China to host international table tennis restart events in November

Fan Zhendong (L) and Ma Long (R) appear at a press conference during the ITTF World Finals in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, December 15, 2019. /VCG

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has announced the return of the sport from November after the COVID-19 pandemic halted the calendar earlier this year.

"Ensuring a safe return to international table tennis has been our utmost priority ever since the pandemic broke out. We have managed to get events back up and running before the end of 2020," ITTF President Thomas Weikert said on Monday.

Multinational action will resume with three of the most prestigious events – the ITTF Women's World Cup, the ITTF Men's World Cup and the ITTF Finals – all of which will be held in Weihai, east China's Shandong Province.

Liu Shiwen of China in action during a semifinal of the World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest, Hungary, April 25, 2019. /VCG

The Women's World Cup is scheduled from November 8 to November 10, with Liu Shiwen and Zhu Yuling spearheading the Chinese squad.

Liu was victorious at the 2019 World Cup, defeating 2017 winner Zhu in the final.

World champion Ma Long and world No. 1 Fan Zhendong will lead the Chinese team at the men's World Cup, scheduled from November 13 to 15.

Also expected to participate are Japanese Harimoto Tomokazu and Niwa Koki, and Timo Boll from Germany.

(With input from Xinhua)