KZN TESTS READINESS FOR UPCOMING WORLD TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
With a little under four months before the hosting of the much-anticipated World Table Tennis Championships in KwaZulu-Natal, the country is currently had an opportunity to test its preparedness for this major event by hosting the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Series in Durban.
The WTT Contender Series was at the Durban’s Olive Convention Center from 10 - 15 January.
The competition serves as eliminations for top players from the continent of Africa and the world for the international showpiece scheduled to take place on 20-28 May at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
It also provides a critical pathway for players to progress through the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) ratings into the WTT Championships.
National Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa told the media in Durban on Thursday, 12/01/23, that government was in full support of the upcoming World Championships. He said it was a milestone for the tournament to return to the African soil after 84 years, after it was hosted in Egypt back in 1939.
Both the Minister and the President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Ms Petra Sorling said the hosting of this major tournament on the South African soil will surely spark major interest in the game of table tennis among the citizens of all ages.
The president of the SA Table Tennis Federation Mr Joe Currim added that there is a plan to promote table tennis is schools.
The Contender tournament has reached the critical Round of 16 and Quarterfinal stages. The finals will be played on Sunday, 15/01/23. The public is invited to attend the event at Olive Convention Centre.