World Table Tennis Deepens Partnership With Sport Singapore (SportSG) 

World Table Tennis and Sport Singapore (SportSG) are collaborating on a comprehensive five-year partnership to boost the sport from 2025 to 2029. 

The deal will see both entities’ dedication to raise table tennis’ profile through a series of ambitious plans in the areas of sporting excellence, technological innovation, sports entertainment and grassroots development.

Under the collaboration, the fraternity can look forward to Singapore Smash as the first pitstop of the WTT Grand Smash Series, pathway development opportunities for youth athletes, more avenues for table tennis of all abilities to play and the showcase of technological innovations at events such as Singapore Smash. 

Mr Alan Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Singapore, enthused, “Sport Singapore’s partnership with World Table Tennis 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.” 

Since hosting the first edition of the WTT Grand Smash in 2022, Singapore has been a trailblazer in the development of the sport. This partnership takes Singapore Smash to new peaks, leveraging on innovative technologies to enhance live broadcasts, deepen fan engagement, and elevate the overall experience for players and audiences.

As part of the five-year collaboration, 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 feature that enhances fairness and transparency in the sport. These advancements, alongside ongoing innovations to enhance fan engagement both on-site and online, strengthens Singapore Smash’s position as a leader in combining technology with elite table tennis action.

Steve Dainton, ITTF and WTT Chief Executive Officer, added, “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.”

With youth development a pivotal facet of the partnership, the WTT Youth Grand Smash will be held  alongside Singapore Smash 2025. The tournament will give the next generation of aspiring table tennis talents an opportunity to showcase their prowess on the global stage.    

Poh Li San, President of the Singapore Table Tennis Association, echoed the sentiments, “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.”

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.

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.

The tournament will take place from 2 February 2025 to 9 February 2025 at the 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 starting from 13 December 2024.

According to ASN data, table tennis has seen investment of almost US$61m in the Asian sponsorship landscape since Q122, and has a quarterly average of almost US$5.4m during this period. After a lacklustre first three quarters of 2024 with sponsorship spends ranging between US$1.3m+ and US$4m+, there is a sign of business resuming to normal with Q424 tipped to hit almost US$5.2m.  Meanwhile, the sport’s top 3 markets continue to be China (42.5%), Japan (19.1%) and Singapore (15.7%).