The move is intended to transform India into a global table tennis hub, with entrepreneur Vita Dani, founder of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) and chairman of 11sports, who joins the board as a stakeholder and strategic partner and top -indian Paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal of the new of the new.
“India is the most densely populated country in the world and an important strategic market for us,” said Steve Dinton, Chief Executive of WTT, said .. “With momentum building by UTT and Indian players who perform better internationally, this is the right time to deepen our presence.”
Also read: RCB Stake Sale Talk swirls after historical victory. Speculation or strategy?
Although the worldwide events of WTT are structured over layers – grands, champions, star couples and feeder events – the India chapter will start with a few feeder and youth events and eventually try to offer on a tent element. “The three-fifth anniversary is to bring one of our most important tournaments to India, possibly even the world table tennis championships,” said Dinton.
Coexistence, not cannibalization
Despite the new alliance, the UTT will continue to work as an independent intellectual property. “This is not a merger. WTT India and UTT will co -exist. But we will have synergy at a broader level to grow the game,” clarified Dani, adding that the new entity will be executed jointly, with commercial viability as an important guiding principle.
“Leagues such as UTT and Global Properties such as WTT are very different formats. One is based on franchise and designed for fan participation and team stories, the other is athlete-oriented and performance-driven. They will complement each other,” she said.
Dainton repeated the position: “Utt has created a strong base for sport and WTT can build on it, starting with media and sponsorship to expose talent. Managing this room with people like Mrs. Dani will be much more effective than from distant working.”
Grow the sport, not just events
In addition to hosting international events, WTT India is positioned as a long -term ecosystem builder. The investment not only includes price pools and operational costs, but also grassroots and development focus.
Dani confirmed that her Dani Foundation, which works on physical literacy and powerful training, would feed this pipeline. “Whether it concerns academies, youth events or capacity building, we will use the existing infrastructure and further scales through this partnership,” she said.
Also read: Gen Z wants more than a cricket of Sports Entertainment, looking for engagement
WTT is now planning to work closely with the former Indian table tennis player and 10-way National Champion Sharath Kamal to build the talent pipeline of India. “We want more Indian players in the top 50 and to do that, we regularly need exposure, world -class events and rankings,” said Dinton.
Financial accessibility is also an important part of the strategy. “Not every Indian player can afford to travel abroad to participate in ranking events. If we can keep more tournaments here, we can participate from five Indian players to 15 internationally, without leaving the country,” said Dani.
The commercial game
On the income side, the India playbook of WTT will concentrate on media rights, sponsorship and fan involvement; However, managers acknowledge that it is still early.
“We start with a modest base. WTT will invest in marketing, local partnerships and digital infrastructure to identify and build a fan base for professional table tennis in India,” said Dinton.
Dani pointed to the growth curve of UTT as a proof. “In season 1 we had to ask people to appear in stadiums. This year we had sold out days. And if we could do that with a competition, imagine what a big smash or a world championship could do.”
With profitability, she claimed that some UTT franchises have already been broken, while others are close by. “As more money enters and more sponsors come on board, sustainability will improve,” she added.
What is the following
The last paperwork is expected to be signed in the coming days. The first team will be small and cost -efficient. “There is fantastic operations and administrative talent in India, we will have smart scales and tight financial checks,” said Dani.
Also read: India's sports economy is getting closer to $ 2 billion
Asked whether India could become a top-five market for table tennis worldwide, said Dani: “It will not happen from one day to the next. But the process is good, and if we bring quality events with strong Indian participation, it is very feasible.”
Dinton was Bullisher. “In ten years I believe that table tennis can be the second most popular sport in India. That is the goal.”
