Table tennis finals set to serve Hong Kong well
Hong Kong has stepped up the pace in the race to become an international centre for star-studded sports events. First it was snooker, then rugby sevens and golf. Top European football teams will perform in the summer. The new Kai Tak Sports Park is already proving its worth.
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But the announcement that Hong Kong is to host a top international table tennis tournament in December is especially welcome, given the popularity of the sport in which China is a world leader.
The WTT Finals is the season's finale, featuring top-ranking players. It will take place over five days at the Hong Kong Coliseum. The prize pool has been raised to US$1.3 million.
China's stars will be a big draw and there will be strong support for the city's players who will have a wild card in the mixed doubles.
The recent World Cup event in Macau attracted thousands of passionate fans from the mainland. There were sell-out crowds and a vibrant atmosphere, especially when China's players were in action.
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The International Table Tennis Federation and its commercial arm, World Table Tennis, are hoping to move on from a recent controversy over the withdrawal of three of China's top players from the global rankings.
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