The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) welcomes and fully supports World Table Tennis (WTT)’s latest regulatory enhancements to the WTT Series, marking a significant step forward in player-centric governance and event development.
The changes —including greater flexibility in mandatory participation rules, an additional USD 1 million in prize money, and direct entry for reigning Olympic champions— reflect a collective commitment to strengthening the professional table tennis landscape.
ITTF President Petra Sörling commented, “Players are at the heart of everything we do, and we remain committed to listening to their perspectives. I am delighted to see World Table Tennis implementing these positive reforms, demonstrating our collective ability to address concerns genuinely, collaboratively, and swiftly. These adjustments not only enhance the prestige of the WTT Series but also reflect a balanced approach to player well-being.”
To support this process, the ITTF Executive Board established a dedicated Task Force on 2 January in response to player concerns. Bringing together representatives from both ITTF and WTT, the Task Force engaged directly with athletes, gathered extensive feedback, and conducted a thorough review of existing regulations. It provided several recommendations, from which WTT selected the first set of updates.
President Sörling extended her deep appreciation to the Task Force, whose expertise and dedication played a pivotal role in shaping these reforms. She specifically acknowledged the contributions of Task Force members: Sharath Kamal Achanta, Co-Chair of the ITTF Athletes Commission; Dr. Alaa Meshref and Wahid Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice Presidents; Mounir Bessah, WTT Executive Director of Events; Polona Cehovin, WTT Head of Player Relations; Jean-Michel Saive, Chair of the ITTF Entourage Group; and Andreas Hain, President of the Federation of International Table Tennis Manufacturers (FIT).
“Their tremendous efforts in engaging players and the broader table tennis community were instrumental in initiating a comprehensive review, leading to meaningful changes that elevate the WTT Series while prioritizing athlete interests,” she noted.
She also expressed gratitude to Liu Guoliang and Steve Dainton for their constructive collaboration in their roles of WTT Chair and Chief Executive Officer, emphasizing the importance of an open dialogue in advancing table tennis at the highest level.
“The success of this process reaffirms the strength of our partnership and our shared ambition to provide the best possible conditions for athletes to perform and thrive.”
With the Task Force having successfully conducted its mission, ITTF remains committed to working alongside WTT to support the seamless implementation of these changes and to ensure continued progress for the global table tennis community.
Full details on the WTT Series regulatory updates are available on WTT website.
