2026 Shanghai Table Tennis Carnival set to kick off

The event also boasts an impressive lineup, with Xu Yinsheng, the honorary life chairman of the ITTF, leading the first batch of the cheerleading group. Table tennis world champions Shi Zhihao, Cao Yanhua, and Ni Xialian serve as cheer ambassadors, supporting the mass participation initiative.

As a cradle of table tennis world champions, Shanghai has a deep-rooted connection with the sport. Introduced to China from the United Kingdom via Shanghai in the early 20th century, table tennis has been woven into the city's fabric for over a century.