SEOUL — After several postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Busan, the southeastern port city of South Korea, is set to host the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Team Table Tennis Championships from this week. This marks the first time the ping pong world championships will be held in South Korea, with the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) serving as the venue for all matches.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the championships will feature men's and women's team events, with 40 nations participating in each tournament. The event structure includes round robin action followed by knockout stages, with teams consisting of five players, three of whom will be eligible to play in each match. China is favored to continue its dominance in both the men's and women's categories, with its teams boasting top-ranked players worldwide.
South Korea, hosting the event, aims to secure its first world team medal since 2012, with high hopes placed on world No. 8 Shin Yu-bin and No. 21 Jeon Ji-hee in the women's team. The national team also aims to qualify for the Paris Olympics by reaching at least the quarterfinals. The championships present an opportunity for South Korea to showcase its table tennis prowess and for local fans to support their teams in an international competition hosted on home soil.