2016 Asian Cup Table Tennis in Dubai: Your guide to the event

A guide to the Table Tennis Asian Cup taking place in Dubai, a key continental warm-up event ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics that will feature some of the sport's leading stars.

Zhang Jike of China is currently ranked fourth in the world. Photo Courtesy / Asian Table Tennis Union

Below, a guide to the Table Tennis Asian Cup taking place in Dubai, a key continental warm-up event ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics that will feature some of the leading stars of the sport.

What

2016 Table Tennis Asian Cup in Dubai

The tournament, an annual singles championship organised by the Asian Table Tennis Union, both figures into qualifying for the annual men’s and women’s World Cup (October 1-3 men’s in Saarbrucken, Germany; October 7-9 women’s in TBD) and the final major event for Asia ahead of the 2016 Olympics. It also comes on the heels of the April 13-17 Asian Olympic Qualification tournament in Hong Kong.

When

April 28-30. The draw to be held April 27.

*Match schedule to be released at a later date

Where

Dubai World Trade Centre’s Zabeel Hall

Tickets

Admission is free

• Read more: Ahmed Rizvi – 2016 Table Tennis Asian Cup to serve up ranking points ahead of Olympics qualification

Who

Some of the world’s top ranked table tennis stars will be on hand. The confirmed players so far include:

*with notable results from Olympics; biennial Table Tennis World Championships; annual World Cup and Asian Cup

Men

Zhang Jike, China (world No 4) – Gold-medal winner at 2012 London Olympics; gold 2011, 2014 Table Tennis World Cup; semi-finals 2015 World Championships; silver 2010 Table Tennis World Cup; gold 2010 Asian Cup; bronze 2009 Asian Cup; silver 2011 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals; T-3rd 2009, 2015 ITTF Grand Finals

Xu Xin, China (No 3) – Gold-medal winner at 2013 Table Tennis World Cup; semi-finals 2013 World Championships; last-16 2015 World Championships; gold 2012, 2013 and 2015 Asian Cup; silver 2011 Asian Cup; bronze 2010 Asian Cup; gold 2012, 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals; silver 2009 Grand Finals; T-3rd 2015 Grand Finals

Chuang Chih-yuan, Chinese Taipei (No 7) – Bronze-medal winner at 2013 Asian Cup; 4th at 2012 London Olympics; last-32 2008 Beijing Olympics; last-16 2013 World Championships; first round 2015 World Championships; gold 2002 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals; T-3rd 2012 Grand Finals

Jun Mizutani, Japan (No 6) – Bronze-medal winner at 2007, 2014 and 2015 Asian Cup; last-16 at 2012 London Olympics; last-32 2008 Beijing Olympics; quarter-finals 2015 World Championships; first round 2013 World Championships; gold 2010, 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

Gao Ning, Singapore (No 25) – Last-16 at 2012 London Olympics; last-32 2008 Beijing Olympics; last-16 2013, 2015 World Championships; T-3rd 2011 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

Nima Alamian, Iran (No 119) – Third round at 2012 London Olympics; last-32 2013 World Championships; first round 2015 World Championships

Tang Peng, Hong Kong (No 17) – Second round at 2012 London Olympics; quarter-finals 2015 World Championships; last-32 2013 World Championships; T-3rd 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

Soumyajit Ghosh, India (No 83) – Second round at 2012 London Olympics; second round 2015 World Championships; first round 2013 World Championships

Wong Chun Ting, Hong Kong (No 11) – Last-16 2015 World Championships

Koki Niwa, Japan (No 12) – Last-16 2013, 2015 World Championships

Jung Young-sik, South Korea (No 14) – Last-32 2015 World Championships; second round 2013 World Championships

Lee Sang-su, South Korea (No 18) – Last-16 2015 World Championships; second round 2013 World Championships

Abdulla Al Balooshi, UAE – National No 1

Women

Liu Shiwen, China (world No 1) – Gold-medal winner at 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015 Table Tennis World Cup; gold 2013 World Championships; silver 2013, 2015 World Championships; gold 2010, 2012, 2013 Asian Cup; silver 2009, 2015 Asian Cup; gold 2011, 2012, 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

Feng Tianwei, Singapore (No 6) – Bronze-medal winner at 2012 London Olympics; quarter-finals 2008 Beijing Olympics; bronze 2008, 2013 Table Tennis World Cup; quarter-finals 2013, 2015 World Championships; gold 2015 Asian Cup; silver 2008 Asian Cup; bronze 2010 Asian Cup; gold 2010 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals; T-3rd 2008, 2009, 2012 Grand Finals

Jiang Huajun, Hong Kong (No 31) – Last-16 at 2012 London Olympics; Last-16 2013, 2015 World Championships

Tie Yana, Hong Kong (No 24) – Quarter-finals at 2008 Beijing Olymipcs; Last-32 2015 World Championships; T-3rd 2005 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

Zhu Yuling, China (No 3) – Bronze-medal winner at 2015 Asian Cup; semi-finals 2013 World Championships; quarter-finals 2015 World Championships; T-3rd 2015 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

Mima Ito, Japan (No 9) – Quarter-finals 2015 World Championships

Seo Hyo-won, South Korea (No 12) – Last-16 2013 World Championships; second round 2015 World Championships; silver 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

Yang Hae-un, South Korea (No 14) – last-16 2015 World Championships; last-32 2013 World Championships

Cheng I-ching, Chinese Taipei (No 16) – Last-16 2015 World Championships; second round 2013 World Championships

Yu Mengyu, Singapore (No 28) – Last-16 2015 World Championships; second round 2013 World Championships; T-3rd 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

Miu Hirano, Japan (No 19) – Last-32 2013, 2015 World Championships

Chen Szu-yu, Chinese Taipei (No 36) – Last-32 2015 World Championships; second round 2013 World Championships

Noura Al Maazmi, UAE – National No 1

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport