Doha, January 06 (QNA) - The 31st WTT Champions Doha 2026 is set to begin Wednesday at the Lusail Sports Arena and will continue until January 11, 2026.

The contest features Men's and Women's Singles, bringing together an elite roster of world champions and top-ranked players, including the Chinese Fan Zhendong, ranked second globally, and the Chinese Wang Manyu, also ranked second worldwide.

The tournament includes the top 32 male players representing 16 countries and the top 32 female players representing 15 countries.

The Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA), chaired by Hamad Al Hammadi, announced the hosting of an exceptional global WTT series throughout January, an event spanning the month and featuring top table tennis talent from over 50 countries.

The series opens with WTT Champions, with the Men's and Women's Round of 32 scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the Round of 16 on Friday, and the quarterfinals for both categories on Saturday.

The tournament concludes on Sunday with the semifinals and finals for both Men's and Women's Singles.

In the Men's Singles, a highly anticipated clash pits tournament top seed Fan Zhendong against rising French star Florian Koto, while experience meets ambition as German Dimitrij Ovtcharov faces Brazilian Hugo Calderano in one of the standout first-round matches.

Japanese player Tomokazu Harimoto, winner of the 2025 Hong Kong Finals, opens against Chinese Xiang Bing in a high-profile encounter.

Meanwhile, Sweden's Truls Morkgaard faces American Kanak Jha in another first-round matchup attracting attention.

On the Women's Singles side, Wang Manyu enters the tournament in high spirits after capturing her second World Table Tennis Finals title in December 2025, aiming to start 2026 with a new crown.

However, the draw pairs her against Japanese player Satsuki Odo, promising a fiercely competitive opening round.

Qatari player Aya Mohamed faces a challenging start, meeting French competitor Prithika Pavade in her first-round match.

Spectators are also looking forward to a rematch between Japanese Miwa Harimoto and Chinese Shin Yubin, continuing a recurring rivalry. Harimoto aims to rebound after losing to compatriot Hina Hayata in the Frankfurt Finals, seeking to reclaim her place on the global podium.

Following WTT Champions, the series continues with WTT Star Contender Doha 2026 from January 13-18, featuring 170 athletes, followed by the WTT Youth Contender from January 19-22 and the WTT Star Youth Contender from January 23-25, highlighting emerging talent from across the continents.

The series concludes with the WTT Feeder event from January 27-31, providing athletes with a crucial opportunity to earn world ranking points, featuring 114 competitors.

This final stage underscores the comprehensive, multi-level structure of the series and affirms Doha's central role in supporting all levels of the sport.

Significant cash prizes have been allocated for these tournaments, including USD 500,000 for WTT Champions Doha 2026 and USD 300,000 for the WTT Star Contender.

Approximately 50 international referees are participating in overseeing the events, with the organizing committee finalizing all preparations, including venue readiness, athlete accommodations, and delegation reception.

Hosting this global series reinforces Qatar's vision of establishing itself as a world-class sports hub, not limited to football, but encompassing individual and team sports, particularly table tennis, which continues to gain increasing attention both domestically and internationally.

The WTT series in Doha offers spectators an exceptional opportunity to follow the world's best players and discover the next generation of stars, all within an organizational framework that reflects Qatar's reputation and extensive experience in hosting major global sporting events.

Overall, QTTA looks forward to continuing this successful series of table tennis events following the remarkable hosting of the 2025 WTT Championships in Qatar, alongside other combined tournaments held in previous years. (QNA)