The two cities – Durban and Dusseldorf bid for the right to host the tournament in 2023 and after member associations of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) voted at the 2020 virtual ITTF AGM.
The vote vindicates the new format for the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals, coming into place in 2021, which sees continental qualification precede the Finals event, thus making it more feasible for more countries to host.
Düsseldorf had been bidding to stage the event again following the resounding success of the 2017 edition.
Joe Carrim, President of the South African Table Tennis Board (SATTB), said this has shown that Africa has come of age in hosting major international competition.
“I am obviously ecstatic and beside myself with joy. The sleepless nights and all the hard work have paid off. I want to say to Germany that their presentation was absolutely superb. I did not want to take our success at all for granted, given all their experience, and I am certain that they will come up again (to host the World Table Tennis Championships Finals) in future. I want to thank the world of table tennis and the ITTF for entrusting us with the confidence with the team that we have, the city that we have, and the support from the government that we have to host this event. We are certain that we will make everyone who supported us extremely proud of having placed their trust in us to take the baton forward and host a World Championships worthy of the trust that you have given us.”
According to the President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, this is another confirmation that the continent is capable of hosting the world while the record of South Africa in staging international competitions would also come to fore. “This is a real proof to show the whole world that Africa can do it and by gaining a good level of trust. Congratulations to all Africa.”