One of the world’s most popular sports will take centre stage in April with World Table Tennis Day activities taking place across the emirate of Dubai.
An ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) initiative, supported by Dubai Sports Council, the UAE Table Tennis Association and Ping Pong Dubai, World Table Tennis Day will see enthusiasts and novices testing their ping pong skills at multiple events, with plenty of give-a-ways and prizes to be won.
With over 40 million competitive players and millions more playing recreationally, table tennis is arguably the world’s largest participation sport. The sport will be the flavour of the month in April, with World Table Tennis Day falling just three weeks before the Dubai Table Tennis Asian Cup, the sport’s last major tournament before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
His Excellence Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, said: “Dubai’s celebration of World Table Tennis Day is a fantastic opportunity for families and people of all ages to discover ping pong as a fun and social way to stay active. With a strong spotlight on table tennis in Dubai this April, we look forward to seeing participation in this already popular sport increase further and reach new members of the community.”
Activities will kick off in Dubai on Friday 1 April with a World Table Tennis Day Tournament at Al Wasl Club. The event will be contested in five categories: under 15 boys, under 15 girls, men’s, women’s, and over-40 mixed. Entry is free and registration is open to all from 1-2pm, with play starting at 2pm.
On Wednesday 6 April, players with a competitive spirit are invited to enter the World Table Tennis Day Corporate Challenge, which will be held in the Atrium at DIFC. Entry is free and is open to all, from novices to players who aspire to reach the level of men’s world No 1 Ma Long. Registration will commence at 6pm and the knock out competition in men’s and women’s singles will commence at 6.30pm.
Free-to-Play tables will also be available for all to enjoy in DIFC on 6 April, in front of Caramel Restaurant from 11am to 6pm, as well as at Dubai Design District, D3, from 11am to 4pm. For those looking for more opportunities to hone their skills, Free-to-Play tables are also at Ripe Market in Zabeel Park every Friday until 21 April, excluding 1 April.
Dawoud Al Hajri, President of UAE Table Tennis Association, said: “The UAE has a fast-growing and passionate table tennis community and we look forward to World Table Tennis Day as an opportunity to introduce even more people to the sport. With Dubai’s diverse and cosmopolitan community – more than 200 nationalities call the emirate home – we expect our World Table Tennis Day events to be among the most international in the world, with people from all walks of life coming together to enjoy this fantastic sport.”
For those who develop a taste for the sport, the Dubai Table Tennis Asian Cup offers the chance to watch some of the world’s leading players in action, , including London 2012 gold medallist, Zhang Jike, and defending Asian Cup champion and World No 3 Xu Xin. The tournament is free to attend at Zabeel Hall 1 in the Dubai World Trade Centre from 28-30 April.
Visit #PingPongDubai on Facebook and Instagram for more information about table tennis initiatives and events in Dubai.
