By withdrawing from the World Tour in table tennis, the individual Olympic champions in Paris have set an example. The pressure on the organizer WTT is growing.
It is a bang in the table tennis world that became known on Friday (December 27th, 2024): the two individual Olympic champions in Paris, Fan Zhendong and Cheng Meng, are withdrawing from the international world tour until further notice. According to their statements, the reason for this is particularly the structure of the organizer World Table Tennis (WTT).
Fan: “All I can do is withdraw from the world rankings”
Because the criticism that the two Chinese sports stars are leveling at the WTT cannot be ignored. Fan is particularly negative about the penalty regulations. In his statement on the Chinese network Weibo he said: “Unfortunately, the WTT has introduced a new penalty system. I cannot afford this, but I accept the decision. The only consequence I can draw from this is withdrawal from the world rankings.”
What Fan is referring to is the organization’s handbook for the coming year. In paragraph four it says that players “basically allowed to miss twice even though they had to play”. The top 32 in the world are obliged to take part in tournaments in the two highest categories “Champions” and “Grand Smash” – unless they are injured. If someone doesn’t show up, they face a fine of 5,000 euros, which can double or triple if repeated.
WTT defends its rules: “They are intended to maintain integrity”
On Saturday, the WTT announced in a statement that the criticized rules had existed since the format was introduced in 2020. It goes on to say: “The aim of these rules is to ensure that top players are represented at key WTT events, maintain the integrity of the global competition and provide players, fans and all partners with the highest quality events.”
The organization explained the punishment system: “The penalties for non-participation are intended to support and ensure the structure of the WTT calendar.” At the same time, the WTT pointed out that the prize money would increase by 20 percent next year and that a complete tournament calendar for 2025 could be published for the first time for better planning. The procedure is also common in other sports.
Conflicts between clubs and WTT are inevitable
It is not the first high-profile case of upset: it was only a few months ago that multiple African champion Quadri Aruna publicly criticized him after a penalty. The Nigerian had to fulfill club obligations and was unable to take part in a tournament that was postponed at short notice by the WTT. He fumed afterwards: “The club pays my salary, not the WTT.”
Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna in action
The problem with the WTT: Almost no one can live solely from the international prize money they have won. That’s why most professionals are employed by clubs – like Aruna back then at Neu-Ulm. These clubs pay a regular salary, but of course expect players to be available.
“Tennis system” not transferable
The WTT, on the other hand, tries to base its system on that of tennis. What works there, however, is not easily transferable: for reaching the quarterfinals at the French Open in tennis, a player receives around 415,000 euros, for reaching the quarterfinals at the comparable Grand Smash in table tennis 17,260 euros. Unlike tennis, where the Bundesliga, for example, sinks into insignificance, clubs and leagues continue to be essential for the income of professionals.
The logo of World Table Tennis on the World Tour
Germany’s number one, Dang Qiu, explained to the Sportschau in November that there are few breaks between clubs, WTT and training: “The schedule is very busy, plus a lot of travel, often to Asia and with jet lag. Then I play in the Bundesliga, the cup, the Champions League and in between you have to live and train somehow. That makes it demanding.”
WTT and players depend on each other
So does the World Tour have a fundamental problem? Yes and no. It is a problem of the entire sport, of which the Tour is only one part. One thing is clear: the WTT, like the players, is in a quandary. The system doesn’t work without players at tournaments. The professionals depend on prize money and, above all, the world ranking points at the WTT. Behind the scenes, many are dissatisfied with the structure and system, but open protests are held back.
Because the WTT monitors critical voices very closely and the international monopoly position allows the organization a lot of room for maneuver. The fact that two celebrities, Fan and Cheng, who have won five Olympic victories, are now making such clear statements and even withdrawing for the time being is a problem for the organization. They are missing from marketing, especially in the most important sales market, Asia.
Lots of internal competition for Olympic champions
The truth of this dispute also includes: Cheng is already 30 years old, and Fan, at 27, is no longer young either. In recent months, apart from the Olympics, other Chinese have excelled at tournaments – Fan and Cheng did not play any tournaments. For example, four Chinese women lead the world rankings, Cheng is “only” the four.
Her male colleague is in sixth place, while Wang Chuqin and youth world champion Lin Shidong have been particularly responsible for Chinese successes. Nevertheless: The fans of course want to see the Olympic champions in Paris. South Korea’s number two, Jeon Jihee, also announced her withdrawal. She is currently ranked 17th in the world. So the pressure for change is growing.
DTTB does not want to assess the situation until the new year
The news of the withdrawals naturally inevitably raises the question: Will German players possibly also follow suit? This cannot yet be assumed. DTTB sports director Richard Prause explained the withdrawal: “We will look into this in the new year, when perhaps more details are known. It is difficult to assess from a distance.”
But the DTTB also knows that becoming a venue for a larger tournament will certainly be more difficult if there is disagreement or criticism of the WTT. However, the association was considering exactly this application for a big Grand Smash in the medium term.
Philipp Hofmeister, Sportschau, November 5th, 2024 12:15 p.m