Sport England have decided not to support able bodied table tennis players in their preparation for Tokyo 2020.
The England men's team achieved a Bronze medal at the World Team Championships in 2016 and lost to the eventual Gold medallist's, China in the Quarterfinal of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
To raise funds to assist the players to compete globally in the run up to Tokyo 2020 it is proposed to run a tournament in the UK where the top 8 can earn funds according to their performance in the form of prize money.
The top UK players all play abroad in search of the higher level of play that they need to compete with. This leaves few opportunities for the UK Table Tennis enthusiast to be inspired by the incredible skill and athleticism of these athletes.
You can play your part in assisting our top players to reach Tokyo 2020 in top form by pledging for this project.
What we'll deliver:
- Organise a ceremony formal 3 course dinner
- Organise a top level masters table tennis event
Why it's a great idea:
This is a great idea because:
1) It provides funds for our top level players to compete globally in preparation for Tokyo 2020
2) It facilitates arranging a top class table tennis event between players who don't play each other very often.
3) It will allow the players to state their case in competition for the limited places in the team
4) It will inspire a generation of players to follow in the top players footsteps.
5) It will be great fun to watch them play
Steps to get it done:
- Book Gerflor installation
- Book Hotel
- Book Security
- Book Table Tennis table installation
- Book the venue
- Gain agreement from players to participate
- Gain support of volunteer officials
- Hit funding target
Promotes an activity that has the following benefits:
1) Participants can be aged 6-90 years old
2) Supports all cultures. In fact Table Tennis is the ONLY sport that has all 226 countries of the world included in its International governing body !!!
3) Played by Men and Women
4) Played by able bodied and disabled players.
5) research has provided anecdotal evidence that Table Tennis reduces the onset of Alziemhers disease in older players.
6) Can be played by the total novice to the supremely skilled and fit athletes in the Olympics.
7) Table Tennis is a very clean sport and has no history of doping or drug abuse.
8) Table Tennis has a tradition and culture of being very sporting with the slightest of edges routinely acknowledged by the opposing players.
9) Young players improve their concentration skills and consequently often improve their educational performance.
10) Table Tennis integrates society by being all inclusive
