A press conference of WTT China Smash 2025 is held in Beijing on June 6. Photo: Li Hao/GT

 
More efforts will be made to enhance the spectator experience during the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash 2025, which will kick off on September 25 in Beijing's Shijingshan district, according to a press conference held in the capital on Friday.

Scheduled from September 25 to October 5 in Shijingshan's Shougang Park, the top-flight table tennis event in the WTT calendar features the world's top-ranked men and women in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events. Shougang Park was the venue of big air events of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. 

Mounir Bessah, WTT Events Executive Director, told the Global Times on Friday that China Smash is not only a showcase of a world-class event but also a symbol of innovation.

Excellence and global engagement are the cornerstone of table tennis in China. This table tennis event represents both tradition and progress, connecting generations of fans and athletes through the power of sport, Bessah said at the press conference. 

He Xiao, secretary-general of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), told the Global Times that CTTA will pursue innovation while building on tradition this year, leveraging Beijing's legacy as the only city to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics. 

"We are deepening collaboration and interaction with local communities, sports teams, schools and parks. We aim to extend the excitement of WTT China Smash from the venue to every corner of the city through dialogues, amateur player engagement and charity initiatives. Table tennis is not just about athletic competition. It is also a beautiful bond that connects citizens and the energies of the urban life," He noted.

During the event, Shougang Park will be transformed into a "Grand Smash-themed Park," featuring an interactive experience zone, a Chinese table tennis culture exhibition, and over 20 parallel activities including player meet-and-greets and public challenge tournaments to enrich the spectator experience for fans, according to the press conference. 

Hosting the WTT event is part of Beijing's efforts to establish the city as a prominent host of elite international events, Zhang Zhaohui, an official with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sport said at the press conference.

In the first half of 2025, Beijing hosted some major international events such as the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, Beijing Half Marathon and World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final and the ongoing FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League, said Zhang.

Beijing will also host the tennis tournament China Open, the Beijing Marathon, and the Figure Skating Olympic Qualifying Competition among other events later this year, Zhang added. 

The China Smash is expected to attract top players and fans from around the globe, with a total prize pool of $2,050,000 and 2000 ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking points for each champion. 

Bessah also mentioned the optimized rules, prize increase, improved medical services and more wild cards for young players are some of the measures that WTT has taken to promote the event.

In February, WTT removed the mandatory participation requirement at all Grand Smashes, along with other changes aimed at a balanced approach to player well-being and career sustainability.

The 2024 China Smash saw a strong showing of top players from across the world including China's Wang Chuqin, Hugo Calderano of Brazil, Felix Lebrun of France, six-time Olympic champion Ma Long and Shin Yu-bin of South Korea.

In 2024, China's rising star Lin Shidong, who is currently world No.1, pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat table tennis legend Ma and claimed his first WTT Grand Smash title in Beijing. 

Sun Yingsha, who was recently crowned in the World Table Tennis Championships in Doha, defeated her compatriot Wang Manyu to win the women's singles title last year.  

Shijingshan, Beijing was selected to host the China Smash for five consecutive years, from 2024 to 2028.