Why Naturalised Players Are Reshaping International Table Tennis

Naturalised athletes have become a major feature of international table tennis. At the 2016 Olympics, 31% of competitors in the sport were naturalised players, compared with 15% in basketball, the next highest sport. Chinese-born Singapore player Feng Tianwei won medals in three Olympic table tennis events. Her success also fuelled debate in Singapore over whether recruiting foreign-born players limits opportunities for local athletes. The trend grew after the International Table Tennis Federation reduced the number of Olympic and World Championship entries allowed per association in 2009. In 2019, the federation introduced waiting periods of one to nine years before players who acquire a new nationality can represent their new association, depending on their age and previous representation.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.