The Complete Pathway Returns for 2025
For more than 15 years, the ITTF Hopes Programme, a talent identification programme, has guided young players on their path to the elite level. And this year, ITTF continues to invest in the future—creating new opportunities, new ambitions, and a new identity. The 2025 season will see the ITTF Hopes Programme reinstating its full year-long developmental framework, establishing a structured approach for identifying and nurturing table tennis talent among children under 12 years of age (born in 2013 or later). Today, the programme has been refreshed with a new visual identity and branding that reflects its evolution while maintaining its core mission. Since 2009, this programme has become a cornerstone of the ITTF’s talent development pathway.
“With the Hopes Programme returning to its yearly structure, we’ve reinforced our commitment to providing direct, hands-on support to young players and their member associations across all continents. This pathway equips emerging talent with essential skills while creating opportunities for long-term growth in our sport. By strengthening foundations at the grassroots level through the Hopes Programme, we’re building the future of table tennis one player at a time.” – ITTF President Petra Sörling
At the grassroots level, National Hopes activities provide the foundation where member associations scout and develop emerging talents. These national events serve as initial selection grounds, with standout performers earning the chance to advance to their respective Continental Hopes events. The continental stage further refines the talent pool, with only the most promising athletes qualifying for the ultimate experience.
This carefully constructed pyramid culminates in the World Hopes Week and Challenge – representing the pinnacle of youth table tennis development.
“The ITTF Hopes programme has over a long period of time been the key component in a successful and well established ITTF High Performance Programme. We know from experience that international recognition early on in the career is a defining moment for many young athletes. I sincerely hope that the new one-year cycle will engage even more member associations to put proper talent ID educational opportunities in place for their own pool of talents. Our goal is clear – 100 countries signing up for the ITTF Hopes programme in the ITTF centennial year of 2026. – Director of Sports Development, Mikael Andersson.
Sheffield to Host World Hopes Week & Challenge in 2025
Building on this revitalised framework, the world’s brightest young table tennis stars will converge on British soil this year as Sheffield prepares to welcome the 2025 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge. This flagship ITTF Sport Development initiative marks a significant milestone in the development pathway for promising players under 12 years of age, providing them with an invaluable opportunity to train alongside peers from across the globe.
The English Institute of Sport (EIS) Sheffield – home of the GB Performance programme – will serve as the venue for this global gathering from 13-19 October 2025. Up to 20 girls and 20 boys from across five continents, along with approximately 40 coaches, will participate in an intensive week of training culminating in the Challenge event during the final two days.
“We are honoured to have been selected by the ITTF to deliver the 2025 ITTF World Hopes Week,” said Emma Vickers, Head of Pathway Development at Table Tennis England. “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring the best U12 players from across the world to our very own performance base in Sheffield, and we will endeavour to use this week as a valuable development opportunity to learn more about best practices in the U12 early development stage.”
A Legacy of Developing Champions
The programme’s impact is evident in the remarkable achievements of its alumni across continents. Sweden’s Truls Moregard captured silver in men’s singles at Paris 2024, demonstrating the programme’s ability to develop Olympic-level talent. Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, current world No.17, first encountered table tennis as an 8-year-old Hopes participant, while Egypt’s Hana Goda made history as the youngest Africa Cup champion at just 14 years and 7 months in 2022. Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, another Hopes success story, recently showcased her continued development by advancing to the quarterfinals at the ITTF World Cup Macao 2025.
Reflecting on her Hopes experience, Hana Goda shared: “If it hadn’t been for Hopes, I think my table tennis journey would have been completely different. It wasn’t just about the technical skills – though I learned so much there – it was the connections that made it special. The bond we formed with other players has lasted for years. We’re still in touch now, supporting each other through competitions and careers. Hopes didn’t just shape me as a player; it became part of my table tennis identity.”
The programme continues to nurture emerging talents like Singapore’s Izaac Quek and Romania’s Elena Zaharia, who both delivered standout performances at the ITTF World Youth Championships 2023, showcasing their potential as they continue to break into the top level of international competition. These success stories demonstrate the programme’s effectiveness in identifying and developing promising talents from diverse backgrounds, creating pathways to international success.
Building a Bridge to the Future
The timing of England hosting the 2025 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge holds special significance as it leads directly into the ITTF’s centenary celebrations. The ITTF World Championships Finals will return to London in 2026 – exactly 100 years after the city staged the first World Championships alongside the inception of the ITTF in 1926.
As the ITTF approaches this historic milestone, the selection of Sheffield for the 2025 World Hopes Week creates a powerful narrative arc connecting the sport’s rich heritage with its promising future. The young talents competing in Sheffield may well become the champions who define the sport’s next century.