ITTF Announces 2016 Star Awards Male & Female Star Nominees

Courtesy of ITTF

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is excited to announce the nominees for the 2016 Male & Female Table Tennis Stars & Star Point, with the winners to be crowned at the 2016 ITTF Star Awards in Doha, Qatar on 8 December 2016.

The 2016 ITTF Star Awards, which will be in its fourth edition, will be held at the Doha’s famous and prestigious Sheraton Hotel to celebrate the world’s best table tennis players’ achievements in 2016.

Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) President & ITTF Deputy President Khalil AL-MOHANNADI stated: “On behalf of QTTA, I am excited to be hosting the celebrations for the world’s best table tennis players in Doha, Qatar. QTTA have very elaborate plans for the 2016 ITTF Star Awards and everyone in attendance and fans around the world watching on TV will surely enjoy the show we have planned to honor the most important people in our sport, the athlete’s and their achievements in 2016”

The nominees for the Male Table Tennis Star presented by DHS, as nominated by the ITTF Athletes’ Commission:

Quadri ARUNA (NGR): First ever African Olympic Games Quarterfinalist. Highest ever world ranked African player at 25 in the world

FAN Zhendong (CHN): 2016 Men’s World Cup champion, 2016 World Team Champion, two 2016 ITTF World Tour Super Series titles

MA Long (CHN): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Singles and Team Champion, 2016 World Team Champion, two 2016 ITTF World Tour Super Series titles

Jun MIZUTANI (JPN): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Singles Bronze Medalist and Team Silver Medalist, 2016 World Team Championships Silver Medalist, three 2016 ITTF World Tour titles

Nomination video: https://youtu.be/NG83217Eiag.

Upon the nomination, world number one and 2015 Male Table Tennis Star MA Long shared, “It’s an honor to be nominated again this year, and I am happy that table tennis has gained a lot of attention and popularity after the Olympic Games. I hope that this phenomenon will continue for our sport.”

The nominees Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku, as nominated by the ITTF Athletes’ Commission:

DING Ning (CHN): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Singles and Team Champion, 2016 World Team Champion, two 2016 ITTF World Tour Super Series titles

Miu HIRANO (JPN): 2016 Women’s World Cup Champion, 2016 ITTF World Tour Polish Open Champion

Mima ITO (JPN): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Team Bronze Medalist which made her the Youngest ever table tennis Olympic Medalist, 2016 World Team Championships Silver Medalist

Kim SONG-I (PRK): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Singles Bronze Medalist, 2016 World Team Championships Bronze Medalist, 2016 ITTF World Tour Pyongyang Open Champion

Nomination video: https://youtu.be/uT5BWibFtEM.

2016 saw a lot of amazing shots and rallies, but only five made the shortlist for Star Point of the year presented by Seamaster. Check out the cream of the crop here: https://youtu.be/xBYCzNv_Hjw.

Fans can now vote for their star player of 2016 at ITTFStarAwards.com. Voting will end on 13 November 2016.

Fans’ voting results will be combined with the judging outcome by an expert panel which will include their peers and the media to determine the Table Tennis Stars of 2016!

In addition to the Male and Female Table Tennis Stars, six other awards will be handed in Doha:

• Male Para Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue
• Female Para Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International
• Table Tennis Star Coach presented by Butterfly
• Table Tennis Star Point presented by Seamaster
• Table Tennis Breakthrough Star presented by Monday Club
• Table Tennis Fair Play Star

The nominees for these awards will be announced in the coming weeks.For more information on the ITTF Star Awards, or to organize press accreditation, please go to ITTFStarAwards.com contact Matt Pound at media@ittfmail.com.