ITTF chief Sorling says Beijing is smashing it as a host

As the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash returned to Beijing's Shougang Park for a third consecutive year, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Petra Sorling praised the event as a flagship and a model from which other organizers can draw inspiration.

"Among all events in the WTT calendar, China Smash here in Beijing is really important and special for us," said Sorling on Saturday.

"Our athletes like it a lot, and we have good support from the fans. We are also proud to be a sport that can be played on the highest level in the capital city. It's more than just table tennis."

Shougang Park, home to the 2022 Winter Olympics Big Air venue, has developed into a popular sports and tourism destination amid its preserved industrial heritage.

"I was here for the Winter Olympics in 2022 when I saw skiers making their different loops in the sunshine," Sorling said. "I was so impressed at how this park was converted, combining modern architecture together with a former industrial area. I'm very proud that we can use the Olympic legacy for table tennis, not only once, but every year."

At the foot of Big Air Shougang, less than a kilometer from the China Smash competition venues, a Smash Park was set up with catering services and sports activities. Visitors could watch matches live on big screens and meet table tennis stars at autograph sessions.

"The Smash Park itself is a good example. A family can come to have a picnic and meet with friends. It's a way to bring the event out to the community; not just for the few with a ticket inside, but to a bigger crowd. I even tried to see if we can do something similar at the Olympics," Sorling said.

The ITTF president said the China Smash offered lessons for other organizers in areas ranging from community engagement to player services.

"The China Smash is a presentation. It's about how to build the Smash Park with the community. In terms of the care of the players, they have everything close by. The players can walk and don't have to find transport," she further explained.

Running from Oct 1-11, this year's China Smash coincided with China's National Day holiday from Oct 1-7, bringing the tournament into the wider holiday atmosphere.

"If possible, to have an event during a holiday is a big advantage. This is a chance for families to come together and really enjoy it. We have a calendar, and to schedule everything is not always easy, but when we can do it during a holiday or festival season, it is the best," Sorling noted.

At the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, table tennis will feature six events, including the newly introduced mixed team competition alongside men's and women's singles, and the men's, women's and mixed doubles.

"For a very long time, until the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, table tennis had four medal events," Sorling recalled.

"We feel like the athletes deserve more chances to win medals, and we also know that it's very difficult to get a new discipline and a new medal event added to the program.

"The mixed doubles was an easier choice for us back at the Tokyo Games, then we had five medal events.

"We were innovating around that, then it became a Mixed Team World Cup with a new playing format. It's a little bit faster.

"As we are counting the sets, we felt immediately that this was appealing for a younger audience and the fans. Then, we started to inform and inspire the IOC of this new innovation," she said.

"I'm very excited about LA28 when we will be the racket sport with the most medal events."

This year marks the ITTF's 100th anniversary, and Sorling said the federation would continue to innovate and adapt through new concepts and technologies.

"We are working every day to improve and make our sport relevant for the generations to come. What table tennis looks like in the next 100 years is something that we are working on. Here, we are really happy to listen to the athletes and our fans, asking: 'What do you want? How can we do better?'"