Organisers have announced the 2016 Asian Cup table tennis tournament will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The annual continental championship is this year the final major event for Asia’s stars ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, and will feature just 11 days after the conclusion of Asian qualifying for the Summer Games.
Announced participants included Zhang Jike, China’s London 2012 gold-medal winner and the decorated women’s world No 1 Liu Shiwen, also of China.
The event, hosted by the UAE Table Tennis Association and Dubai Sports Council, will be held April 28-30 at Dubai World Trade Centre with free admission for fans.
See more: 2016 Asian Cup Table Tennis in Dubai – Your guide to the event
“The tournament is an opportunity for spectators to watch some of the world’s best players and experience a fiercely contested and exciting event,” said Asian Table Tennis Union secretary general Tony Yue.
“Dubai has a proven track record for delivering outstanding events and we are delighted to bring our tournament to an international standard venue in such a prestigious location.”
Given the dominance of world table tennis by east and southeast Asian nations, the continental singles title is one of the world’s most prestigious, perhaps only after the annual ITTF World Tour Grand Finals and Table Tennis World Cup, biennial World Championships and Olympics.
The event will also include three-time Asian Cup gold medallist Xu Xin (China), three-time bronze medallist Jun Mizutani (Japan) and Olympians Chuang Chih-yuan (Chinese Taipei), Gao Ning (Singapore), Nima Alamian (Iran), Tang Peng (Hong Kong) and Souyajit Ghosh (India) on the men’s side. Abdulla Al Balooshi will represent the host country as the UAE No 1.
The women’s side also features notables such as London 2012 bronze medallist Feng Tianwei (Singapore), 2015 Asian Cup bronze-medallist and current world No 3 Zhu Yuling (China) and Olympians Jiang Huajun and Tie Yana (both Hong Kong). UAE No 1 Noura Al Maazmi will represent the hosts.
Said UAE Table Tennis Association president Dawoud Al Hajri: “We are looking forward to welcoming some of the world’s best players back to Dubai for the city’s third major table tennis tournament in the past two years, having successfully hosted the 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals and the 2015 ITTF World Team Classic.
“Excitement is building among the UAE’s passionate table tennis community as they look forward to seeing Asia’s elite compete for this coveted trophy.”
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