World Table Tennis (WTT) and Sport Singapore (SportSG) are proud to unveil an unprecedented five-year partnership that will span from 2025 to 2029. This move marks both entities’ commitment to jointly uplift table tennis through a multi-pronged action plan in the areas of sporting excellence, technological innovation, and sports entertainment. With the refreshed partnership, the fraternity can look forward to:
- Singapore Smash featuring as the first stop of the WTT Grand Smash Series
- Showcase of technological innovations at events such as Singapore Smash
- Pathway development opportunities for youth athletes
- More avenues for table tennis fans of all abilities to play
Commenting on the extended partnership, Alan Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Singapore said: “Sport Singapore’s partnership with World Table Tennis (WTT) has strengthened the development of table tennis in Singapore in the past three years, with key highlights such as the WTT Singapore Smash featuring regularly on our sporting calendar. We are delighted that several Team Singapore paddlers have achieved notable career breakthroughs at the WTT Singapore Smash. Our efforts to set up the first-ever Home of Table Tennis are also progressing well, and we continue to partner with WTT and the International Table Tennis Federation to establish this centre of excellence by 2029. This five-year extension of our partnership signifies our commitment to growing the WTT Singapore Smash, and building on this strong foundation to achieve further synergies in the next stage of our partnership.”
Showcase of Technological Innovations
Since hosting the inaugural WTT Grand Smash in 2022, Singapore has been a trailblazer in the evolution of world-class table tennis. This partnership takes Singapore Smash to extraordinary heights, harnessing cutting-edge technologies to enhance live broadcasts, deepen fan engagement, and elevate the overall experience for players and audiences.
As part of the five-year roadmap, WTT will focus on deploying artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time data analysis and insights during live broadcasts, offering fans a technical perspective of the sport. Fans can also look forward to the implementation of a Table Tennis Review (TTR) system, a groundbreaking feature that reinforces fairness and transparency in the sport. These advancements, alongside ongoing innovations to enhance fan engagement both on-site and online, solidify Singapore Smash as a leader in integrating technology with premier table tennis.
Steve Dainton, ITTF and WTT Chief Executive Officer, said: “Singapore Smash holds a special place in the world of table tennis—it was the first-ever WTT Grand Smash and the event that set the standard for everything we’ve built since. It’s an event highly regarded by players around the globe, not only for its world-class organisation but also for the incredible energy and passion it brings to the sport. This partnership with SportSG cements Singapore Smash’s status as a flagship event, inspiring athletes and fans alike while driving innovation and creating new possibilities for the future of table tennis.”
Pathway Development Opportunities for Youth Athletes
Youth development in sports remains a cornerstone of this partnership, in support of the introduction of WTT Youth Grand Smash, a standout feature of the WTT Grand Smash Series and WTT Youth Series. For the first time, this landmark event will be held in tandem with Singapore Smash 2025, giving young athletes the opportunity to compete on the same grand stage as the world’s best players. This initiative is designed to inspire the next generation to strive for greatness while creating a seamless pathway for rising stars to transition to elite competition. The WTT Youth Grand Smash represents a bold step forward in recognising youth talent and equipping them with the experience and exposure needed to excel on the global stage.
“We are heartened and excited that Singapore Smash will be extended for another five years. This event has provided STTA National Team players and the youth players invaluable opportunities to compete against and learn from the world’s best players. For instance, 16 year old Izaac Quek made his career break when he won world no.36 Mattias Falck in Singapore Smash 2023. We hope that future editions of Singapore Smash will inspire the next generation of talent,” said Poh Li San, President of the Singapore Table Tennis Association.
More Avenues for Participation across all Abilities
Building on Singapore Smash’s role as a launchpad for Para table tennis events since 2024, WTT and SportSG will deepen efforts to promote the discipline and drive more inclusivity in the sport. By allocating dedicated resources and expertise, the partnership aims to create greater opportunities for athletes with disabilities. These efforts echo the strategic moves under the refreshed Disability Sports Master Plan 2024 to enable athletes of all abilities to fulfil their sporting aspirations, and align with the goals of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the newly introduced ITTF Para World Circuit.
Charting the Future of Singapore Smash
As the first stop on the WTT Grand Smash Series calendar, Singapore Smash will continue to set benchmarks for innovation and excellence. With a roadmap toward AI-powered insights, advancements in sports broadcasting, and a commitment to integrating a cutting-edge match review system, this partnership is set to redefine how table tennis is experienced globally.
Singapore Smash 2025 will take place from 2 February 2025 to 9 February 2025 at the iconic Singapore Sports Hub, with qualifying rounds running from 30 January 2025 to 1 February 2025. Fan pre-sale tickets go live on 11 December 2024, with public sales commencing from 13 December 2024.
Credit: WTT Press