World TT logo launched Al Nasr to stage

Saturday, Jul 10, 2010

Gulf News

Dubai The logo for the UAE 2010 World Table Tennis Team Cup Classic to be held in Dubai this summer was unveiled with much fanfare at the Dragon Mart here late on Thursday.

The World Table Tennis Team Cup Classic will see the top-ranked table tennis nations in the world compete for a total prize amount of nearly $300,000 (Dh1.1 million) at the Al Nasr Club's indoor hall from September 28-October 1.

Some of the UAE's top sports officials were at the unveiling including Dubai Sports Council Secretary-General Dr Ahmad Sa'ad Al Sharif; UAE National Olympic Committee Assistant Secretary-General Khalid Al Midfa; and UAE Table Tennis Association President Dawood Al Hajiri.

Interesting line-up

This summer's competition is expected to see participation from some of the world's top table tennis playing countries including top-ranked China, Germany, South Korea, Singapore and Sweden.

These top-ranked countries will be joined by champion continental teams, and the hosts, UAE.

China has been the most dominant nation with five of its players ranked in the top-six list for July 2010.

Long Ma is the number one followed by Hao Wang, Lin Ma, Jike Zhang and Linqin Wang in second, fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively. German Timo Boll is the only one to break the Chinese hold with his number 3 position.

"For the UAE this is a historic day as we begin the countdown for such an important competition," Al Hajiri told Gulf News.

By Alaric Gomes