a serve in doubles is served diagonally? Miwa and Odo reviewed and got a point for it. I remember it was a previous event where there was TTR I believe it was Kaufman and her partner try to review it but the umpire said they couldn’t review it.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Teams of 2 does make it very boring to be honest

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

The audience was pretty quiet when Japan won a point and cheered loudly when Croatia won a point. Could be other reasons for it, but sadly I think politics is coming into play.

 

[driversbeat]

Have they change the rules when it comes to reviewing if a serve in doubles is served diagonally? Miwa and Odo reviewed and got a point for it. I remember it was a previous event where there was TTR I believe it was Kaufman and her partner try to review it but the umpire said they couldn’t review it.

Serve didn't cross the middle line so point penalty for server. Has always been the case.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Have they change the rules when it comes to reviewing if a serve in doubles is served diagonally? Miwa and Odo reviewed and got a point for it. I remember it was a previous event where there was TTR I believe it was Kaufman and her partner try to review it but the umpire said they couldn’t review it.

Yeah
They said TTR was for service toss/legality only, not for lines.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

The audience was pretty quiet when Japan won a point and cheered loudly when Croatia won a point. Could be other reasons for it, but sadly I think politics is coming into play.

There is a huge anti Japan drive at the moment
Miwa’s fan event got cancelled.
One famous Japanese singer ( Ayumi Hamasaki) sang to an empty stadium in shanghai, but continued for those having online tickets. There are reports that authorities prevented fans from entering and they trying to deny this event even occured.
Her Facebook page:

Facebook

www.facebook.com

And a very mature quote:

Another Japanese singer was mid way when her mic got turned off and was asked to get off the stage.

Politics is everywhere unfortunately.