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Table Tennis sets new digital & broadcast media records in 2019!
Socially awesome: table tennis turns a million times stronger!
For the first time ever, the ITTF’s social media community grew by over 1 million fans in a single calendar year: up from 2,802,725 in 2018 to 3,845,493 in 2019, marking a 37% increase (excluding itTV and Zhibo TV subscribers).
YouTube was the social media platform to enjoy the biggest growth in 2019 with a 46% increase in subscribers (430,000 in total). This merely scratches the surface of a phenomenal year in which the channel also witnessed 153% increases both in terms of total impressions (over 1.2 billion) and total views (over 115 million) and almost tripled total watch time (8.6 million hours).
Major gains were made also on Facebook, with the ITTF adding over 200,000 followers to its total of 700,000 on the platform by the end of 2019. Significantly, the number of video views tripled from approximately 50 million to over 150 million in the space of just 12 months, while reach (237 million) and impressions (320 million) grew by 80% and total engagement (4.3 million) virtually doubled.
Instagram followers grew by 41% to close in on the 250,000 follower milestone with total likes (12.3 million) and videos views (44.4 million) almost doubling over the course of the year.
The positive trend continued on Twitter with video views (40 million) also close to doubling and total impressions (96 million) almost tripled.
Table Tennis continues to trend on Chinese platforms
It is no secret that table tennis keeps catching the hearts and minds of fans across the Asian continent and the proof is in the ITTF’s ever-increasing Chinese social media figures.
On Weibo the ITTF recorded a net increase of 625,000 followers to bring the 2019 total to over 2.35 million, while significant gains were made also in terms of video views (435 million) and fan engagement (2 million).
Popular social messaging app WeChat registered a collective 2.8 million video views, while Chinese news app Toutiao.com weighed in with an impressive 221 million recommendations and 14 million video views over the course of 2019.
Furthermore, extended table tennis coverage on Chinese TV platform Tencent Video saw views rise to over 12 million.
Website and web streaming success
An increased appetite for live table tennis in HD quality is more than satisfied by itTV and the ITTF’s official online streaming platform broke new ground in 2019, witnessing a 69% growth in consumption on the previous year. Adding 327,231 more subscribers, a total of 16.6 million sessions were registered throughout the year.
2019 was a year to remember also for ITTF.com with 4.6 million users accounting for 22 million sessions and over 50 million individual page views.
ITTF website followers are known to be on the go with over 2.6 million users visiting the website via mobile rather than desktop and tablet.
“Compared to previous years, table tennis is now unrecognisable in terms of its colossal media coverage across TV, social media, website and web streaming. The ground-breaking achievements posted in 2019 promise for even bigger and better things to come in 2020!” – Matt Pound, ITTF Marketing Director
Watch it to believe it!
Total video views across Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter rose from 155 million to 350 million in 2019: sure proof of the ITTF’s success in harnessing the power of video to showcase the extraordinary talent of its star athletes.
With video content clearly king once again, we take a look at some of the biggest hits across platforms:
On YouTube, fans flocked to watch the epic semi-final highlights of China’s Ma Long taking on Japanese prodigy Tomokazu Harimoto at the ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open. Ma Long’s victory, crucial in his march towards a record-breaking 28th ITTF World Tour men’s singles title of his career, registered a total of over 1 million views and 14 million impressions!
‘The Dragon’ was also the centre of attention when he faced compatriot Fan Zhendong at the ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup final, for which match highlights were viewed for a collective 109,339 hours – that’s nearly 12 years and 4 months!
While there can be no surprises that star players will always attract extra attention, the power of archive footage cannot be underestimated. Of the record-breaking total 150 million views on Facebook, the best performing video of the year came from an incredible exhibition match at the 1994 Qatar Open. The eye-catching trickshots on show got fans discussing the video for 9,686,126 minutes – that’s 18 years and 4 months worth of watch time!
The pattern across Instagram was inclined more to the ITTF’s millennial fan base, who showed their appreciation for the abstract moments that table tennis can so readily throw up just like this – for a colossal 124,557 views! Japan’s stars also featured prominently among their favourite videos, with a 5-year-old Mima Ito garnering the most likes of all Instagram videos and Koki Niwa’s spectacular shots video the highest performer on IGTV.
Twitter followers confirmed their fondness for the ironic aspects of the sport, while Puerto Rican star Adriana Diaz’ incredible No Look, No Way return of serve hit the heights of 480,973 views and 141,439 minutes (3 months and 2 days) of total viewing time!
Eyes on the prize: TV viewership keeps rising!
While the rise of OTT streaming platforms and mobile video have changed the landscape of sports viewing across the world, nonetheless fans continued to turn on TV screens to witness more spectacular rallies and unbelievable technical skill of international table tennis stars, as the ITTF again broke its own records for TV viewership across the globe.
A grand total of 1.41 billion unique viewers tuned in to watch major events during 2019 (World Table Tennis Championships, World Cups and World Tour – excluding December’s Grand Finals event, with final numbers still to be confirmed). 89% of the viewers were on Chinese Central Television (FTA).
On a worldwide level, air time more than doubled from 3,145 hours in 2018 to 6,911 hours in 2019 (8.2% on Chinese Central Television).
The five most watched events were the World Championships (220 million unique viewers), the Team World Cup (175 million), China Open (110 million), Men’s World Cup (105 million) and Japan Open (101 million).
Now for more records to be broken in 2020 in what will be the biggest and best year to date for international table tennis!
Star names appear on the entry list; a mouth-watering schedule awaits.
Top brass ignites year
Every men’s singles winner on the 2019 ITTF World Tour, with the exception of the suspended Wang Chuqin, is named on the entry list; it is the same for the women.
China provides the top seeds in both disciplines, Xu Xin and Chen Meng lead the respective seeding, the order being based on the December 2019 world rankings.
The Cloudwalker Xu had a stunning 2019 in terms of the ITTF World Tour, even though he was later overshadowed by the newly crowned world no.1 Fan Zhendong – the winner in Austria and Germany – as well as at the Agricultural Bank of China ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.
Following the top three names is the legendary Ma Long who last year after winning in Qatar and China extended his list of men’s singles titles on the ITTF World Tour to 28 in number, an all-time record. Also from China, Lin Gaoyuan is the no.4 seed, Liang Jingkun, the no.8 seed.
For the women singles, the Chinese presence is equally strong. Sun Yingsha and Liu Shiwen follow Chen Meng in the order of merit, both of whom enjoyed spectacular success last year.
Listed as low as no.29 on the women’s world rankings last year in April, ending the year in the no.2 spot, winning in Australia, Japan and also Germany, Sun Yingsha rose from qualifier to champion.
Meanwhile, Liu won the won women’s singles gold at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships, the Uncle Pop 2019 Women’s World Cup, and also succeeded at the ZEN-NOH 2019 Team World Cup!
Most worthy Chinese names amongst the elite, they are not alone, colleague Wang Manyu is the no.5 seed, followed by Zhu Yuling and Ding Ning; all are very much players who could strike gold in the opening ITTF World tournament of the year.
Exciting hopefuls stir the pot
Fans are more than likely to be on the edge of their seats in Magdeburg, as there are plenty of exciting challengers for the top seeds. Teenagers Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju are set to continue in their rich veins of form as they challenge for a podium place.
Tomokazu Harimoto is the no.5 seed, Lin Yun-Ju the no.7 seed; sandwiched in between is Brazil’s Hugo Calderano.
Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Japan’s Mima Ito and Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching will want to upset Chinese hegemony, Mima Ito is the no.4 seed, Cheng I-Ching the no.8 seed.
Additionally names to watch in the men’s singles event are undoubtedly Sweden’s Mattias Falck, the no.10 seed, followed by the host nation’s Timo Boll and Dimitrij Ovtcharov. Both Germans will undoubtedly bring passionate support from the home crowd.
Similarly in the women’s singles, Singapore’s Feng Tianwei and Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa have a similarly large fan-following across the globe; their supporters will expect them to put up their best foot forward to kick-start the 2020 ITTF World Tour. Feng Tianwei and Kasumi Ishikawa complete the top ten names.
Doubles
Notably ending the year in top spot on the men’s doubles standing, Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik with Lee Sangsu head the list in Magdeburg. Next in line is the partnership of Lin Gaoyuan with Ma Long followed by Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting with Lin Yun-Ju.
Runners up last year when the tournament was held last October in Bremen, the host nation’s Qiu Dang with Duda Benedikt reserve the no.4 seeded position.
Chinese Taipei in evidence, it is the same in the women’s doubles. Cheng Hsien-Tsu and Chen Szu-Yu occupy the no.2 seeded position behind Chen Meng and Wang Manyu. Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun followed by Ding Ning and Sun Yingsha complete the top four seeded pairs.
In preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games, pairs seen in Magdeburg will be sure to state their case; all are major title medal contenders in Tokyo.
Xu Xin and Sun Yingsha, the favourites for gold, occupy the top seeded spot followed by Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching. Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem are the next in line with Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito, the no.4 seeds.
One wonders, are the mixed doubles medallists in Tokyo, amongst the top four pairs in Magdeburg?
Wherever it might be; stay tuned to ITTF to find out!
Since his debut for Senegal at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships in Budapest, Ibrahima Diaw has played 48 matches, winning 35 of those contests. Also, he has the additional accolade of securing the men’s doubles title in partnership with the host nation’s Padasak Tanviriyavechakul at the 2019 ITTF Challenge Series Thailand Open.
Now, on the horizon is the African singles and mixed doubles qualification tournament for places in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The tournament will be staged in Tunisia from Thursday 27th the Saturday 29th February.
Progress
At junior level, the highest world ranking for Ibrahima Diaw was no.92 in 2010; on the under 21 men’s list he rose to no.200 in 2012. Following Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna at no.18 and Omar Assar at no.29, Ibrahima Diaw is the third African player within the top 100 names on the current men’s world rankings.
“I’m really surprised with my ranking progress in the last eight months. I always aimed to be ranked at least in the top 100 but I didn’t expect to reach it that fast. Last August I made a plan to select carefully in which tournaments I should play; with some luck and desire, things went well for me. Also my performance at the African Cup and African Games helped me a lot.” Ibrahima Diaw
In August Ibrahima Diaw reached the quarter-finals of the men’s singles event at both the ITTF-Africa Cup and at the Africa Games; in the former he experienced defeat by the very narrowest of margins when facing Quadri Aruna (9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 7-11, 11-2, 7-11, 12-10), in the latter rather more convincingly when opposing Omar Assar (11-5, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9).
“France never really believed in me and they never gave me an opportunity to express myself on the international scene. Now with new ranking system it is difficult to exist in the table tennis world if you can’t play World Tours. Also it is difficult to find a contract with one good club or a sponsor; when the Senegalese Table Tennis Federation contacted me, I thought about it and decided that it was my chance to prove to myself what I’m capable of.” Ibrahima Diaw
Motivated
Now Ibrahima Diaw is highly motivated; most importantly, his success is a motivating force for Senegal.
“My dream for table tennis in Senegal is that my country discovers and plays the sport. Table tennis should be played all over Senegal our National Olympic Committee helps us to realise the dream.” Ibrahima Diaw
However, in the immediate future there is an overriding priority for Ibrahima Diaw.
“My avowed target for 2020 is to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.” Ibrahima Diaw
Sam Underhill: Bath's England flanker signs new three-year contract at The Rec
Bath's England flanker Sam Underhill has signed a new three-year contract with the Premiership club.
Hooker Jack Walker and centre Max Wright have also signed new deals of the same length at The Rec.
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper said: "These three committing their futures is a huge statement of intent. They're all English qualified and determined to succeed in Bath colours.
"Sam developed with us and has become one of the world's best flankers."
He added: "It is these types of players and these types of commitments that will allow us to become the team that we know we are capable of being."
Underhill, 23, said: "It has been a new set-up this year, and I have been impressed by how everything is gelling together. We have a very young squad with huge potential."
Bath were one of England's best sides back in the 1990s, winning the English league title five times in seven seasons - and also the Heineken Cup in 1998.
But they have won only one trophy since - the European Challenge Cup in 2008 - and have not finished in the Premiership's top four since 2015.
They are currently sixth in the table, having won four of their opening eight matches, including a victory over leaders Exeter.
Six Nations 2020: Wales wings Josh Adams and George North handed centre roles
Wings Josh Adams and George North will play centres for their regions as Wales aim to find somebody to wear the number 13 jersey in the Six Nations.
Adams will play centre in the Challenge Cup match against Leicester, while North lines up in the Ospreys midfield for the Champions Cup match against Saracens.
New Wales coach Wayne Pivac is looking for someone to partner Hadleigh Parkes.
Wales play Italy on 1 February and face Ireland seven days later.
British and Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies will miss the Six Nations tournament because of a knee injury and Owen Watkin is absent for at least the opening two games.
Watkin had partnered Parkes in Wales' midfield in the Barbarians match.
The 23-year-old will miss the start of the 2020 Six Nations following knee surgery after limping off during Ospreys' 40-19 loss to Racing 92 on 7 December and is expected to be out until the middle of February.
North, 27, has started four of his 91 Test matches for Wales in the centre.
Adams played the final moments of Wales' uncapped 43-33 win over Barbarians in the centre in November 2019 which was Pivac's first game in charge.
The 24-year-old has scored 11 tries in 21 internationals for Wales since making his debut in 2018 and was the 2019 World Cup top try scorer with seven.
Adams joined Cardiff Blues from Worcester for the 2019-20 season and has scored four tries in five appearances.
Cardiff Blues centre Willis Halaholo was in Pivac's first squad against Barbarians after qualifying through residency but he has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts and Tyler Morgan are established alternatives Pivac could consider. Williams is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Scarlets centre Steff Hughes has been impressive for his region this season, while less experienced options could include Cardiff Blues centre Ben Thomas and Ospreys' Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler.
YUMA, Ariz. — Ricky Thornton Jr. led all 25 laps to take the opening night victory during the Winter Nationals held at Cocopah Speedway Thursday night.
A 108-car turnout in four IMCA divisions competed in the opening race of the six-event series.
Modifieds drew 49 cars and their five-heat format moved three to the main with the top two in the redraw. Tim Ward and Ricky Thornton Jr. redrew front row starts for the $1,000 to win main.
Thornton used the outside line in turn two on lap one to take the lead and held off Jake O’Neil after a restart with 12 laps remaining.
O’Neil broke in turn four on the final turn, coasting to the line third after Jeff Taylor passed him.
A 25-car sport mod field moved the top four from three heats to the redraw. It was Shelby Frye with the win in a time-shortened nine-lapper.
Trying to finish the 10th and final lap, Frye was taken out and officials restored her to the front spot for the win.
A 14-car field of stock cars had Troy Jerovetz redraw the pole, leading to a win for the Iowa Falls, Iowa, driver. Steffan Carey applied pressure the last three laps but came up a little short.
The 20-car field of hobby stocks raced a very competitive main with third-starting Joshua Cordova using an outside line pass in turn two during lap six to take the lead.
Cordova, driving without power steering, held off Tim Gonska the final eight laps for the win. Cordova was the 2019 track champion.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Lucas Oil will return as sponsor of the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints for the 12th consecutive season.
“Lucas Oil not only brings us a big boost in our annual point fund, but they have help support us in so many other ways,” noted ESS President Chuck Miller, “We are very fortunate to have the Lucas name attached to our tour for so many years.”
With a big help from Lucas Oil, at the annual awards banquet, over 20 teams shared in a $50,000 cash point fund and also brought home over $3,000 in Lucas Oil Products. Champion Paulie Colagiovanni took home just shy of $9,000.
Colagiovanni made history by being the youngest champion in the 36-year history of the club and he did so with some of the very best 360 drivers in the Northeast and Canada behind with names like Chuck Hebing, Matt Tanner, Jason Barney, Billy VanInwegen and others.
The 2020 version of the Lucas Oil ESS schedule was released on New Year’s Day and will start it’s point season at the Fulton (N.Y.) Speedway on April 24, with the season concluding Sept. 12 at New York’s Can-Am Speedway.
Last year 12 different drivers visited victory lane with VanInwegen, Jonathan Preston and Josh Pieniazek picking up their first career ESS A-Main victories.
ACACIA RIDGE, Australia – Donny Schatz stormed to his fifth victory in a row at Ausdeck Archerfield Speedway during Friday’s Titan Garages Australian Sprint Car Open.
The event, sanctioned by the QSS World Series, saw Schatz run among the top three for the entire race and make the winning pass of polesitter Lachlan McHugh on lap nine.
Once out front, Schatz was unstoppable, taking the checkered flag 3.533 seconds clear of runner-up Kerry Madsen. McHugh hung on to complete the podium.
World Series point leader James McFadden was fourth and Jock Goodyer crossed fifth.
Andrew Scheuerle, Luke Oldfield, Jack Lee, American Kalib Henry and Shaun Dobson made up the balance of the top 10.
The finish:
Donny Schatz, Kerry Madsen, Lachlan McHugh, James McFadden, Jock Goodyer, Andrew Scheuerle, Luke Oldfield, Jack Lee, Kalib Henry, Shaun Dobson, Brooke Tatnell, Brent Kratzmann, Dave Murcott, Rusty Hickman, Bryan Mann, Kevin Titman, Brock Hallet, Mitchell Gee.
STATESVILLE, N.C. – World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series competitor David Gravel will compete in six NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series races for GMS Racing this year.
The 27-year-old racer will compete in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on July 30 in the No. 24 Chevrolet with sponsorship from Axalta. Additional races will be confirmed at a later date.
“Excited for this opportunity to run in NASCAR is an understatement,” said Gravel. “I can’t thank Jeff (Gordon) and Mike (Beam, president of GMS Racing) enough for believing in me and putting me in this position to race Eldora and some select asphalt races. It’s going to be a challenge, but I am ready for it.”
In addition, Gravel will make his stock car racing debut during the ARCA Menards Series opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 8. Gravel will drive the No. 28 Chevrolet for KBR Development in an alliance with GMS Racing during the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to race at Daytona Int’l Speedway,” said Gravel. “I can’t thank everyone at KBR and GMS Racing enough for making this happen. I’m really excited for the next step in my career.”
From Watertown, Conn., Gravel has 51 World of Outlaws victories, with 12 coming in 2019 while driving the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. Gravel drove the Axalta-sponsored 410 sprint car to victory lane in last season’s Knoxville Nationals at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway and finished third in series points for the fourth consecutive year.
“I’ve been following David’s career for a while and have tremendous respect for his talent behind the wheel,” said four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR on Fox analyst Gordon. “I had a chance to meet David at the Chili Bowl in 2019 which led to the Axalta Coatings sponsorship opportunity at the Knoxville Nationals in a sprint car.”
“Once I saw his performance at that race I knew he deserved a chance to pursue his dream of racing in NASCAR. It has been fun to see that come to fruition with GMS, who is leading the way in bringing new talent into the Truck Series and NASCAR.”
Gravel will participate with in the ARCA Menards Series open test at Daytona this weekend with KBR Development in advance of the season opener before flying to Tulsa, Okla., to compete in the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals next week.
INDIANAPOLIS – Wayne Johnson and TwoC Racing have committed to running the full World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series schedule.
Johnson, a 48-year-old native of Oklahoma, has spent the last 10 years racing mainly with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series in a 360 sprint car while also dabbling in 410 sprint car events. This will be his first full-time season with the World of Outlaws.
“We stepped away from ASCS 360 racing and went and raced with the WoO about half of the year last year and realized that if we want to be the best and build the team up for the future, the WoO tour is where we need to be,” Johnson said.
“We have been wanting to go full time racing with the World of Outlaws and we ultimately decided that now was the right opportunity,” said team owner Todd Carlile.
Johnson and Carlile have known each other for more than 25 years. Coming off an injury in 2010, Johnson spoke to Carlile and his wife, Kelly, about starting a team. They joined forces in 2012 to start the team, with Carlile taking over as the sole car owner in 2016, allowing Johnson to focus solely on driving.
Johnson and the TwoC Racing team will be competing for top rookie honors with the World of Outlaws.
“I decided if I don’t do this now, I’ll regret that I never did,” Johnson said. “This last year I’ve really focused on my health and feel like I’m probably in the best shape of my life at 48 and ready to take on the challenge.”
The team is currently interviewing candidates for the crew chief position. Conner Nelson will work as the car chief and Kenny Nolan will be the team’s mechanic.
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