As the table tennis family eagerly awaits the ITTF World Team Championships Finals Busan 2024, they can look forward to a series of crucial events that will shape the journey to Busan. The month of September is poised to witness five exhilarating Continental events, each carrying immense significance for the participating athletes and their member associations. Not only do these events pave the way to Busan 2024, but they also provide a gateway to the highly anticipated Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The spotlight converges on the imminent September events. In Townsville, Australia, the ITTF-Oceania Olympic Team & Mixed Doubles Qualification event is poised to unfold from 2 to 3 September. Simultaneously, the 26th Asian Championships in Pyeongchang, Korea, are set to transpire from 3 to 10 September. In the vibrant streets of Havana, Cuba, the ITTF Pan American Championships will get underway from 10 to 17 September. In Malmö, Sweden, the European Team Championships will grace the stage from 10 to 17 September. Across the Mediterranean in Tunis, Tunisia, the ITTF Africa Championships are slated for 11 to 17 September.

Here, 33 teams will earn their passage from the Continental Stage to Busan 2024. The allocation of slots 4 for Africa, 10 for Asia, 11 for Europe, 6 for PANAM, and 2 for Oceania reflects the spirited diversity of the sport.

Yet, the path to the ITTF World Championships Finals Busan 2024 is paved with a dual promise. Those who secure qualification in the team events also seal their fate for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games an honour that amplifies the significance of these upcoming continental events. As athletes converge at the tables, the journey is twofold: an ignited pathway to Busan and a spirited voyage to Paris, where world championships glory awaits.

Paris 2024 will set the stage for a captivating ensemble of table tennis competitions: the mens and womens singles, the mens and womens teams, and the mixed doubles. From July 27 to August 10, 2024, the renowned South Paris Arena #4 will become the epicentre of skill, determination, and global unity. A total of 172 places (86 for men and 86 for women) have been allocated for table tennis, including six host country places and two universality places. Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) can secure a maximum quota of three places for both men and women.

In the Team events, 16 teams will clash, each composed of three athletes from the same NOC. The quest for Mixed Doubles glory will be equally riveting, with 16 pairs vying for supremacy, each pair representing their nation. However, the European Mixed Doubles category is not up for contention after the German pair of Dang Qiu and Nina Mittelham secured their spots after their triumph at the European Games in Krakow-Malopolska, Poland, in June 2023.

The road ahead is challenging, but it is paved with opportunities for athletes to etch their names in history and inspire a generation. The global table tennis family eagerly awaits the spectacle that will unfold in September, setting the stage for both the ITTF World Team Championships Finals and the Olympics.

The five continental events happening in September are:

ITTF Oceania Olympic Team & Mixed Doubles Qualification, Townsville, Australia

26th Asian Championships Pyeongchang, Korea

ITTF Pan American Championships, Havana, Cuba

European Team Championships, Malmö, Sweden

ITTF Africa Championships Tunis, Tunisia