The much anticipated Asian Table Tennis Championship will be hosted by Qatar in 2021. The Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) confirmed on Monday that both men and women championships would be taking place in September next year.
The decision to make Qatar as the host nation came after the withdrawal of China and India from the bidding race. The Gulf country will be hosting this event for the second time. Qatar previously hosted the table tennis championship way back in 2000.
Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, President of QTTA and Arab Table Tennis Federation said, “We will have the honor to host the best players of the region especially the ones from East Asian countries like China, Japan, India, Hong Kong, China Taipei, and South Korea. So, it will be like a mini-world championship.”
Mohannadi also expressed gratitude towards the General Assembly for giving this opportunity after China and India withdrew their bids.
The tournament is held on a biennial basis, involving all seven events of the Table Tennis – the men’s team, women’s team, men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles.
Al Mohannadi, who is also the First Vice Presidents of the Asian and International Table Tennis Federations said, “I am confident that our youth come will into contact with the best-ranked players in the region. Also, it will be another opportunity for Qatar to host yet another world-class event. We have a top-notch sporting infrastructure in Qatar.”Â
He also confirmed that Doha would also host the next Annual General Assembly of the ITTF during the same week.