The Kingdom is hosting for the first time the "Grand Smash 2024" table tennis championship, under the name "Smash Saudi Arabia," from May 1 to May 11 in Jeddah. This event will feature elite global players competing in singles (men and women), doubles (men and women), and mixed doubles, organized by the Saudi Table Tennis Federation, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports, and in cooperation with the World Table Tennis (WTT) organization.
Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki stated that it is "a new global sports event that will join the list of major championships that the Kingdom has become home to, after our wise leadership provided all the resources that contributed to the sports sector reaching high levels of excellence. We are confident that, God willing, this event will be a landmark in global championships in the game of table tennis by providing an exceptional experience for everyone."
The championship will take place in two phases: the first is the qualifying phase from May 1 to 3, where 64 players will compete, including players representing the Kingdom. Eight players will advance to the second phase, the "final rounds," which will kick off on May 4. This phase will include the eight qualifiers from the qualifying stage and 56 players ranked at higher levels in the global player ranking, bringing the total number of players in the final phase to 64, who will compete in knockout rounds for titles in five championships: men's (singles and doubles), women's (singles and doubles), and a mixed doubles championship.
It is noted that all "Grand Smash" championships feature a special character reflecting the identity and culture of the host country, which is embodied in the logo of the Smash Saudi Arabia championship, highlighted in green inspired by the Kingdom's flag. The championship's logo also reflects the shared aspirations of the Saudi and international table tennis federations to present a world-class championship worthy of the Kingdom's name.
These hostings are a manifestation of the significant development journey the sports sector in the Kingdom is experiencing, in line with efforts to achieve the sports targets of Vision 2030, aiming for the sector to be a direct contributor to the development and prosperity journey that the Kingdom is experiencing in various fields.
