World Table Tennis launches WTT India to boost elite events and athlete pathways

World Table Tennis has launched WTT India to bring international events, support athlete development, and build a local fan base. Led by Steve Dainton, Vita Dani, and Sharath Kamal, the initiative aims to transform India's table tennis ecosystem.

Hyderabad: In a landmark move for the development of table tennis in India,World Table Tennis has launched WTT Event Management India Private Limited (“WTT India”), a new local entity aimed at delivering top-tier international events, strengthening pathways for Indian athletes, and deepening fan and commercial engagement across the country.

The new entity marks a significant step in WTT’s mission to expand the sport globally while building strong local ecosystems. WTT India will serve as the anchor for high-performance elite and junior level events and player development, bringing the world of professional table tennis closer to Indian athletes and audiences than ever before.

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The move comes as Indian sport sees strong institutional backing and grassroots momentum, with table tennis gaining traction and a new generation of Indian players rising on the international stage.

Since its launch, WTT has rapidly evolved into a dynamic global sporting property, staging world-class events across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. With a presence in over 180 broadcast territories, WTT has transformed table tennis into a year-round, premium sports spectacle, backed by elite venues, immersive production, and digital-first storytelling.

At the helm of this transformation is Steve Dainton, WTT Chief Executive Officer and one of the sport’s most influential global figures. Since becoming CEO of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in 2017, Dainton has played a pivotal role in transforming the sport’s global growth, most notably as the driving force behind the conceptualisation of WTT since 2019 and its launch in 2021. His leadership continues to drive WTT’s expansion into new markets, with India now firmly part of that global trajectory.

“India represents one of the most exciting frontiers for table tennis globally,” said Steve Dainton. “The passion is there. The infrastructure is coming. The player base is growing. With WTT India, we’re now fully invested in building a long-term ecosystem that’s good for India, and good for the game,” he said.

“It’s about establishing a presence, creating new opportunities, and integrating India into the very fabric of our global calendar and community,” Dainton said.

Also joining the Board is Vita Dani, one of India’s leading sports entrepreneurs and Chairperson of Ultimate Table Tennis. A long-time advocate for athlete development and grassroots investment, Dani also serves on the governing board of the ITFF Foundation and co-founded Dani Sports Foundation, a non-profit advancing physical literacy and sports education across India.

“This is a passion project as much as it is a strategic one. WTT India gives us the platform to channel international energy into a local movement. We have the talent, the ambition, and now the structure to dream bigger and deliver,” Vita Dani said.

Supporting this next chapter is Sharath Kamal Achanta, India’s most celebrated table tennis player, who has been appointed as WTT India’s official ambassador.

“This moment feels like the turning of a page. The sport has come so far in India, and now, with WTT officially here, we have the chance to elevate it like never before,” Sharat Kamal said.