Topspin: Nation’s best table tennis players coming to Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE – As Huntsville’s profile has grown, its reputation as an event destination has ballooned as well.

For the first time in the 90-year history of USA Table Tennis it is holding the National Championships in Alabama, choosing the Rocket City to wade into a new market. The event is one in what will be a busy summer calendar.

“Anytime we can host a national championship, it is special for Huntsville,” said Joel Lamp, Sports Development Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “To host the USA Table Tennis Nationals in an Olympic year is even more special as we get to send off the Olympic team from here to Paris.” 

The 2024 U.S. National Table Tennis Championships will be July 3-7 at the Von Braun Center South Hall. The event is expected to bring a $2 million economic impact. Presenters are the CVB, Huntsville Sports Commission, Downtown Huntsville Inc., the City of Huntsville and the VBC.

“We invite everyone to come out and see the top players in our country compete but also to support our national team,” Lamp said. “Additionally, we’re crowning champions in all age groups, from kids all the way to an 80-plus division.

“Additionally, we’ll have tables just outside South Hall for fans to play on between games to capture the excitement of the event and help grow the game here in the Rocket City.”

Event highlights:

• 115 total events, including thirty-one open and age group championship singles events, which are headlined by the Men’s and Women’s Singles events presented by the Hsing Family Foundation, which hold a $7000 pay day for a first place finish.
• 38 doubles events. 
• Full slate of historic table tennis events with eleven hardbat events to be contested in the Wasserman Hardbat Championships and two sandpaper events. And, for the third year in a row, USATT will work closely with PingPongParkinson to host an open event for persons living with a Parkinson diagnosis.

“We’re extremely excited to host our National Championship for the first time ever in Alabama,” USATT Chief Executive Officer Virginia Sung said. “Huntsville is considered one of the top cities in the entire United States of America, and we think the players who participate in the 2024 Nationals will understand why.

“Not only does Huntsville have a unique and growing community that has been instrumental in the success of America’s space industry, but the community has also invested a tremendous amount of time, energy and resources in developing and attracting an extensive foundation in the field of sports and recreation.”