The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Men’s and Women’s World Cup Macau 2024 kicks off today at the Galaxy Arena in Cotai, with the week-long event seeing 96 top table tennis players, 48 per event category, competing at the Galaxy Entertainment Group-presented event.
Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, both ranked as the world number ones in the men’s and women’s tournaments respectively, will be competing at the event, along with other players such as 2020 Men’s and Women’s World Cup champions Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng. Players, according to the event website, are set to compete for the Evans and Hammarlund Cup, along with a share of a US$ 1million prize pool.
A press conference was held at the arena yesterday, which was attended by ITTF President Petra Sörling, ITTF Deputy President Liu Guoliang, ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton, GEG Director Philip Cheng Yee Sing, and Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun.
In his speech, Pun, who also welcomed the players on behalf of the organisers, remarked that the event has had an “overwhelming response” since tickets went on sale, with tickets for the semi-finals and finals selling out shortly after.
Pun also told the media and attendees during the conference’s Q&A session that the government places a great importance on the sport industry, and with the successful convening of the event, more tourists and sport enthusiasts will come to Macau.
A draw ceremony was held after the press conference, with more details on the competition and draw results available on the event website on https://www.ittf.com/ .
The event’s semi-finals and finals will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively.
Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of yesterday’s press conference, Pun told reporters that repairs to the Olympic Sports Centre – Stadium, which had its football pitch damaged after two gigs were hosted there in January, were currently in the final stages.
Pun added that the bureau believed that football activities, at least part of them, could return to the stadium around the end of next week, but would depend on their arrangements.
Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun poses with the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup Macao 2024 mascot “BOBO” (波仔 – pronounced “bo zai”) after yesterday’s press conference at the Galaxy Arena. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
