A full circle moment will see the Qatari capital host the sport’s world championship after two decades with first-ever Maroon tables.
Qatari players will face higher-ranked opponents in the opening round of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championship, the draw held on Wednesday revealed.
Three male and two female players will be representing the hosts in the finals set to be held in the Lusail Arena and Qatar University Sports Complex from May 17 to 25.
Qatar’s 17-year-old Ahmed Korani, the highest-ranked at 81st in the world, will face Chinese Taipei’s Guan-Hong Kuo, the world number 11.
Korani’s compatriot Sultan Al-Kuwari will go head-to-head against three-time Belgian national champion Martin Allegro. The 16-year-old Qatari is currently ranked 409th in the world, compared to Allegro’s 82nd.
The third of the bunch, Mohammed Abdulwahhab, was pitted against higher-ranked Alfred Dela Pena of New Zealand.
The draw held in Mall of Qatar also charted a tricky course for top-ranked Lin Shidong, who will be making his World Championship debut in Doha.
The 20-year-old Chinese prodigy will face England’s Liam Pitchford in his opening game but will have plenty of challenges en route if he advances. The likes of Lebrun brothers — Feliz and Alexis — and Hugo Calderano are placed on the same side of the bracket.
Eyes will also be on Chinese superstar Wang Chuqin, the reigning world number two.
The seven-time World Champion and reigning Olympic Champion will face U.S.’s Nandan Naresh in the opener, with a clash against Sweden’s world number 7 Truls Moregardh on cards if he advances deep in the tournament. The two met in the single’s final at the Paris Olympics last year.
In the women’s category, Qatar’s Aia Mohamed will face Suban Rosalba Aguiar, and Maryam Ali will face 58-year-old Chilean Zhiying Zeng.
Other details of the tournament were also disclosed during the draw, including the unveiling of the official mascots — Saree and Sareea — draped in traditional Qatari attire.
Installation of the facilities in both venues is slated to be completed by May 10, a day before the teams start arriving, according to the President of the Qatar Table Tennis Association Khalil Al-Mohannadi.
The tables used in the competition will be maroon for the first time in the premier competition’s history, mirroring the Qatari flag’s colours, Al-Mohannadi, who also heads the Asian and Arab federations, said.
“Following extensive dialogue with the ITTF Equipment Committee, we have secured approval to introduce maroon tables. It is a historic innovation that underscores Qatar’s identity,” he added.
