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WTT Singapore Smash to return in 2023 with enhancements

The WTT Singapore Smash 2023 launch ceremony with (from left) Singapore paddler Wong Xin Ru, WTT managing director Matt Pound, SportSG chief of industry development, technology and innovation group Roy Teo, and national paddler Clarence Chew. (PHOTO: WTT Singapore Smash)
The WTT Singapore Smash 2023 launch ceremony with (from left) Singapore paddler Wong Xin Ru, WTT managing director Matt Pound, SportSG chief of industry development, technology and innovation group Roy Teo, and national paddler Clarence Chew. (PHOTO: WTT Singapore Smash)

SINGAPORE — Following a successful inaugural edition in March this year, the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash elite table tennis tournament will return with enhancements next March.

The 2023 edition will take place from 11 to 19 March, with the main draw starting on a Saturday - instead of Monday in the first edition - to attract more fans to see the top paddlers compete in the opening weekend. Organisers are in discussion for the venue of the event.

The second Saturday will be billed as “Semifinal Saturday”, which will see two semi-final sessions, with each featuring one of the men’s or women’s doubles finals.

Action on the Infinity Arena - the main competition hall - will see five matches per session during the early rounds. Meanwhile, the viewer experience has been improved in the second competition hall with two more show tables, meaning more matches for the fans to watch.

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions will also see an increased seating capacity within the playing halls.

More mixed doubles pairs in the 2023 event

WTT has confirmed that the mixed doubles draw will increase from 16 pairs to 24 pairs for the 2023 event.

It will also increase the number of seeds in the singles competitions from eight to 16 players. This means that the top 16 players will not be drawn to play against one another in first-round matches, allowing better chances for top paddlers to advance into the later stages.

Local paddlers are looking forward to the Singapore Smash tournament again, after their initial tastes in the inaugural competition.

"Getting to play against the world’s best and experiencing the atmosphere at an event of this stature prepared me well for my later competitions," said Wong Xin Ru, part of the gold-winning national women's team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

"I’ve learnt a lot from competing at the Singapore Smash and I’m looking forward to coming back for next year’s event.”

The inaugural Singapore Smash was broadcast in 196 markets, reaching a cumulative audience of more than 160 million and a cumulative reach of more than 400 million.

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