ITTF President Petra Sorling praised the WTT China Smash in Beijing as a flagship event and a model for other organizers, highlighting its community activities, player services and integration of Olympic legacy with local culture. She said the tournament showed how table tennis could reach wider audiences beyond competition, while innovation would help attract younger fans.
by sportswriters Li Chunyu, Su Bin and Yue Ranran
BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- As the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash returned to Beijing's Shougang Park for a third consecutive year, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Petra Sorling praised the event as a flagship and a model from which other organizers can draw inspiration.
"Among all events in the WTT calendar, China Smash here in Beijing is really important and special for us," said Sorling on Saturday. "Our athletes like it a lot, and we have good support from the fans. We are also proud to be a sport that can be played on the highest level in the capital city. It's more than just table tennis."
Shougang Park, home to the Winter Olympic venue Big Air Shougang, has developed into a popular sports and tourism destination amid its preserved industrial heritage.
"I was here for the Winter Olympics in 2022 when I saw skiers making their different loops in the sunshine," Sorling said. "I was so impressed for how this park was converted, combining modern architecture together with a former industrial area. I'm very proud that we can use the Olympic legacy for table tennis, not only once but every year."
At the foot of Big Air Shougang, less than one kilometer from the China Smash competition venues, a Smash Park was set up with catering services and sports activities. Visitors could watch matches live on big screens and meet table tennis stars at autograph sessions.
"The Smash Park itself is a good example. A family can come to have a picnic and meet with friends. It's a way to bring out the events to the community, not only for the few with a ticket inside but a bigger crowd. I even tried to see if we can do something similar at the Olympics," Sorling said.
The ITTF president said the China Smash offered lessons for other organizers in areas ranging from community engagement to player services.
"The China Smash is a presentation. It's about how to build the Smash Park with the community. In terms of the care of the players, they have everything close around. The players can walk and don't have to transport themselves," she further explained.
Running from October 1 to 11, this year's China Smash coincided with China's National Day holiday from October 1 to 7, bringing the tournament into the wider holiday atmosphere.
"If possible, to have an event during a holiday is a big advantage. This is a chance for family to come together and really enjoy. We have a calendar, and to schedule everything is not always easy. But when we can do it like here during a holiday and festival season, it is the best," Sorling noted.
The draw and opening ceremonies also incorporated Chinese cultural elements.
"Within the venue, when you are at the table, it looks the same. But like the draw ceremony, it was held in such an iconic and historical place, adding cultural aspects of music, dancing and some painting," Sorling said. "It helps us to learn more about each other and experience more than just coming to another place and play table tennis."
"The draw ceremony was not only for the ones who are here, but also followed by millions of viewers around the world. So it's a good way to showcase, and I believe that many would like to come when they see this beautiful video from the draw ceremony," she added.
Even after the holiday, the tournament continued to attract spectators with its latter stages, while the China Youth Smash, featuring more than 100 young players, ran from Friday to Sunday.
"For the young players here, it means a lot. Myself and CTTA (Chinese Table Tennis Association) president Wang Liqin went to meet with the players and speak with them. We asked them about their dreams and how we can do better for them. They dream of one day being here as a senior player. It is actually a very important educational tool to bring the youth closer to the senior level of players," Sorling said.
Sorling said the presentation of the sport beyond competition itself was increasingly important to the success of WTT events.
"What I can say in the landscape also as an IOC (International Olympic Committee) member is that sport today is about entertaining. It means that we can't only focus on the match itself. It has to be presented in a way that the younger audience want to come and like to be part."
At the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, table tennis will feature six events, including the newly introduced mixed team competition alongside men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
"For a very long time, table tennis had four medal events until the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. We feel like the athletes deserve more chances to win medals, and we also know that it's very difficult to get a new discipline and a new medal event to the program. The mixed doubles was an easier choice for us back at the Tokyo Games, then we had five medal events," Sorling recalled.
"We were innovating around that, then it became a Mixed Team World Cup with a new playing format. It's a little bit faster as we are counting the set. We felt immediately that this was appealing for the young audience and the fans. Then, we started to inform and inspire the IOC of this new innovation," she said. "I'm very excited about LA28 when we will be the racket sport with the most medal events."
This year marks the ITTF's 100th anniversary, and Sorling said the federation would continue to innovate and adapt through new concepts and technologies.
"We are thinking of and working every day to improve and make our sport relevant for the next generations to come. What table tennis looks like in the next 100 years is something that we are working on. Here we are really happy to listen to the athletes and our fans - 'What do you want? How can we do better'?" ■
