World Table Tennis (WTT) is gearing up to set the stage alight with its arrival in 2021 and it’s not just the senior stars who are set to benefit.
WTT promises to take the sport of table tennis in an exciting and dynamic direction, putting the world’s biggest stars front and centre for all to admire, and is also set to shake up the sport in the junior structure to replace the ITTF World Junior Circuit which has played a significant role in guiding some of today’s most eye-catching talents to the very top.
Showcasing the stars of tomorrow, the new WTT Youth Series will hand the next generation of table tennis talents the perfect stage to develop and bring you closer to the future of table tennis!
FRESH TALENTS. FRESH STRUCTURE. FRESH APPROACH.
The new structure will be broken down into two tiers: WTT Youth Contenders and WTT Youth Star Contenders and aligns the WTT Youth Series with the WTT Series to create a whole of sport playing pathway.
With the aim of increasing inter-generation competitiveness and giving the opportunity for more talented and/or faster improving players to put their skills to the test against slightly older opponents, the WTT Youth series will include the following age categories: U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19.
The journey for table tennis players begins with the WTT Youth Contenders, which will open the playing field to all young, up-and-coming athletes. Up to 30 events per year are being targeted, providing plenty of opportunity for players to earn World Ranking points along the way. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) will be required to host U15 and U19 athletes and will be encouraged to welcome all other age categories too.
The next step up the international ladder, the WTT Youth Star Contenders will be reserved for the cream of the future crop, with performance and World Ranking points earned at the WTT Youth Contender events determining who qualifies for the Youth Star Contender series.
Increased prize money in addition to high-level event production, playing conditions and sports presentation, 32 boys and 32 girls will line up in the singles categories as they look to state their intentions loud and clear to the table tennis world!
All matches will be contested in a best of five games format under the new regulations, while prize money and TV production funding will be handled by WTT, moving the added expenditure away from the LOC.
SAFETY AT THE HEART OF EVENT SCHEDULING
WTT’s senior events are due to kick off from March 2021 and the WTT Youth Series will be up and running from the following month. April 2021 is the targeted launch time in order to allow a smooth transition to the new system, whilst continuing to prioritise safety during these times of global uncertainty.
Further steps will be taken to promote and maintain a safe environment including:
Boys’ and girls’ events will take place separately with a day off between the events;
Omittance of mixed doubles and team competitions;
All participants should be accommodated in the official hospitality package (entry fee option will not be available).
Furthermore, the delayed start to the WTT Youth Series will allow, for the first time, multiple Youth Series events to be scheduled in the same week in separate continents.
BIDDING PROCESS BEGINS!
As of today, the bidding process to host WTT Youth Series events is open with interested National Associations free to stage multiple events over the course of 2021.
Put your city in the spotlight and prepare to welcome the sport’s brightest talents with the WTT Youth Series!
To submit your bid or for more information, please contact us at youth@worldtabletennis.com.
The deadline to submit your bid is 15 November 2020.
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