ITTF Sports Development is pleased to announce that the 2024 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge will be held in Asuncion, Paraguay.
ITTF Sports Development’s flagship talent identification activity will go to the Americas for the first time ever, taking place from 1-7 November 2024 in the Paraguayan capital. Up to 40 boys and girls from across the globe will meet for a week of training and competition after having battled it out during the continental stage of the program.
“We are thrilled to be able to welcome the World Hopes players and coaches to Paraguay. It is the first time that this prestigious activity will be held in the Americas, an important milestone for the Hopes program and a sign of things to come. We are looking forward to a fantastically organized event, while already looking towards the future with a more tightly defined Hopes pathway”. Mikael Andersson, ITTF Sports Development Director
The Hopes Program is the ITTF’s talent identification program, which unites players and coaches from across the globe. It is a core pillar of ITTF’s Sports Development pathways, targeting global reach and overall growth of table tennis. After a continental qualification process, up to 40 players (20 girls, 20 boys) and their coaches will meet in Asuncion (PAR) for an intense week of table tennis training, educational sessions, and the final Hopes Challenge tournament.
“When the World Hopes gather in Paraguay in 2024, the Guaraní land will dress up to welcome the best Hopes players in the world. You can be sure that it will be an unforgettable experience full of many emotions. The Paraguayan Table Tennis Federation feels very grateful to have been chosen to organize such an important event, which will have a transcendental impact on our development at the national level, because it will strengthen our position as an organizer of international events and will also serve to improve the technical level of our national players and coaches. Being able to have international experts and Hopes players of the highest level in our country will give a great boost to our sport in general, leaving a legacy for our development.” Benjamin Real, President Paraguayan Table Tennis Federation
For the first time, the World Hopes Week will also include an educational session for players focused on early intervention in the area of sustainability, building solid foundations at a young age that will ensure that sustainability and environmental awareness will be a consistent element of athlete development.