by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Looking ahead to a busy year and continued progress was very much the theme with the vast experience of the likes of Belgium’s Nico Verspeelt, the Deputy Chair and Sweden’s Petra Sörling, ITTF Executive Vice President, contributing to most positive discussions.

“It was good meeting in a fine spirit. All members contributed and we had good discussions about the different items”, Dorte Darfelt

A busy year ahead for those involved in Para table tennis commences with the first West Asian Para Games seeing players gather in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday 18th February; however, it is at the well-established Lignano Mastes in Italy later in the same month that the international calendar begins.

Notably the Lignano Masters includes junior events, competitions for players under 23 years of age; an innovation which was introduced last year and has been universally welcomed.

“I’m very proud to follow the work in our Para division. Focus is on the future and how we can work more closely together in the ITTF”, Petra Sörling

The tournament in the Italian Adriatic resort coastal city will be followed by other Para events that have a tradition; Hungary and Romania will play host in March, as will Jordan in April, followed by Slovenia in early May.

However, it is to mid-May that we look for a further innovation; the first World Para Team Championships will be staged in Bratislava.

Furthermore, for those who have braved the elements to be in Brondby, it should be home from home in the Slovak Republic’s capital city.

The venue is the Ondrej Nepela Ice Rink in Odbojarov.