ITTF Celebrates 100 Days to Paris Illuminating 160-Meter Skyscraper in Macao

The world of table tennis is buzzing with anticipation as we approach the pinnacle of sporting excellence – the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. ITTF hosted a special ‘100 days to Paris’ event in Macao with Olympic Champions, Ma Long and Chen Meng, ITTF President and IOC Member Petra Sörling, ITTF Deputy President Liu Guoliang, ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton, and ITTF Secretary General Raul Calin in attendance.

A light display was also illuminating Macao’s night on a 160-meter skyscraper with a special animation celebrating the milestone.

President Sörling commented, “I am thrilled as we kick off the 100-day countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This moment signifies the culmination of years of hard work and dedication from table tennis athletes worldwide. It represents not only the pinnacle of table tennis achievement but also the beginning of a remarkable display of talent and resilience from our athletes. As we enter into this final stretch, let us embrace the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship and eagerly await the thrilling table tennis action that awaits us in Paris.”

The first three days of competition at the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup, Macao 2024 have come to a thrilling conclusion, marking the end of the race for a place in Stage 2. Fans at the Galaxy Arena were kept on the edges of their seats throughout the intense competition.

In an electrifying opening match on day 3, Shusuke Togami continued his winning streak, building on the momentum from the previous day. With a thrilling victory over 10th seed Dang Qiu, he secured his spot in Stage 2, prevailing 3-1 in a significant upset. This win catapulted him to the top of the Group 11 rankings and guaranteed his place in the round of 16. Togami will now face 2023 Africa Cup winner Omar Assar tomorrow in the round of 16.

Suthasini Sawettabut achieved a remarkable feat at her Women’s World Cup debut by advancing through group 7 as the third-seeded player. Securing two games against both 8th seed Mima Ito and Amy Wang, in the only three-way win-to-loss game ratio draw of the event. Sawettabut secured her top position through her winning win-to-loss points ratio of 1.06, narrowly defeating Ito (0.99) and Wang (0.96). Sawettabut will encounter defending champion Chen Meng in a challenging round-of-16 match tomorrow

Darko Jorgic clashed with Lee Sang Su in a closely contested match in a nail-biting showdown that captivated fans. With each point carrying immense weight, the tension was palpable as the players battled fiercely. Despite the intense pressure, Jorgic claimed two games to draw with Lee. However, Jorgic narrowly clinched victory by edging out Lee by a mere 2 points, sealing his place in the round of 16. Jorgic will face off with Lin Gaoyuan tomorrow.

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Closing off Stage 1 with the tightest draw of the event, Sofia Polcanova secures her ticket to the round of 16 by a mere one-point margin, underlining the critical importance of every point in this thrilling new system. In a fiercely contested battle, Polcanova and Nina Mittleham engaged in an intense match that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Despite the immense pressure, Polcanova displayed remarkable composure and resilience, securing two crucial games to draw against Mittleham and accumulated 39 points, just one more point than Mittleham to book herself into the main draw in her fifth Women’s World Cup appearance. Polcanova will encounter Adriana Diaz in the round of 16 tomorrow.

With Stage 1 now concluded, anticipation builds for the upcoming battles in Stage 2. Stay tuned for more thrilling action at the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup.

The draw ceremony for the last 16 unfolded at the end of day 3, igniting excitement as players gear up for thrilling matches vying to claim the World Cup title in Macao.

Hosted at the state-of-the-art venue, Galaxy Arena, Macao, China from April 15th to Sunday, April 21st, this event marks the long-awaited return of the World Cup after a three-year hiatus. This exhilarating revival of the ITTF World Cups brings forth the 42nd and 25th editions of the Men’s & Women’s World Cup events, symbolising a rich legacy spanning over four decades. Don’t miss out on all the action and stay updated with schedules and results here.
The world of table tennis is buzzing with anticipation as we approach the pinnacle of sporting excellence – the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. ITTF hosted a special ‘100 days to Paris’ event in Macao with Olympic Champions, Ma Long and Chen Meng, ITTF President and IOC Member Petra Sörling, ITTF Deputy President Liu Guoliang, ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton, and ITTF Secretary General Raul Calin in attendance.

A light display was also illuminating Macao’s night on a 160-meter skyscraper with a special animation celebrating the milestone.

President Sörling commented, “I am thrilled as we kick off the 100-day countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This moment signifies the culmination of years of hard work and dedication from table tennis athletes worldwide. It represents not only the pinnacle of table tennis achievement but also the beginning of a remarkable display of talent and resilience from our athletes. As we enter into this final stretch, let us embrace the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship and eagerly await the thrilling table tennis action that awaits us in Paris.”