From my point of view this decision is very short-dated and surprising to all players. Most of the players I work with won't accept this sudden change and think negative about it. Therefore I've a hard time convincing the players to accept these changes.

By writing this letter I hope to receive a little help from you by answering a few questions concerning this problem.

1) Is it true that all national tabletennis Federations will have to put the new 11-point-scoring-system to account?

2) When exactly will the international tabletennis rules A be changed and those changes officialy published?

3) Will there be countries that won't be following the new scoring system?

If so, which countries won't be using the new system?

I personally think that it's very important for all players to get a chance thinking and discussing about such major rule changes a certain time before they will take effect.

Since these changes will take effect by this years september and where decided in April and published in may/june there is a high pressure on the players to deal with this decision in such a short time.

In my humble opinion it would be a less drastical decision and a better solution to publish the changes this year and let them take effect by summer next year, just like it is done with the new rules for the service.

By going the way I described, I'm sure you would reach a far better acceptence and more understanding throughout the players.

I'd like to thank you very much for your kind help, cooperation and an answer as soon as it is possible for you.

Best regards ,


Raimund Lenges

Repons from Adham Sharara, ITTF President

Dear Mr. Lenges,

Thank you very much for your e-mail message regarding your concerns about the implementation of the 11-point games.

First, I would like to explain that the ITTF deals mainly with "International" concerns. National matters are under the authority of the National Federation of each country or territory.

Second, I would like you to know that the ITTF spent over one year in consultations and experiments trying different variations of the 11-point games. It is true that we consulted mainly the international players, coaches and officials.

Third, I would like you to know that the General Assembly (AGM) of the ITTF in April voted 115 in favour and 7 against the new 11-point games with an implementation date of 1 September 2001.

Now I will try to answer your questions :

1. The rule was passed by the ITTF AGM for all events approved by the ITTF. This means mainly the "international" events (World title events, Olympic events, Pro Tour, etc.). It is then up to each national federation to decide within the territory that it controls.

2. The rules are officially changed at the ITTF's AGM. The changes are usually published in July, but we do distribute the actual decision of the change through the minutes of the AGM and through our ITTF Bulletin to all the member national federations (then they must distribute internally). Normally, unless otherwise decided, any change to a rule comes into effect the following 1 September, with the exception to changes to equipment that come into effect one year later.

3. I do not know of any country that will not follow the new rule at the national and International levels. But I do know that England will NOT implement this new rule at the regional league level.

Actually, this decision belongs to each national federation to make. In the case of England, they consulted their leagues and found that the regional and local leagues (no connection to the national level) prefer to maintain the 21-point games. So they allow them. I am not sure about the system in Germany, but it is an internal matter- the ITTF can only implement this at the international level.

As you mentioned, the service rule will be implemented one year later. This was the choice of the AGM. Actually we provided the AGM with three choices: immediately (1 September 2001), or one year later, or after the next Olympic games. The AGM chose the second option (1 September 2002). For the 11-point rule the majority decided to implement as soon as possible (at the international level).

I know that you do not agree with this decision, and you probably have some very good reasons for your league, but we belive that it will be a lot better for our game especially for TV coverage.

In any case, I sincerely appreciate your message and opinion, and I recommend that you contact you national federation (DTTB) regarding your particular case.

Please feel free to write to me whenever you feel you wish to discuss a matter concerning the ITTF. I appreciate your dedication and love of our sport.

Adham Sharara , ITTF president