ITTF Forms Task Force to Tackle Players' Issues Following World Rankings Controversy
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Beijing, Jan 3 (NationPress) The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced on Friday the creation of a dedicated task force to collect feedback from players and assess existing regulations, following the recent exit of three Olympic champions from the world rankings.
This decision was made following the endorsement of an ITTF Executive Board meeting that took place on Thursday, in response to significant concerns arising after celebrated Chinese players Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Chen Meng withdrew from the ITTF world rankings published on December 31, 2024. The ITTF stated that as part of this initiative, players, their teams, coaches, and relevant ITTF bodies will be thoroughly consulted, according to reports from Xinhua.
Moreover, a players' forum is scheduled to occur during the 2025 World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash, taking place from January 30 to February 9, offering a transparent platform for addressing player concerns. The statement from the governing body of global table tennis emphasized, “The ITTF is fully committed to fostering a supportive atmosphere for players' welfare and encouraging open dialogue within the entire table tennis community.”
In support of this initiative, the WTT expressed complete backing for the ITTF Executive Board's decision to establish the task force.
“As the international professional foundation for our sport, WTT acknowledges the essential role players, coaches, and teams have in shaping the future of table tennis,” stated WTT in a press release. “The formation of this task force guarantees that their voices are not only acknowledged but also central to the decision-making process. The Players' Forum will serve as a crucial opportunity for open and constructive dialogue, highlighting the significance of transparency and inclusivity in our sport.”
Members of the task force include Sharath Kamal Achanta, co-chair of the ITTF Athletes Commission, ITTF executive vice presidents Alaa Meshref and Wahid Oshodi, WTT executive director of events Mounir Bessah, and Polona Cehovin, WTT head of player relations. When announcing their withdrawal from world rankings on social media, both Fan and Chen mentioned the WTT rules that impose fines on players who do not participate in events.
In addition to confirming the withdrawal of the three Olympic champions from the world rankings, the Chinese Table Tennis Association stated on Tuesday that it has been actively collaborating with the ITTF and WTT to advocate for reasonable modifications to competition rules.
