4 players will represent the national team in the World Championship next February
Forcing the table tennis referee to keep two meters away ... and no handshakes between the competitors
New measures include not changing the stadium during the match. WAM
The Table Tennis Association is preparing to implement a number of fundamental changes to the practice of the game in local competitions, starting from next season, in response to the approved health protocol to provide means of protection for players and maintain their safety.
One of the most prominent changes that will be applied for the first time is that there will be no change to the stadium during the match, and the player will remain in his position on the table from the beginning of the match until the end, and no audience will be allowed to enter the halls, and physical distancing will be applied by reducing the number of those in the hall during the competitions, With the players subjecting to medical examinations before tournaments, preventing handshakes between players, providing a physical spacing between the referee and the table for a distance of at least two meters, and measuring the temperature before entering the hall.
In another context, the Federation's Board of Directors is studying the consequences of the International Federation of Game's decision to postpone the World Championships in South Korea, which was scheduled to be held in October 2020, to be during February of 2021, which requires reconsideration of its preparation program.
The organizing committee of the first virtual tournament in the Middle East region organized by the UAE decided at the end of this August to extend the opening of registration until the date of January 20 to receive the data of those wishing to participate in that tournament.
Member of the Federation’s Board of Directors, Team Manager, Ahmed Al-Bahr, explained that the major changes to the game’s practices target the health of players, coaches and referees, and have been approved by the International Federation, to be applied for the first time, indicating that they come within many axes included in the medical protocol that was approved by The competent authorities in the country, as well as from the directions of the International Federation of the Game, including also that each player will attend immediately before his match and then leave the hall afterwards without waiting, prohibiting the handshake between the players, providing a physical distance between the referee and the table for a distance of at least two meters, and sterilizing the halls and tables before and during the tournaments And obligating each player to use his own tools.
He said: “We have been officially informed of the postponement of the World Championship that was scheduled to be held in South Korea next October to February 2021, and this tournament is of great importance to us, as just being in the World Championship and providing this great opportunity from international contact for our players brings great benefits to us, as well as It is not available to everyone because qualifying for it is through qualifying continental competitions and we have successfully passed it in the Asian Championship in Indonesia, and we will participate in it with four players, namely Abdullah Al-Balushi, Salah Al-Din Abdul Hamid, Issa Al-Balushi, and Zubair Hashem, and we will have enough time to prepare them to participate in this event Big World ».
Open registration electronically
Member of the Board of Directors of the Federation, National Team Manager, Ahmed Al-Bahr said: “We have decided to open the door for registration to participate in the next season’s tournaments electronically, starting from next Saturday and continuing until early September 2020, provided that the league championship starts in October, followed by the Federation Cup, then Conclusion with the Cup of His Highness the President of the State, and upon completion of the registration procedures for players electronically, the competitions agenda will be circulated to the clubs ».