by Simon Daish

Jun Mizutani will join an all-star lineup in the T2 APAC with the likes of Vladimir Samsonov, Joo Saehyuk, Cheng I-Ching and Elizabeta Samara all set to compete in the opening season.

Occupying sixth position in the ITTF World Rankings table for March 2017 Jun Mizutani is currently Japan’s highest ranked male table tennis player in the world, and is no stranger to success having led his country to silver medals at the Perfect 2016 World Team Championships and Rio 2016 while also going on to claim his ninth title at the All Japan Championship in January of this year.

Jeff Chue, chief executive and commissioner of T2 APAC, is extremely pleased with the news of Mizutani’s commitment to the league and said in a statement on the official T2 Asia-Pacific Table Tennis League website that he believes that the fans are set for a real treat.

“We are delighted to have Mizutani on board for the T2 APAC. The Japanese no.1 is undoubtedly a superb addition to the league and he will thrill and excite fans with his outstanding game play which has set him apart from many of his peers. He possesses great character both on and off the table, and we are excited at the prospect of working with him to reveal much more of the personality behind all that technical brilliance”, Jeff Chue.

The T2 APAC is set to feature a whole new approach to the sport’s league structure with men’s, women’s and mixed-team championships all set to take place and a 24 minute time limit per match being introduced among other additions.

14 out of 24 players have now been confirmed for the inaugural T2 APAC season with more names to be announced in the near future, but for now the focus is on Jun Mizutani who is expected to deliver nothing short of thrilling action for the spectators.

“We look forward to him (Mizutani) taking on our other players under our unique T2 APAC game format and giving fans what they want – electrifying table tennis action!”, Jeff Chue.