Staged from Wednesday 1st to Saturday 4th January, the Marvellous 12 forms part of China’s selection policy for the major events of the year, notably the World Team Championships to be staged in Busan in late March.

However, it is Gondomar in Portugal that eyes focus on the international scene. From Wednesday 22nd to Sunday 26th January, the ITTF World Team Qualification tournament will staged.

At the conclusion of proceedings nine outfits will qualify to each of the men’s team and women’s team events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; furthermore, each team will be entitled to confirm two players to compete in each of the men’s singles and women’s singles events.

Notable teams

Major contenders for honours in Tokyo, the likes of China, Germany and Japan have already qualified but there are most significant teams on duty.

At the Zen-Noh 2019 World Team Cup, the Korea Republic and Chinese Taipei were prominent, both bronze secured medals in the women’s team event, in the men’s team competition it was silver for Korea Republic, bronze for Chinese Taipei.

Both compete are listed amongst the 34 men’s and 30 women’s teams that will compete in Gondomar.

Pacific coast

Meanwhile, as play progresses on the Atlantic coast, it is the same on the Pacific coast; the Chile Para Open takes place in Santiago from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th January. Just as in Gondomar there is a Tokyo bearing; vital world ranking points are at stake.

The top ranked male athletes, not otherwise qualified, taking into account the quota for the individual event, on the ITTF Para World Rankings for Tuesday 31st March 72 men and 28 women will gain places for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Theme

Improving world status, it is very much the theme at the end of the month, the ITTF World Tour 2020 German Open commences with qualification on Tuesday 28th January. Moreover, there is an Olympic ring to the tournament.

Gold medallists in Rio de Janeiro four years ago, China’s Ma Long and Ding Ning appear on the entry list.