WTT commits $3-5 mn to boost table tennis in India, targets major events
Gaurav Laghate With a dedicated India arm, WTT aims to scale international events, build player pathways and grow fandom. UTT's Vita Dani joins the board, and Sharath Kamal comes in as ambassador of the Indian venture. L to R - WTT Chief Executive Steve Dainton, WTT India Board Member Vita Dani, and Brand Ambassador Achanta Sharath Kamal
Gift this article
MUMBAI: World Table Tennis (WTT), the commercial wing of Switzerland-based International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), has launched a dedicated Indian subsidiary, WTT Event Management India Pvt. Ltd., backed by a $3-5 million investment pledge over the next 2-3 years.
MUMBAI: World Table Tennis (WTT), the commercial wing of Switzerland-based International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), has launched a dedicated Indian subsidiary, WTT Event Management India Pvt. Ltd., backed by a $3-5 million investment pledge over the next 2-3 years.
The move aims to transform India into a global table tennis hub, with entrepreneur Vita Dani, founder of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) and chairperson of 11Sports, joining the board as a stakeholder and strategic partner, and top Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal coming in as ambassador of the new venture.
'India is the most populous country in the world and an important strategic market for us," Steve Dainton, chief executive of WTT, told Mint. 'With momentum building through UTT and Indian players performing better internationally, it's the right time to deepen our presence."
While WTT's global events are structured across tiers—Grand Smashes, Champions, Star Contenders and Feeder events—the India chapter will begin with a few Feeder and youth events and eventually look to bid for a marquee event. 'The three-to-five-year plan is to bring one of our major tournaments to India, possibly even the World Table Tennis Championships," Dainton said. Coexistence, not cannibalization
Despite the new alliance, the UTT will continue to operate as an independent intellectual property. 'This is not a merger. WTT India and UTT will co-exist. But we'll have synergy at a broader level to grow the game," Dani clarified, adding that the new entity will be jointly run, with commercial viability as a key guiding principle.
'Leagues like UTT and global properties like WTT are very different formats. One is franchise-based and designed for fan participation and team narratives, the other is athlete-centric and performance-driven. They will complement each other," she said.
Dainton echoed the view: 'UTT has created a strong base for the sport and WTT can build on that, starting from media and sponsorships to talent exposure. Managing this locally with people like Ms Dani will be far more effective than operating from afar." Growing the sport, not just events
Beyond hosting international events, WTT India is being positioned as a long-term ecosystem builder. The investment includes not just prize pools and operational costs but also grassroots and developmental focus.
Dani confirmed that her Dani Foundation, which works on physical literacy and high-performance training, would feed into this pipeline. 'Whether it's academies, youth events, or capacity building, we'll use the existing infrastructure and scale it further through this partnership," she said.
WTT, meanwhile, plans to work closely with former Indian table tennis player and 10-time national champion Sharath Kamal to build India's talent pipeline. 'We want more Indian players in the top 50 and to do that, we need regular exposure, world-class events, and ranking points right here," Dainton said.
Financial accessibility is also a key component of the strategy. 'Not every Indian player can afford to travel abroad to participate in ranking events. If we can hold more tournaments here, we may move from five Indian players to 15 participating internationally, without leaving the country," Dani said. The commercial play
On the revenue side, WTT's India playbook will focus on media rights, sponsorships and fan engagement; however, the executives acknowledge that it's still early days.
'We are starting from a humble base. WTT will invest in marketing, local partnerships and digital infrastructure to identify and build a fanbase for professional table tennis in India," said Dainton.
Dani pointed to UTT's growth curve as a proof point. 'In Season 1, we had to request people to show up at stadiums. This year, we had sold-out days. And if we could do that with a league, imagine what a Grand Smash or a World Championship could do."
On profitability, she claimed some UTT franchises have already broken even, while others are close. 'As more money flows in and more sponsors come on board, sustainability will improve," she added. What's next
The final paperwork is expected to be signed in the coming days. The initial team will be small and cost-efficient. 'There is fantastic operations and administrative talent in India, we'll scale smartly and keep tight financial controls," Dani said.
Also read: India's sports economy inches closer to $2 billion
Asked whether India could become a top-five market for table tennis globally, Dani said: 'It won't happen overnight. But the trajectory is right, and if we bring quality events with strong Indian participation, it's very achievable."
Dainton was more bullish. 'In ten years, I believe table tennis can be the second-most popular sport in India. That's the goal." Topics You May Be Interested In
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
15 minutes ago
- India Today
England plotting ‘all-out attack' on India with tailor-made Leeds pitch
England have asked for a good surface to aid their aggressive strokeplay in the first Test against India at Headingley, Leeds. India and England are set to take on each other in a five-match Test series beginning from June 20. The Ben Stokes-led side has been enjoying a good run in recent times, having won four out of their last five are eager to continue their brilliant run against an inexperienced side and hence have prepared a good surface to aid their aggressive strokeplay. Richard Robsinon, head of grounds at Leeds, has revealed that the hosts just want to hit through the line of the ball and continue with their 'Bazball' approach."They (England) just want to have a good surface, so it's true, really, so we can hit through the line of the ball. That's really what they're looking for," Robsinon was quoted as saying by 'ESPNCricinfo'. Ever since Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have taken charge of the England team, they've guided the side to 23 wins out of 36 matches with one game ending in a draw. During their tenure, they've lost just two series against India and Pakistan and managed to register a historic 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan in also drew the Ashes 2023 2-2 after the fourth Test in Manchester was unfortunately washed out. Courtesy of their recent performances, England have risen to third spot in the ICC Test rankings, having 113 rating points to their name. Hence, they will be eager to climb further up in the rankings with a dominant win against India don't have a great record in Leeds, having won just two out of seven Test matches. They lost their last Test at the venue during the 2021-22 series by an innings and 76 runs. Both their victories have been memorable, coming in the years 1986 and 2002 respectively. The Shubman Gill-led side will look to take some inspiration from their past success as they begin a new era of Indian Test history.
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Sowing Sustainability: Cotton, culture and the quiet return of natural farming
In the sprawling cotton fields of Vidarbha and the Deccan plateau, where generations have battled erratic rains and relentless market prices, a quieter transformation is underway. It doesn't involve high-yielding GM seeds or agri-drones. Instead, it begins with a cow, a clay pot, and a question: What if the land didn't need fixing, just listening to? This is the promise of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)—a grassroots farming method that revives ancient Indian agricultural practices, rooted in low cost, chemical-free cultivation. Championed by Subhash Palekar, ZBNF leans on four pillars: Jeevamrutha, Beejamrutha, mulching, and soil aeration. No synthetic fertilisers, no borrowed money, and no illusions about short-term yield miracles. Cotton, traditionally a water-hungry, pesticide-heavy crop, has found an unlikely new rhythm under ZBNF. ' We don't spray death anymore,' says a farmer. 'We brew life ." The shift is cautious, but real—input costs have fallen, soil health has improved, and farmers report a return of earthworms and birds, long lost to chemical warfare. It's not just a farmers' movement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Across the country, a broader alignment is quietly emerging—one where value-based businesses are now investing in value-driven farming. Patanjali, for instance, has extended its Ayurvedic and swadeshi ethos into agricultural sourcing. While best known for toothpaste and ghee, the company has, over the years, built procurement networks that prefer organically grown herbs and cotton. It has encouraged clusters of farmers to transition to natural methods—not as a CSR checkbox, but as part of its supply chain philosophy. A senior buyer associated with the Patanjali ecosystem put it simply: ' When your final product claims purity, the raw material cannot come from poi soned land .' Acharya Balkrishna, in Patanjali Organic Kranti, highlights the transformative impact of Patanjali's holistic farming methods on a cotton farmer's three-acre land. He notes that the farmer experienced a 20–25% increase in cotton production while reducing input costs by nearly 50%, as the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides was eliminated. The return of earthworms and the reduction in insect attacks indicated improved soil health and ecological balance. Moreover, the farmer's organic cotton attracted premium buyers, enhancing his income. Acharya emphasizes that beyond productivity gains, this approach restores the soil's loamy texture, improves moisture retention, reduces water usage, and fosters biodiversity, thereby creating a sustainable and rewarding farming system that benefits both the environment and the farmer's well-being." The company's textile ambitions, too—slowly expanding under the radar—appear aligned with this thinking. Cotton that's been grown without chemicals, processed without synthetic dyes, and woven by traditional units fits into a larger narrative of Bharatiya resurgence: not anti-modern, just differently modern. In fact the modern buyer is now consciously looking for wearable products that are 'clean' and eco-friendly. According to fashion influencer Piyusha Sharma , " With increasing awareness about how clothes are being produced using chemical cultivation methods, most buyers like me are making a conscious shift toward wearing only natural fabrics that are grown through traditional and organic methods. It's my way of supporting sustainable practices and choosing what's better for both the planet and my body." For farmers too, it is a shift that is changing the way they are looking at agriculture, " With Zero Budget Natural Farming, I no longer depend on expensive chemical inputs. The soil is alive again, my crops are healthier, and I've reduced my costs to almost nothing. It's farming the way nature intended" says Ramesh Kumar, farm owner from Kurnool. Of course, ZBNF isn't a silver bullet. The transition is tough. Yields dip initially, the labour is intensive, and support systems are still catching up. But as soil fertility returns and dependency on credit diminishes, what grows is not just cotton—but dignity. In a country where farm crisis headlines often drown hope, stories like these feel almost old-fashioned. And yet, they are quietly rewriting the future—one acre, one cow dung ferment, one ethically-sourced kurta at a time. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
India.com
24 minutes ago
- India.com
'Well, in the absence of Kohli...': Not Shubman Gill, Saba Karim Wants This Indian Star To Bat At Iconic No.4 Position
India's Test side has seen two cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli walking out to play at No.4 position for the last 20 years. While after Sachin's retirement it was more or so fixed that Kohli will take the iconic spot, this time there are plenty of names and no guarantee that they may succeed long term. Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket and the No.4 spot now lies in conundrum. According to former India Selector Saba Karim, KL Rahul should take the iconic spot and bat that position instead of opening. India Test side is all set to play a Five-match Test series against England starting from June 20 at Headingley,Leeds. Shubman Gill will lead the side for the first time after being appointed as the captain taking the baton from Rohit Sharma who in May called it quits from according to several experts, Shubman Gill will move a slight lower going from his original No.3 position to No.4. The spot is not just another spot but in Test cricket, the game is run and anchored by that position , also that position is one for legacy."Well, in the absence of Kohli, Rahul's role is monumental. And I look at him, as a batter who can bat a number four. Many people have suggested different batting positions, but I feel that KL is ideal to replace or take over, the role of Virat Kohli at number four, because that number four, he can play a dual role of negotiating the early setback if that happens in the Indian side, and then he can carry the innings forward. He does have the right kind of technique. He has done well in England," Karim told NDTV."He has a temperament. And I think with the past season, season and a half, there is a lot of maturity that has come in. So I think that's the kind of responsibility with Indian team management,' he Rahul was originally slated to play in middle-order during Australia Test series but Rohit leaving the First test due to his baby's birth forced the management to send Rahul up the order. The result was fascinating, Rahul along with young Yashasvi Jaiswal led India to their only Test win in that series at Perth. Rahul has batted twice at this position scoring 10 runs at an average of 54.
