As the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals Busan 2024 draws near, anticipation builds with each passing day. The stage is set at the BEXCO Convention Centre, where an array of talented players from across the globe will converge for this prestigious event.
Featuring a constellation of top-tier athletes, the competition for the coveted Swaythling and Corbillon Cups promises to be nothing short of captivating. Here are some of the compelling teams and players to watch out for in Busan.
Reigning Champs Field Superstar Line-up
Defending the Men’s Team and Women’s Team titles, China has turned to its biggest superstars in a bid to bring home both trophies for a record-extending 23rd time.
World champion Fan Zhendong headlines the Men’s Team, with World No.2 Wang Chuqin and reigning Olympic champion Ma Long also making the line-up. Ma achieved a 100%-win record two years back at the 2022 World Team Championships in Chengdu, winning all seven of his encounters.
Navigating their way through the Women’s Team draw without dropping a single game in Chengdu, Sun Yingsha, Wang Yidi and Chen Meng all make the Women’s Team squad again. China’s strength in depth is bolstered further by Wang Manyu and Chen Xingtong on the Women’s side, while Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan provide support in the Men’s Team event.
Sibling Rivalry
One of China’s most prominent challengers on both team fronts, Japan looks to the Harimoto family for inspiration. Tomokazu Harimoto won 11 of his 12 individual matches at Chengdu 2022, including semifinal victories over Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong as Japan finished in the bronze medal position. Meanwhile, younger sister Miwa Harimoto (age 15) makes her World Team Championships debut, and is not to be underestimated despite her young age.
The family business continues in the Men’s Team draw, with brothers Felix Lebrun and Alexis Lebrun leading the line for France. Rising to a career-best position of World No.6 at just 17 years of age, Felix won his first WTT Star Contender title last month in Goa, and with Alexis also coming on leaps and bounds in the last two years, France has a potential medal finish in its sights.
Then there’s the Diaz sisters from Puerto Rico. Adriana Diaz and Melanie Diaz both featured prominently two years ago in Chengdu, as the Puerto Rican team reached the Women’s Team round of 16 for the first time. Now, Adriana and Melanie are back for more in Busan. However, they are not the only siblings from the Americas taking part, with Bruna Takahashi and Giulia Takahashi back in the Brazilian ranks for Busan.
Fresh Look Chinese Taipei Team Looks To Reignite Spark
Suffering a shock Men’s Team group stage exit at the 2022 World Team Championships, Chinese Taipei is going for a bolder approach this time out in Busan with fresh faces leading the way.
Lin Yun-Ju (22), Feng Yi-Hsin (21) and Kao Cheng-Jui (19) all make the squad this time out, while Huang Yan-Cheng (20) and the vastly experienced Chuang Chih-Yuan (42) are the players retained from the team fielded two years ago.
Chinese Taipei found themselves at the bottom of Group 7, with no victories and three defeats. Yet, the question remains: How will this revamped squad perform on the team stage?
Hosts Go All Out In Busan
Playing for home pride, Korea Republic has gone all out in its squad selection for Busan as the hosts go in search of silverware.
Falling at the semifinal hurdle two years back in Chengdu, the Men’s Team outfit sees Jang Woojin and An Jaehyun return to the fold, and this time they’re joined by World Top 30 players Lim Jonghoon and Lee Sang Su, both of whom were absent from the 2022 line-up.
However, its arguably the Women’s Team line-up that includes the biggest addition for Korea Republic, with World No.8 Shin Yubin carrying the hopes of a nation on her shoulders. Korea Republic struggled from the off two years back, squeezing through its group in third place before exiting in the round of 16. Two years on, expectations are greater, especially in front of the home crowd. Can Shin’s addition to the roster make the difference?
A Truly Global Affair
Welcoming players from all corners of the world to its shores, Busan will provide the stage for a truly global event, with the biggest names from all the continents ready to do their countries proud.
Dina Meshref and Hana Goda star in an ever-improving Egyptian Women’s Team that’ll be pushing for group stage qualification, while Australia’s Men’s Team features talented teenagers Nicholas Lum, 2023 Oceania champion Aditya Sareen, and Finn Luu, all of whom carry World Top 60 status.
That is just the tip of the iceberg, with 40 teams contesting each of the Men’s Team and Women’s Team disciplines in Busan. View the complete player list here
