With challenging conditions for training and competition persisting throughout the year, the continental Hopes players and coaches had the opportunity to join fortnightly online training camps with peers from their continent, the Hopes Around The Clock, an initiative set up by ITTF High Performance & Development.
Players for this year’s ITTF World Hopes Week will qualify through the continental activities (where those could be staged) and through active participants of the online program.
For those that miss out on qualification, the call for Wild Card applications is now open. Member Associations have been invited to apply for their players, with applications closing on Friday 15 October 2021. Only those players who have participated in the online program and the continental activity (where applicable) will be considered for one of the seven Wild Cards available per gender.
The seven Wild Card spots per gender will complement the continental quota of three girls and boys each from Asia, the Americas and Europe, two girls and boys from Africa, and one girl and boy each for Oceania and the host nation.
ITTF Hopes Program page: https://www.ittf.com/hpd/programmes/athletes/hopes-program-2/