Portraits of National Sports Association

Page 4

Hong Kong, China Table Tennis Association

Table tennis enjoys huge popularity both in China and overseas. Since its introduction to Hong Kong in the 1920s, the sport has firmly established its presence, playing a significant part in the stories of growing up of many people. Established in 1936, the Hong Kong, China Table Tennis Association (HKCTTA) has strived to promote and popularise the sport by uniting table tennis lovers across the city and nurturing new talents, helping local players rise to global prominence.

Skilfully Combining Speed with Techniques

Table tennis is a racket sport where players holding rackets are pitted against each other across a net on a rectangular table. Matches can be played in singles or doubles, with simple and easy to understand rules. The first player to reach 11 points wins the game. If there is a tie at 10-10, the first player to lead by 2 points becomes the ultimate winner. Matches are typically played in a best of five or best of seven format. In addition to being agile, athletes must also has a flexible mind to devise effective strategies in response to opponents’ varying play styles. The sport demands sharp minds and rapid reactions, making it immensely enjoyable.

Table tennis does not require an elaborate arena and is easy to pick up, thus suitable for people of all ages. With the high ball speed and numerous play styles, the sport puts players’ concentration, responsiveness, and hand-eye coordination to the test. During matches, players must swiftly devise strategies based on their opponents’ moves, which fosters and enhances their strategic thinking. Partnering with others in doubles, mixed doubles and team competitions also develops teamwork spirit.

Rising to Global Prominence

The Hong Kong table tennis team made notable successes in the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to the contributions made by HKCTTA. Since then, HKCTTA has achieved significant milestones in its organisational development. In 1972, HKCTTA was incorporated and became members of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the Asian Table Tennis Union and the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. Since 1991, HKCTTA has launched the “Hang Seng Table Tennis Community Development Programme” to promote the sport in the community and identify promising players for elite training, thereby helping build a strong Hong Kong squad. Table tennis has flourished since then, and in 2001, Hang Seng Table Tennis Academy was established to further promote the sport’s long-term development in Hong Kong. In 2009, HKCTTA hosted the ITTF World Junior Circuit for the first time, offering local young talents a chance to compete in international competitions early and exchange ideas and skills with other contestants from around the world. Besides, HKCTTA organises international events on a regular basis and sends squads to compete in various international competitions, including the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, the WTT Elite Championships and the Women’s World Cup, in the hope of enhancing the city’s prestige in table tennis internationally.

The Government provides robust support for table tennis through provision of venues and funding, enabling rapid development with notable results. HKCTTA’s membership has now grown to 6 672, including 19 Hong Kong squad members and 35 youth representatives. These athletes not only shine in local events but also celebrate their remarkable successes on the international stage.

Pinning Hopes on the Next Generation

HKCTTA has, over the decades, spared no effort in nurturing new talents, who made brilliant successes in international table tennis competitions. In recent years, Hong Kong athletes have brought home medals from such competitions, with our squad building a formidable reputation in table tennis internationally. For instance, Lee Ho-ching, Doo Hoi-kem, and Minnie Soo clinched the women’s team bronze medal in table tennis at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Besides, Wong Chun-ting won the men’s singles bronze medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. At the Asian Table Tennis Championships 2024 in October 2024, Doo made history by securing a bronze medal, the first ever to win a medal in the women’s singles for the city, demonstrating the accomplishments of local table tennis players, inspiring those aspired to dedicate themselves to the sport.

Looking forward, HKCTTA will become ever more proactive in launching community promotion events, with a view to augmenting the public’s understanding of and participation in table tennis. We organise a variety of competitions each year, including the Children Derby and the Hong Kong Open, thereby offering great opportunities for table tennis lovers of all ages and skill levels to showcase their skills. All those interested may start with training programmes organised by HKCTTA or the LCSD, where they can learn more about the sport and enhance their skills. Their efforts will definitely bear fruits in the not distant future.

With tremendous support from the Government, HKCTTA will, as in the past, organise more events in a bid to enhance the standard of local table tennis players, strengthen exchanges with other parties in the Greater Bay Area, and nurture more great players. We believe that Hong Kong players will scale new heights in table tennis internationally.