The traditional table tennis event that has been held for 32 years returns to Shanghai, where Ma Long, Zhang Benzhi and Zhang Benzhi all started.

From December 8th to 10th, the 32nd East Asia Hope Cup Table Tennis Championships was held at the Shanghai Cao Yanhua Table Tennis Training School. This is also the return of this event to Shanghai after four years.

The East Asia Hope Cup Table Tennis Championship is mainly aimed at rising table tennis stars aged 12 and under, aiming to promote table tennis exchanges among East Asian countries and regions. A total of 92 athletes from eight teams from East Asian countries and regions including China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and Macau participated in this event.

World famous players such as Ma Long, Liu Shiwen, Chen Meng, Tomokazu Harimoto, Miu Hirano, Ryu Seungmin, Lin Yunru, etc. have all participated in the East Asia Hope Cup Table Tennis Tournament. World champions and Olympic champions started here, so it can be said to be the cradle of champions.

Since the ITTF competition system does not have competitions for the 12-year-old age group, if they want to participate in international competitions, young players often have to jump to the U15 level competition. The East Asia Hope Cup just fills the gap in competitions for this age group.

Yin Xiao, a member of the Strategic System Staff Department of the China Table Tennis Association in preparation for the Olympic Games and the former head of the coaching staff of the Chinese Table Tennis Team's men's team, introduced that the Chinese team members participating this time are composed of the top four in the national youth trials in the 12-year-old age group and the top four in the 11-year-old national team. It is composed of the champion and runner-up of the junior trials. They are also the best players in China in this age group. "Compared with winning the championship, the key is to let young players get training. We have to look at this game from the perspective of discovering talents. After all, they are still young and have a lot of room for growth. For these young players, it can broaden their horizons broaden their horizons and increase their experience in participating in international competitions.”

Both sides of the competition table are covered with video equipment, and the event platform has also become a channel for each team to communicate with each other. Li Qian, the head of the China Table Tennis National Youth Women’s Training Team, said that it is usually difficult to come into contact with young athletes from other countries and regions. Through this competition, we can better understand the reserve talent reserves and overall situation of other table tennis associations, and in the youth training system can learn and communicate with each other.

This is the first time that Shanghai Cao Yanhua Table Tennis Training School has participated in hosting an international competition, and the school has also formed a team to participate. Principal Cao Yanhua said, "We have been communicating with Japan for more than 20 years. Japanese young players often come to us to train, and we also go to Japan to hold friendly matches with them. But international competitions like the East Asia Hope Cup are still the first times. Because the host country can field another team, we are very motivated to host this competition and want our children to see the level of international athletes of the same age and learn from each other’s strengths.”

It is reported that after years of cooperation, Cao Yanhua Table Tennis Training School and Baoshan District No. 2 Youth Amateur Sports School have sent 11 people to the national table tennis team, more than 50 people to the professional team, and 20 people have been officially selected for the National Youth and Junior Training Team, training many people. Xin and a group of outstanding athletes have won more than 60 championships in the Olympic Games, World Table Tennis Championships, and World Cup, and more than 100 national championships in the National Games and National Championships.

Wang Liqin, vice chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association and chairman of the Shanghai Table Tennis Association, said that the East Asia Hope Cup Table Tennis Championships returned to Shanghai, China, thanks to the friendly consultations between the Chinese Table Tennis Association and the event sponsor, the Japan Table Tennis Association, as well as the East Asian countries and the active cooperation of regional table tennis associations. The hosting of the East Asia Hope Cup will further enrich Shanghai's youth table tennis event system and promote more mutual exchanges among high-level young athletes. In the future, the Chinese Table Tennis Association will work with all parties to help young players from all over the world grow together by organizing a variety of international exchange activities.

This event is hosted by the Chinese Table Tennis Association and the Shanghai Sports Federation, hosted by the Shanghai Table Tennis Association and the Baoshan District Sports Bureau, and co-organized by the Baoshan District Sports Federation, Cao Yanhua Table Tennis Training School, and Yangtai Experimental Middle School.