Saudi Smash could propel table tennis into a new participation and popularity stratosphere in the Middle East.
That’s the hope of Stephen Duckitt, Chief Events Officer at World Table Tennis (WTT).
Organised by the Saudi Table Tennis Federation (STTF) and WTT in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Sport, Saudi Smash is the newest major championship on the sport’s calendar.
Since May 1, global audiences have joined local sports fans in the iconic King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Saudi Smash has been broadcast in 165 territories with a cumulative audience of more than 54 million.
With total live airtime exceeding 18 hours so far, the event’s cumulative reach has surpassed 119 million globally with 41 million unique viewers also tuning in.
Crucially, Saudi Smash has surpassed each edition of Singapore Smash – the first WTT Grand Smash launched in 2022 – by setting new global viewership records.
Saudi Smash is aligned perfectly with WTT’s vision to grow the sport across the Middle East.
A milestone moment even before the action started, Saudi Smash has fulfilled its promise to create a grand new legacy for table tennis nationally and regionally.
Prestige and popularity
The equivalent of a tennis Grand Slam, WTT Grand Smashes are marquee events in the WTT event calendar that players seek to conquer.
Such is their prestige and popularity, they attract huge interest and a mass international following whilst showcasing the world’s best talent in a high-energy table tennis festival.
Since the Kingdom’s first officially sanctioned table tennis event started, its influence and impact have been felt around the globe.
“When WTT was launched in 2019, we had a very clear strategy regarding our vision and the directions we wished to pursue,” said Duckitt.
“One avenue was giving it that globality – bringing more eyeballs, focus, and coverage in areas outside Asia, our biggest market; and Europe, our traditional home.”
The aim of Saudi Smash is to inspire kids and attract new audiences in Egypt, Kuwait, the UAE, and beyond.
“People underestimate its size and popularity worldwide. From a participation level, table tennis is probably in the top ten of most countries – it’s one of those sports where the vast majority have played.”
