A Singaporean table tennis player. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The 2024 Zhejiang Province Youth Table Tennis Ranking Tournament (Ningbo Station) recently concluded, leaving a lasting impression on the Singaporean national junior table tennis team.

The event marked the first time since its inception in 2003 that the Zhejiang Junior Table Tennis Ranking Tournament has seen foreign participants, with 15 participants from the Singaporean national junior team.

The tournament, held annually with two regional stations and a final, draws over 1,500 participants per station. Many of Zhejiang's current national players, including Xiang Peng, emerged from the tournament as promising young talent.

In late 2023, a delegation from the Zhejiang Table Tennis Association visited Singapore to foster exchange opportunities for young athletes. The Zhejiang Junior Table Tennis Ranking Tournament provided an ideal platform for such interactions.

Coach Cui Wei, describing the tournament as spectacular, brought nearly 30 Singaporean players, who were awestruck by the scale of the event. Cui expressed hope that participation in such established tournaments would not only benefit players but also contribute to the development of table tennis in Singapore. He also expressed a desire for more Singaporean children to participate in similar events in China.

Following the tournament, the Singaporean team engaged in exchanges with the Ningbo table tennis team, explored the city, and experienced the charm of Ningbo.

A match between Zhejiang and Singapore table tennis players. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]