The translation is not accurate. I asked a native speaker and was told that top 4 male players are used as an example in this context. It's implied that the top 4 female players are funded (in some of the Star Contender and Contender tournaments) as well.
That is a verbatim translation. Japanese is a high-context language and the subject is usually implied so it's rare to see the gender stated explicitly and expect the readers to interpret that as unisex when it applies to both sexes (like in JTTA regulations the gender is implied and not stated explicitly, and instead NT、JNT 及び HNT 所属選手/the respective NT, JNT, and HNT players). There is another article by the same author (Konno Noboru) on the same topic in 2023 where he didn't explicitly state the gender and 選手/players or 日本選手/Japanese players is used instead.
WTTに参戦する選手たちの経済的負担。卓球のプロ選手はどこを目指すのか (The financial burden on players participating in the WTT. Where do professional table tennis players aim to go?)
https://world-tt.com/blog/news/archives/129111
2023.10.18
1大会に参戦すれば数十万円の出費。
その費用は誰が払うのか。協会の予算は無尽蔵にはない
9月から10月にかけて行われたヨーロッパ選手権やアジア競技大会が終わり、国際舞台はWTT（ワールド・テーブルテニス／卓球の国際ツアー戦）ツアーへと移っていく。WTTフィーダー／コンテンダー／スターコンテンダーという格付けは日本の卓球愛好者もなんとなく、理解しているだろう。その上のWTTチャンピオンズ、WTTファイナルズが11、12月に続く。
多くの日本選手がこれらの大会に参戦しているのだが、それぞれのエントリー事情が違うことを知っている卓球ファンは少ないだろう。
先にドイツの事情を説明しよう。チウ・ダン、オフチャロフ、フランチスカなどを擁するドイツ男子チーム。オリンピック、世界選手権、ヨーロッパ選手権、そして一部のWTTはドイツ卓球協会がエントリー（大会申込）、交通費、宿泊費などの費用をすべて負担する。
しかし、それ以外のWTTの大会は協会がエントリーを行うが、費用は個人負担になっている。ヨーロッパ選手がアジアのWTTに出る場合、1大会に出るのに選手ひとりにつき50～80万円かかるので、1年で10大会に出るとすれば数百万円の出費となる。これは日本選手も同様だ。
選手によっては、卓球メーカーとの契約の中に2～3大会のWTTの費用負担が含まれるケースもあるが、これはそれなりに世界ランキングの高い選手の場合で、卓球メーカーは選手に100～200万円の契約金を与えているのと同じことになる。多くの選手は自己負担はまぬがれない。
自らもかつてワールドツアーに出ていたトップ選手で、現在は選手のケアをすることもあるTBE（タマス・バタフライ・ヨーロッパ）の梅村礼さんに話を聞いた。
「ドイツでは協会はジュニア選手はある程度サポートするが、シニア（一般）の選手は自分で負担しなさいというスタンス。WTTでも協会はエントリーのみ。大会に出るのに毎回オフィシャルの高いホテルに泊まれないから、アパートを共同で借りたり、試合で負けたら宿泊費がもったいないので、すぐにチケットを変更して帰国し、ひとつでも多く大会に出られるようにプランニングするのは当たり前です。ハングリーなプロ選手としては自立していますね」
ほとんどの日本選手は、日本卓球協会がエントリー、宿泊、飛行機のチケットの手配を行う。主要な大会の費用を協会が負担するのはドイツと同じだが、それ以外のWTTに関しても選手たちのケアをする。ジュニア（ユース）の試合（WTTユースなど）も多く、WTTにも相当な数の選手が参戦するので、協会スタッフの仕事量は膨大なものになる。
WTT参戦には「協会負担」と「自己負担」がある。
プロの選手たちはどこを目指すのか
最近、WTTに参戦する日本選手や関係者から「WTTに参戦したくても経済的に大きな負担だ」という話を聞く。実際には、日本卓球協会の強化予算の範囲の中で、男女監督が数名の選手を「協会派遣」として、その費用は協会が負担する。JNT（ジュニアナショナルチーム）も同様だ。
ちなみに今年度の日本卓球協会の強化予算は約5億円、昨年度は約4.2億円だったので、減っているわけではない。多いようにも見えるが、この予算で「WTTに参戦した選手の経費をすべてまかなえる」わけではない。
通常WTTには「協会派遣」以外の選手は自己負担で参戦する。卓球部として予算を相当に持っているチームは、会社（スポンサー）が負担できるが、個人で活動している選手にとっては非常に大きな負担となる。
選手によっては専任コーチ、練習相手、マッサーを帯同させると、1大会だけで相当な出費となるので、個人ではもはや不可能で、強力な母体（もしくはスポンサー）に所属していないと出たいと思うWTTには参戦できない。
ヨーロッパの選手が日本の強化体制をうらやむ話をよく聞くし、プロ卓球選手にとって理想的な環境のように考えているが、実際にはごくひと握りのトップ選手だけが可能なのだ。
日本卓球協会の強化予算は無尽蔵にあるわけではなく、過去にもオリンピックが近づけば「世界チームランキング」を上げるために戦略的に選手派遣をしてきた。世界選手権やオリンピックの代表クラスになれば。「協会派遣」の恩恵を受けるかもしれないが、それ以外の中堅の選手は自力で上がっていくしかない。
その「自力」と言う時に、実力だけでなく、サポートしてもらえる環境や金銭的な面が重要になるのは言うまでもない。
かつて日本人として初めて世界最強のドイツ・ブンデスリーガに挑戦した松下浩二氏はこう言った。「目の前のお金をつかもうとすると強くはなれない。強くなれば必然的にお金はついてくるものだ」と。
プロ選手が多くなっている日本の卓球界。目の前のお金をつかもうとするのか、実力を上げることを第一とするのか。選手の将来は、目指す方向によって決まるとも言える。
<写真＝WTT>
2023.10.18
Participating in 1 tournament can cost hundreds of thousands of yen.
Who pays for that? The association's budget isn't limitless
After the European Championships and Asian Games, held from September to October, the international stage shifts to the WTT (World Table Tennis) tour. Japanese table tennis enthusiasts are likely familiar with the WTT Feeder, Contender, and Star Contender tiers. The WTT Champions and WTT Finals follow in November and December.
While many Japanese players compete in these tournaments, few table tennis fans realize that the entry requirements for each tournament are different.
Let me first explain the situation in Germany. The German men's team includes Qiu Dan, Ovtcharov, and Franziska. For the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships, and some WTT tournaments, the German Table Tennis Association covers all entry costs, including travel and accommodation.
However, for other WTT tournaments, the association handles entries, but the costs are borne by the individual.
When European players participate in Asian WTT tournaments, it costs 500,000 to 800,000 yen per player to participate in one tournament, so if they participate in 10 tournaments in a year, the expenditure would amount to several million yen. The same is true for Japanese players.
Some players' contracts with table tennis manufacturers include covering the costs of 2 or 3 WTT tournaments, but this is only for players with relatively high world rankings, and it is the same as if the table tennis manufacturer were to give the player a signing bonus of 1 to 2 million yen. Most players are unable to avoid paying the costs themselves.
We spoke with Umemura Rei of TBE (Tamasu Butterfly Europe), a former top player who once competed on the World Tour and now sometimes looks after players.
"In Germany, the association provides some support to junior players, but expects senior (general) players to pay for their own expenses. Even with the WTT, the association only handles entries. Since they can't afford the expensive official hotels every time they compete, they share an apartment, and if they lose a match, they quickly change their ticket and return home, since it would be a waste to pay for accommodation. It's only natural for them to plan their trips so they can compete in as many tournaments as possible. As a hungry professional player, they're very independent."
For most Japanese players, the Japan Table Tennis Association handles entry, accommodation, and flight arrangements. While the association covers the costs of major tournaments, just like in Germany, it also takes care of players' expenses at other WTT events. There are many junior (youth) tournaments (such as WTT Youth), and a considerable number of players participate in WTT, so the association staff has a huge workload.
WTT participation can be "association-funded" or "self-funded."
Where are professional players aiming?
Recently, I've heard from Japanese players and those involved in WTT that "even if they want to participate in WTT, it's a huge financial burden."
In reality, within the Japan Table Tennis Association's training budget, male and female head coaches designate several players to be "dispatched by association," and the association covers their expenses. The same applies to the JNT (Junior National Team).
By the way, this year's JTTA development budget is approximately 500 million yen, and last year it was approximately 420 million yen, so it hasn't decreased. While this may seem like a lot, this budget does not "cover all the expenses of the players participating in the WTT."
Usually, players who are not "dispatched by association" participate in the WTT at their own expense. Teams with substantial table tennis club budgets can have their companies (sponsors) cover the costs, but this poses a significant burden for players who compete independently.
Depending on the player, bringing a full-time coach, practice partners, and masseurs can result in significant expenses for just one tournament, making it impossible for individuals to do so. Unless they belong to a powerful parent organization (or sponsor), they cannot participate in the WTT they desire.
I often hear European players envy Japan's development system, and they think it's the ideal environment for professional table tennis players, but in reality, only a handful of top players have the means.
The Japan Table Tennis Association's development budget is not limitless, and in the past, as the Olympics approached, it has strategically sent players to improve its "World Team Ranking." Players who become World Championships or Olympic representatives may benefit from this "dispatched by association," but other mid-level players have no choice but to improve themselves.
When we say "self-reliance," it goes without saying that not only skills but also the supportive environment and financial aspects are important.
Matsushita Koji, the first Japanese player to challenge the world's most powerful German league, once said, "If you try to grab the money in front of you, you won't become strong. If you become strong, the money will inevitably follow."
The number of professional players in Japanese table tennis is increasing. Will they aim for the money in front of them, or will they prioritize improving their skills? It could be said that a player's future is determined by the direction they aim for.
<Photo = WTT>
