'World's Largest' Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships Opens... 85 Countries, Over 3,000 Participants

*This content was translated by AI.

'A Festival for Table Tennis Players Around the World,' the XIOM 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships has officially begun.

'This tournament, featuring over 3,000 athletes and accompanying personnel from 85 countries worldwide, will run for eight days from the 5th to the 12th at the Gangneung Olympic Park complex (Gangneung Oval and Gangneung Arena).

'This event holds even greater significance as it is being held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

'At the opening ceremony held at Gangneung Oval on the 6th, Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korean Olympic Committee, stated, "Gangneung is a place that shared special emotions during the 2018 Winter Olympics. Given that we are once again sharing friendship and memories with people from around the world using Olympic facilities, the significance of this tournament is even more special."

'Lee Tae-seong, Han Tak-gu-hyeop (Chairman) and Gong Dong-wi (Director) of the Organizing Committee, remarked, "Table tennis is a sport that connects us all as one, transcending age, nationality, and language. In this meaningful year marking the 100th anniversary of the ITTF's founding, we hope that this tournament held in Gangneung becomes a festival for the entire world table tennis family, going beyond victory and defeat to share friendship and exchange."

'The tournament will continue until the 12th, featuring singles and doubles matches across 11 age categories, starting from age 40 and divided in five-year increments.

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*This content was translated by AI.