After more than 30 hours of flight, China Table Tennis arrived in the South African port city of Durban on May 12, local time, to start the journey of the 2023 World Table Tennis Championships. After arriving, the coaching staff, sparring and staff of National Table Tennis put down their luggage, went to the training venue with the staff of WTT, and installed the training table by themselves. In the next few days, National Table Tennis will adjust the time difference, adapt to the climate environment, adapt to the venue, etc.
The World Table Tennis Championships will be held at the Durban International Conference Center from May 20 to 28. After half a month of closed training in Chengdu, the National Table Tennis returned to Beijing from Chengdu on May 11, and flew to Durban that night, becoming the first team to arrive at the venue of the World Table Tennis Championships. Perhaps the national table tennis arrived too early, and the training table in the training venue has not yet been built. After arriving, under the leadership of head coach Li Falcon, the national table tennis coaching staff, sparring partners and staff came to the training venue to install the training table with the staff of WTT. Xu Chenhao, Zhou Qihao, Xue Fei, Yuan Licen and others all worked together to help lift out the table for installation, so that the national table tennis could carry out normal training afterwards.
Although Guoping arrived in Durban after more than 30 hours of flight, the team members who stepped off the plane looked in good spirits. Wang Chuqin and Wang Manyu became representatives and were interviewed at the airport. Wang Manyu said that he is very happy to come to Durban, is very looking forward to the Durban World Table Tennis Championships, and hopes to have a good performance in Durban.
Wang Chuqin also said that he has very high expectations for this competition, but he still needs to adjust the time difference, climate and diet in South Africa. National Table Tennis arrived in Durban 8 days in advance this time, but also to adapt to the local climate as soon as possible, adjust the time difference as soon as possible, and welcome the arrival of the competition with the best condition.
In this competition, National Table Tennis sent 6 men and 6 women to participate in the team, of which Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha, Fan Zhendong/Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha/Wang Manyu, Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha became the top seeds in the five individual events. Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha will also wear three again. A pre-tournament draw ceremony will be held on May 18, with defending men's and women's singles champions Fan Zhendong and Wang Manyu in attendance. In the last Houston World Table Tennis Championships, Fan Zhendong defeated Sweden's Moregaard, Wang Manyu defeated Sun Yingsha, both won the World Table Tennis Championships singles championship for the first time, and the two will also strive to defend the title in this World Table Tennis Championships.