Hong Kong table tennis coach welcomes proposed ‘Grand Smashes’ with players primed to earn big bucks
- International federation plans to scrap individual world championships to pave the way for more lucrative tournaments
- Hong Kong’s top players, such as Doo Hoi-kem and Wong Chun-ting, can benefit with more opportunities
Hong Kong table tennis head coach Chan Kong-wah has welcomed the idea of scrapping the individual world championships and replacing it with lucrative “Grand Smash” tournaments.
“I think this is inevitable for the sake of commercialisation of the sport,” the Hong Kong Sports Institute-based coach said. “This is the way for the players to earn more money, for marketing the sport globally, just like tennis which has gone more than a step forward.
“For the top Hong Kong players it is certainly good news, because they are among the group that will have the opportunities to take part in these mega tournaments. It can also inspire the younger generation with the big bucks ahead.” The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) recently proposed that three to four “Grand Smash” tournaments could be held each year, with top-class fields playing for purses of up to US$3 million.
However, Chan also admitted concern that there could be less opportunities for players from developing teams at dedicated venues.
“For players in the developing nations, they will not have the same opportunities as these lucrative tournaments are only for the top players, so as to attract more commercial sponsorship,” he said.
“The international federation therefore must spend more effort to help the developing teams so that their players can share the jackpot one day.”
