Asian Games: Hong Kong to send all top players to Singapore Smash in bid to consolidate table tennis world rankings
- Players need points to consolidate world rankings ahead of 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou
- The tournament offers highest ever prize money of US$2 million with plenty of ranking points up for grab
Hong Kong will send all its top table tennis players to next week’s Singapore Smash tournament in a bid to consolidate their world rankings ahead of the Asian Games.
With the World Team Championships in Chengdu scheduled for April being postponed to late September after the Asian Games, there will not be too many major events left in the calendar, according to head coach Chan Kong-wah.
Despite the continuing coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, and the risk of infection while travelling, Chan said it was essential for the team to compete in Singapore.
“We do worry as there is always a risk of sending players overseas these days under the pandemic but the baseline is they also need world ranking points to secure a better draw in Hangzhou later this year,” the coach said.
“The Singapore tournament, which will be followed by the Star Contender Doha in Qatar, will probably be the two major ones that we can have the opportunity of securing ranking points and cannot afford missing them.
“We are not considering sending players to Europe as many of the European countries have lifted their safety measures, making it more easy for our players to be exposed to Covid-19.”
Despite the team’s success at the Tokyo Olympics last year, where the women won bronze, the Asian Games is the benchmark for all tier A programmes at the Hong Kong Sports Institute to maintain their elite status.
