As China's national sport, table tennis enjoys a high reputation all over the world. Compared to other popular sports, table tennis players receive relatively limited prize money. This is not only related to the total prize money of the tournament, but also closely related to the prize money distribution system of the national team. Although the current distribution mechanism aims to encourage athletes and maintain the honor of national football, there is also some controversy. Increasing the total amount of prize money will undoubtedly help attract more talents to join table tennis, and the optimization of the bonus distribution mechanism will also promote the professionalization and commercialization of table tennis, and ultimately benefit the majority of fans.
Bonus distribution principle
According to the regulations, the prize money received by table tennis players in open events needs to be divided equally with the national team. Specifically, the athlete receives half of the prize money and the other half is handed over to the national team. This distribution principle stems from the fact that the national team provides systematic training resources and logistical support for athletes, and the athletes' performance is also the result of collective efforts.
In the case of the 2022 Singapore Grand Slam, for example, the prize money for the champion is $100,000, with the champion athlete receiving $50,000 and the remaining $50,000 going to the national team. A similar distribution mechanism extends to other events, such as the 2024 World Cup in Macau, where the winner will receive US$55,000 and the winning athlete will receive half of the US$27,500.
This way of distributing "semi-tractors" has caused some controversy. Proponents believe that this will help the national team concentrate resources and cultivate more elite athletes; Opponents argue that athletes should be tilted in favor of more rewards. At present, this distribution system is still in place, and athletes can only follow the existing rules.
The total amount of the prize is limited
Due to the relatively limited attention of table tennis in the world's sports, major sponsors are usually reluctant to invest large sums of money. Table tennis tournaments tend to not have a very high total prize money, and even the prize money for champions at top tournaments is a far cry from sports such as tennis.
Take the Singapore 2022 Grand Slam, for example, which is known as the "Grand Slam of table tennis" but has a total prize pool of only $2 million. The 2023 Wimbledon men's singles champion will receive a huge prize of 2.3 million pounds (about 19 million yuan).
The limited amount of prize money has affected the attractiveness of table tennis to a certain extent. Some netizens believe that compared with other sports, the prize money of table tennis does seem to be a bit "shabby". It is believed that in the near future, with the continuous improvement of the professionalism and commercialization of table tennis, the total prize money will also rise.
The distribution mechanism is complex
The distribution of prize money is subject to specific rules and proportions, which are closely related to the status and contribution of athletes within the national team. The main players get more bonuses, while the newcomers and substitutes are relatively few. The prize money will also be donated to public welfare.
Take the 2023 WTT Doha Finals as an example, men's singles champion Wang Chuqin can receive $40,000 in prize money and 1,500 points; Fan Zhendong, the runner-up, received $33,000 in prize money and 1,050 points. Ma Long and Liang Jingkun, who only won the quarterfinals, only won $12,400 and 265 points.
During the assignment process, the coaching staff will make a comprehensive evaluation based on the athlete's world ranking, past performance, current form and other factors. Sometimes this distribution method will also cause some criticism, such as the distribution of prize money at the 2024 World Table Tennis Championships in Busan, which has been questioned, thinking that the distribution of Wang Manyu is too "cold".
This distribution mechanism is still relatively reasonable, it promotes the athletes to play 100% on the field, thus promoting the improvement of the overall strength of Chinese table tennis.