The event will see current World and Olympic champions and potential Olympic medalists competing for the ATTU Asian Cup title in the last ranking tournament before the Olympic Games.
With Asia the global powerhouse in table tennis, the action should be compelling and Dawoud Al Hajri, president of the UAE Badminton and Table Tennis Association, believes the stellar list of competitors will make it a hit with fans.
“We are delighted to be welcoming so many of the world’s best players to Dubai for the Nakheel Table Tennis Asian Cup,” said Al Hajri.
“With free entry to the event, we encourage all sports fans to come to the World Trade Centre and enjoy an amazing display of top table tennis.”
A total of 11 countries will be represented; including China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, India, Thailand, Qatar, Iran and the UAE.
The men’s field features China’s defending champion and three time Asian Cup winner Xu Xin, who also has seven World Championship gold medals in doubles and team competitions to his name.
With Olympic singles selection on the line for China ’s players, Xu’s biggest competition is likely to come from his team mate and current Olympic singles champion Zhang Jike.
Xu Xin in action.
Japan’s leading contender is Jun Mizutani, world number seven and winner of bronze medals in the 2007, 2014 and 2015 Asian Cup, while one of Singapore’s representatives will be Gao Ning, who won the Asian Cup in 2007 and remains the only non-Chinese player to have won the event since 2005.
Another tough competitor will be Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih Yuan, who is currently ranked six in the world, and won bronze at last year’s Asian Cup, as well as doubles gold at the 2013 World Championships.
The women’s lineup is equally impressive with defending champion, Singapore’s Feng Tianwei posing the greatest threat to world number one, China’s Liu Shiwen, who took silver in the 2015 Asian Cup, after collecting gold in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
China’s other representative will be 2012 Olympic gold medallist Li Xiaoxia, who also won silver in the 2015 Asian Cup and was World Champion in singles in 2013.
The tournament takes place from 28-30 April at Zabeel Hall 1, Dubai World Trade Centre.
