From local courts to the world stage

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A table tennis rally can turn in an instant. A change of spin, a sharply angled return or a moment’s hesitation can decide the point. At the highest level, players must read their opponents and make decisions almost before the ball leaves the bat.

Those skills will be on show at Kai Tak Arena from 9 to 13 December, when some of the world’s leading players compete at the WTT Finals Hong Kong 2026. For the city’s aspiring athletes, the tournament offers a chance to see what years of training can make possible.

For HKTTA and Hang Seng Bank, it also brings a shared ambition into focus: helping more people take up the sport and giving local talent the support to progress.

A foundation for generations of players

The partnership began in 1991. Over the years, it has grown to support players from their first encounters with the sport through to elite competition.

Around 160 Academy graduates have represented Hong Kong, China at major competitions, including the Olympic Games and Asian Games. They include three Olympic medallists and five Asian Games medallists, a record that underlines the Academy’s lasting contribution to developing Hong Kong’s elite table tennis players.

This year marks another milestone with the establishment of the HKTTA Training Centre in Sha Tin. Equipped with international-standard facilities, including an AI-powered Hawk-Eye training system and a multifunctional table tennis serving machine, the Centre strengthens the links between community participation, junior development and elite training.

Bringing the world stage closer to home

Among the Academy’s alumni are Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem, who will compete at the WTT Finals Hong Kong 2026, organised by WTT and HKTTA. Their presence gives young players a direct connection to the action: athletes who trained at the Academy now competing on an international stage at home. 

For spectators, watching courtside offers a perspective that a screen cannot fully convey: the pace of the exchanges, the precision of each return and the pressure behind every point. For young players, it is also an opportunity to study the skills they are working to develop. 

“For HKTTA, bringing the world’s best to Hong Kong is only part of the mission. We’re equally focused on growing the sport at home, getting more people playing, developing the next generation of talent and creating a stronger pathway for Hong Kong players to reach the top,” said Tony Yue, Chairman of HKTTA. 

As Presenting Partner, Hang Seng Bank is helping bring the tournament to local audiences, extending its long-standing support for the sport.

“For more than 35 years, Hang Seng has been committed to growing table tennis in Hong Kong, from nurturing young talent through the Hang Seng Table Tennis Academy to supporting athletes as they progress to the world stage. WTT Finals Hong Kong 2026 is an exciting next chapter in that journey, bringing the world’s leading players and fans to Hong Kong and reinforcing our city’s position as a premier destination for international sporting events.” said Luanne Lim, Executive Director and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank.

Hang Seng’s support also goes beyond the competition itself, with initiatives designed to bring more of the community closer to the event. Low-income families and older residents will receive complimentary tickets, along with access to the WTT Finals Park and behind-the-scenes tours. Across the city, the Hang Seng Game On programme will offer interactive activities and customer promotions.

Passing the bat to the next generation

The Academy has launched, Hang Seng Table Tennis Pride, a video bringing together established and emerging Hong Kong players. 

It features Wong Chun-ting; Asian Games women’s doubles bronze medallists Doo Hoi-kem and Ng Wing-lam, and rising player Li Ki-ho.

Together, they represent different stages of a sporting journey, from a child learning the game to athletes competing against the world’s best. As Hong Kong prepares to welcome the WTT Finals, that journey continues on local courts, one training session at a time.

Watch the video now.