ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2024: Preview, schedule, how to watch live action

Qualified teams and players to watch at 2024 ITTF Mixed Team World Cup

The top 16 mixed teams in the world as of 20 August qualified for the tournament, with at least one team from each continent.

Brazil and Nigeria, who qualified for the tournament ranked 11th and 16th respectively, both declined their invitations and were replaced by Canada and Poland, the top two teams on the reserve list.

Hosts China are top seeds, followed by Japan, the Republic of Korea, and France, who will all be kept apart in the first round. The Chinese have opted for a strong squad, despite Olympic champions Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng missing having ended their seasons early. World number one players Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha front the team, which also includes the world numbers two Lin Shidong and Wang Manyu.

However, Japan and France are each sending relatively more inexperienced teams, with their respective men’s world numbers three and four, Harimoto Tomokazu and Félix Lebrun, not selected. Indeed, aside from the Chinese, the highest-ranked men’s player competing is Republic of Korea’s world number 14 Jang Woojin, while on the women’s side it is Jang’s compatriot Shin Yubin, ranked 11th.

On paper, that would make the Republic of Korea arguably the biggest challenge for the hosts, although in practice it is hard to look past the Chinese sweeping to a second straight title.

The other competing teams are Chinese Taipei, Sweden, India, Egypt, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong China, Romania, Singapore, Canada, USA, and Poland.