Nagoya, Japan has been announced as the prestigious host city for the highly anticipated season-ending event WTT Finals Women 2023.
Set to take place from December 15 to 17, WTT Finals Women Nagoya 2023 will showcase the exceptional talent of the top 16 women’s singles players and top 8 doubles pairs as they fiercely compete for the coveted title of season-ending champion, along with a substantial prize money of USD$500,000. The triumphant player and pair will also earn an impressive 1,500 ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking points.
With the WTT Series nearing the half-way point of the season, reigning champion and current World No.1, Sun Yingsha leads a strong field of players in contention for qualification for Nagoya.
Sun, who is likely to qualify in the coming weeks, will be looking to maintain her stranglehold on the WTT Finals Women trophy and claim a third consecutive title. However, her path to victory will be challenging, as she faces formidable opponents among Japan’s homegrown stars and fellow Chinese players.
Japan’s Hina Hayata and Mima Ito will be looking to claim a first WTT Women’s Finals trophy on home soil, while potential qualifiers Chen Meng, Wang Manyu, and Wang Yidi are also determined to end Sun Yingsha’s dominance.
The event will also make history as the first-ever WTT event hosted in Japan, the world’s second-largest table tennis market, boasting several players in the Top 10, as well as a new generation making their mark on the global stage. With the steadfast support of the Japan Table Tennis Association, WTT Finals Women Nagoya 2023 will unlock the immense growth potential of the sport.
Miwa Harimoto, Miyuu Kihara, Miyu Nagasaki and Miu Hirano are amongst the Japanese stars fighting it out to secure their qualification and guarantee their opportunity to play in front of their home fans in Nagoya.
With limited spots available, the world’s best female players will be vying to earn crucial ranking points and secure their qualification for the season-ending event, the competition promises to be a captivating spectacle, adding even more drama to the WTT Series 2023.
Steve Dainton, ITTF Group CEO, commented, “The WTT Finals Women 2023 will be the first-ever WTT Series event held in Japan, making it a historical event where the top female players will come together in Nagoya. Japan is home to many talented table tennis players and has a large number of enthusiast and passionate fans. Therefore, I am looking forward to the excitement at the WTT Finals Women this year, and to seeing Nagoya shine as a global table tennis city.”
Ai Fukuhara, WTT Japan General Manager and former Olympic Table Tennis medalist, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to announce the first-ever Japan-hosted WTT Series event and share this news with all the table tennis fans in Japan. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Japan Table Tennis Association, the Aichi Prefecture Table Tennis Association, and the city of Nagoya for their tremendous support in making the WTT Finals Women 2023 possible. We will do our utmost to prepare for the event, and we hope that all the fans are looking forward to it. We will be delighted to welcome them to the venue as they join us for this event.”
The Ex-Takeda Teva Ocean Arena will serve as the venue for the event, offering table tennis enthusiasts an immersive experience in the vibrant city of Nagoya. With its rich heritage, Nagoya promises an unforgettable celebration in the heart of Japan. Mayor Takashi Kawamura, Mayor of Nagoya City commented, “We are honoured to host WTT Finals Women 2023 in Nagoya. This prestigious event will not only showcase world-class table tennis but also highlight the harmony of sports and culture in our city. We look forward to welcoming players and fans from around the globe to experience the warmth and hospitality of Nagoya.”
Masaya Kawata, President of the Japan Table Tennis Association, said, “I am honoured that the WTT Finals Women 2023 will be held in Japan. For the table tennis fans in Japan, this is a long-awaited international event, and it provides an excellent opportunity for them to witness Japanese players competing among the world’s best on home soil. I hope this event will be a great platform to showcase the beauty of table tennis to many children and people from all around the world.”
The thrilling WTT Finals Women Nagoya 2023 will captivate audiences across Japan, as the event will be broadcast nationwide on TV TOKYO and BS TV TOKYO, an esteemed and longstanding partner of World Table Tennis. Taro Nawatani, Executive Officer and General Manager of Sports Division shared his commitment to providing an exceptional viewing experience, stating, “We are delighted to bring the WTT Finals Women Nagoya to the viewers, a much longed-for WTT event to be held in Japan. We are meticulously planning a comprehensive coverage plan that will showcase not only the extraordinary on-table action but also the captivating behind-the-scenes moments. We want to ensure an unforgettable viewing experience that captures the excitement and intensity of table tennis at its finest.”
Tickets for the event will go on sale shortly. Fans interested in purchasing tickets for this highly anticipated event are encouraged to sign up for a WTT Fan Account to take advantage of a special priority ticket purchasing window before tickets go on sale to the public.
As part of the WTT calendar, WTT Finals Men 2023 is scheduled to take place during the week of 4 December 2023. The host city for this eagerly anticipated event will be announced in the near future.
