An incredible few days of elite table tennis action concluded for USA Table Tennis (USATT) with the successful joint delivery of the National Championships and an international Para table tennis Open in Fort Worth, Texas. The event brought together 811 players and 120 Para players, making it a truly remarkable gathering.
In the Women’s category, Amy Wang secured her second US National Championship title, adding to her 2021 victory. As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, Wang has positioned herself as a strong contender for a place on the US women’s team.
Nikhil Kumar, the reigning national champion and a participant in the 2020 Olympics, emerged as the triumphant winner of the Men’s championship title at the 2023 US National Table Tennis Championships. Kumar had previously reached the finals in 2020 and 2021 before clinching the title in 2022.
This year marked the third time in the past four years that USATT has brought an elite-level table tennis event to Fort Worth, a renowned and historically significant town in Texas “Where the West Begins.”
In addition to the National Championships, the table tennis action in Fort Worth also included the ITTF Fa20 US Para Open 2023. This event showcased some of the world’s best Para table tennis athletes. Spanning from July 3 to 5, the Para Open featured a full schedule of events for all eleven classifications for para-athletes. Among the notable achievements, Jenson Van Emburgh and Tahl Leibovitz, two prominent US players, claimed gold medals in classes 3 and 9, respectively.
The joint delivery of the National Championships and the Para Open in Fort Worth proved to be a resounding success, showcasing the immense talent and dedication of the participating athletes. These events not only celebrated the sport of table tennis but also promoted inclusivity by highlighting the achievements of Para table tennis players. The USATT continues to play a vital role in organising such events, further enhancing the reputation of table tennis in the United States.