Xinhua News Agency, Budapest, April 22 (reporter Su Bin Yuan Liang) the 55th World Table Tennis Championships are being held in Budapest. The International Table Tennis Federation announced on the 22nd that Chengdu, China, won the right to host the 2022 World Table Tennis Championships, houston, USA will host the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships.
The International Table Tennis Federation held its annual Congress on the same day, during which 2021 and 2022 World Table Tennis Championships were held. In 2022, the three bidding cities of the World Table Tennis Championships were Chengdu, Kitakyushu, Japan and Lisbon, Portugal. Finally, Chengdu won.
Chengdu became the sixth city in China to host the World Table Tennis Championships after Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Suzhou. Chengdu hosted the Women’s World Cup in 2018, and this year’s men’s and Women’s World Cup was also held in Chengdu.
“I am looking forward to seeing pandas again. Both World Cups will be held in Chengdu this year. This is an experienced team.” Victor, chairman of the International Table Tennis Federation, said at a press conference.
Victor said that the 2022 world table tennis team was settled in Chengdu, or the members of the International Table Tennis Federation believed that Chengdu had rich experience in hosting the Games. Chengdu and the Chinese Table Tennis Association delegation showed confidence in presenting a wonderful event. Chengdu has held the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour Platinum event, with many spectators and excellent conditions. Athletes and members of the Association all know about it.
“I have been to Chengdu twice, which left a very good impression on me.” Victor said that especially after the Rio Olympics, he was surprised to see many young fans waiting for Chinese athletes outside the venues or hotels, who seemed to be pop stars, this kind of scene has not been seen for a long time.
Houston held the 2021th World Table Tennis Championships. This will be the first time since 1939 that the event will be held outside Asia and Europe. It is reported that the event will be held at the home of the US league basketball (NBA) Houston Rockets, and Victor also expressed his expectation.
In the future, the International Table Tennis Federation will also relax the restrictions on the color of the athlete’s racket rubber. At present, the rubber of the athlete’s racket is black and red. According To Danton, the chief executive officer of the International Table Tennis Federation, after the Tokyo Olympics, one side of the racket used by the athlete is still black, the other side can be changed to another color conditionally.
Danton said that the color of the ball and the light of the stadium should be considered when changing the rubber color of the racket, so there are still some restrictions. The specific color also needs to be approved by the equipment Committee, therefore, there will be no changes before the Tokyo Olympics.
Victor revealed that the International Table Tennis Federation is also considering using yellow table tennis after the Tokyo Olympics, but the plan is still in the proposed stage and needs to make a decision through experiments, combining TV broadcasting and athletes’ opinions.