USA Table Tennis Invited to ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2023 in Chengdu
by Barbara Wei
The USA men's and women's table tennis teams upon medaling at the Chilean Olympic Training Center amid the 2023 Pan American Games. Santigo, Chile. 2023.
USA Table Tennis proudly announces its star-studded lineup for the groundbreaking ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2023, set to take place in Chengdu, China from December 4-10th. This revolutionary competition mixes men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles into a single team event. International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) unveiled the event in October, with a focus on gender equality, diversity, and collaborative spirit.
The same team from the medal-hauling Pan Am Games in Santiago will reconvene in Chengdu, China for this event. On the women’s side, the US team will be Lily Zhang, Amy Wang and Rachel Sung. The men’s side will be represented by Jishan Liang, Sid Naresh and Nandan Naresh. The six players, embodying experience, and youth, gelled well together at the recent 2023 Santiago Pan Am Games, earning 4 medals, 2 gold.
The innovative team format includes the following order of play:
- Mixed Doubles
- Women’s Singles
- Men’s Singles
- Doubles (Women’s or Men’s)
- Doubles (Women’s or Men’s – whichever not yet played)
All matches within the team tie are 3 exact games – with results either being 3-0 or 2-1.
The US Team has qualified to the event through the Women’s team championship title at the Pan Am Championships held in Havana, Cuba in September. Only 18 teams worldwide have been invited to compete in this inaugural mixed team event.
As the US Team gears up for the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup, their goals extend beyond individual victories. The team aims to showcase the collective strength of USA Table Tennis, in singles and doubles, while adapting to the unique format posed by this pioneering event.