Desk Tennis, Masters World Championships in Rome from 7 to 14 July: among the many 6100 athletes there may be additionally a 100-year-old girl

Half the world meets in Italy for the World Masters Desk Tennis Championships which will probably be held from 7 to 14 July in 5 pavilions of the New Rome Honest. An additional-large occasion that may see 6,100 athletes over 40 (with 30% ladies), coming from 111 international locations. Divided into 11 age classes, they’ll compete for the titles within the ladies’s and males’s singles and doubles and, for the primary time, additionally within the blended doubles. Moreover, within the title of inclusiveness, there will probably be for the primary time the simultaneous presence of athletes with disabilities, who will be capable of play each for the titles up for grabs for the Paralympic classes and for that of the match of their age class, making the Rome 2024 World Championships, subsequently, probably the most inclusive occasion ever.

Malagò: “Unimaginable numbers: athletes from a summer season and winter Olympics current”

The president of CONI is enthusiastic in regards to the numbers John Malago: “It’s an occasion that brings collectively the contributors of a Summer season Olympics and a Winter Olympics. Desk tennis is really a sport for all ages, probably the most intergenerational there may be. I’m blissful that our nation, as soon as once more, is the venue for a significant sporting occasion, confirming the vocation and custom which have all the time accompanied us and push us to pursue new, vital objectives, additionally in view of the group of the Olympic and Paralympic Video games of Milan Cortina 2026”.

The American Yu is competing at 100 years previous however there are additionally 14 over 91s

Whereas we wait to see who will probably be topped world champion, there may be already somebody who has already put a digital medal round their neck: it’s the American Wa Yuet Yuwho’s the oldest participant within the race as she is going to flip 100 in October. However no much less so are the Belgian Jozef Janssens and the French Man Bizeul, 95 years previous, the Swedish Ragnhild Lundberg and the German Paul Juchems, 93 years previous, and the Japanese Yasu Watanabe, Hyun Youngja and Teruko Fujitani, the Italians Italo Bolther and Silvio Maracchia, the Australian Hans Eberhard Pappon, the German Horst Fischer, the Latvian Georgijs Lobonosovs, the French Henri Yahiel and the Finnish Orvo Kattainen who make up the big group of 91-year-olds.

36 Ukrainians additionally current

Italy, among the many largest European delegations along with these of Germany and France, hosts the occasion for the second time, after the 1986 version in Rimini. Abroad, probably the most represented continent is Asia with China, Japan and India. Athletes from war-torn international locations may even be welcomed with specific emotion and pleasure: the truth is, 36 Ukrainians are registered. Curiously, the Swedish athlete may even be competing Petra Sorlingpresident of the Worldwide Desk Tennis Federation and IOC member.

Followers may even be capable of play

“Within the 47 thousand sq. meters accessible”, he underlined Joseph Marinodirector of the occasion, “there won’t solely be house for athletes, who can have 350 gaming tables (250 for competitions and 100 for coaching). A big ‘fan village’ may even be arrange for all fans, a spot for sharing and socializing”. The primary occasion is on Sunday 7 July when, in entrance of 5 thousand spectators, a big Opening Ceremony will happen, that includes music and a present. The finals are scheduled for Sunday 14.