In a landmark move for Indian table tennis, World Table Tennis (WTT)—the events arm of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)—has launched WTT India, aiming to bring more elite-level, world-ranking tournaments to the country.
WTT India was officially formed earlier this month, placing India alongside global table tennis powerhouses like China, Singapore, Japan, Germany, and the USA, all of which have dedicated domestic WTT entities.
The initiative brings together some of the most influential figures in Indian table tennis. Former India great A. Sharath Kamal, who retired earlier this year, has been named the brand ambassador for WTT India. Meanwhile, Vita Dani, co-promoter of the Ultimate Table Tennis league and a member of the ITTF governing council, has joined as a board director.
In an interview with Sportstar, ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton said the launch marks the beginning of a bigger vision for the sport in India. “You will start to see more WTT events and more international events. Eventually, in the next few years, you will start to see some of our bigger events coming here, whether that’s Champions… we will explore Smash in the future as well. Although it’s a different road to get that, hopefully even World Championships and big events on that scale,” he explained.
He emphasized the importance of having a local team on the ground to fast-track progress: “Having people there that are working day to day on World Table Tennis will help us to achieve that quicker than having just us based out of Singapore trying to make it happen,” Dainton told Sportstar.
Sharath Kamal, reflecting on his new role, told Sportstar, “This moment feels like the turning of a page. The sport has come so far in India, and now, with the WTT officially here, we have the chance to elevate it like never before. I am proud to represent this next phase—not just as a player, but also as someone who truly believes in the potential of Indian table tennis.”
India currently hosts two WTT events annually—a Star Contender and a Youth Contender tournament. With the creation of WTT India, that number is expected to double in the next 12-month cycle.
As one WTT official noted to Sportstar, “India has done exceedingly well in the last seven to eight years, better than ever before. For us to really ensure that we tap into the right talent, we need to get the right champions ahead. The WTT partnership will bring a lot of value to us, and I think it’s important for us as a country to have a partnership like this.”
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