SINGAPORE – With packed weekend crowds of about 2,500 cheering on their favourite table tennis stars, the Singapore Smash has seen a 77 per cent ticket sale increase from the 2023 edition for organisers World Table Tennis (WTT).It is understood that there is a multiple-year, seven-figure agreement with national agency Sport Singapore to keep the Singapore Smash.
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It is understood that there is a multiple-year, seven-figure agreement with national agency Sport Singapore to keep the Singapore Smash.
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While the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted plans to roll out four Grand Smashes, stops in Saudi Arabia and China have been added.
Duckitt said: “Our entire new WTT Series was affected. We were having a lot of good conversations with cities and countries and then they completely dried up as governments shifted their focus on the pandemic response and economic recovery.”
The inaugural Saudi Smash will take place from May 4 to 11 at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah while two Chinese cities are currently bidding to host the China Smash in late September.
Duckitt noted: “With three of our four Grand Smash hosts confirmed, it provides the opportunity for WTT to look for a fourth host outside of Asia, and we are engaged in conversations with potential hosts in Europe and the United States.
“Both locations provide different opportunities for WTT – Europe as the traditional home of table tennis allows us to link to our heritage, while a US Smash will provide the impetus to promote and expand the sport across North, Central and South America and an untapped but growing market for the sport.”
