Image source: ITTF official blog.
China News Network, March 17th. Beijing time. On the 16th, the ITTF Executive Committee held an emergency meeting to discuss the impact of the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic on the international table tennis tournament schedule and made a number of decisions.
Previously, the ITTF had made the decision to postpone the 2020 World Table Tennis Team Championships and the ITTF World Tour Japan Open, and suspended all events and activities before the end of April.
Data map: The 2019 World Table Tennis Championships will start at the Budapest Exhibition Center on April 21st. The picture shows two people in the game. Photo by China News Agency reporter Ma Yuanhao
In view of the severe global spread of new coronavirus pneumonia, the ITTF Executive Committee reiterated after this meeting that all ITTF events and activities will be suspended before the end of April.
The ITTF Executive Committee will meet again on March 29 to study the latest situation and confirm whether it is necessary to postpone the holding of events and events. The group table tennis tournament tentatively scheduled to be held from June 21st to 28th may not be able to proceed normally. If further extension is necessary, we will study and formulate an alternative plan to extend the tournament to the end of 2020.
In view of the fact that the Olympic qualifying games originally scheduled for April could not be held as scheduled, the ITTF will formulate a feasible solution for the qualification of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The scheme will be discussed first within the ITTF Intercontinental Association and the Athlete Committee, and then submitted to the International Olympic Committee for a joint ruling.
Data map: Chinese table tennis player Ma Long is in the men's singles final of the Suzhou World Table Tennis Championships. He defeated his teammate Fang Bo in the competition and won the men's singles championship of the World Table Tennis Championship for the first time. Photo by Liu Guanguan of China News Agency
The solution may include: adding intercontinental Olympic qualifiers to the World Singles Qualifiers or pre-Olympic events, or determining promotion qualifications based on the world rankings at that time (depending on when the world rankings are to be determined). The ITTF and the International Olympic Committee are closely communicating Olympic qualifications.
At the same time, the ITTF will also maintain communication with the International Paralympic Committee and the Athlete Committee on the qualifications for promotion of the Paralympic Games. (Finish)