Meeting in Las Vegas (left to right) Reto Bazzi, Vincent Labarde, Hans Westling, Benoît Glorieux, Claude Bergeret, Öivind Eriksen, Gloria Wagener (Photo: ITTF)
by Ian Marshall, Editor
Organised by a national federation experienced in staging major international tournaments, the French city of Bordeaux, a major tourist destination and wine producing region, is the home for the forthcoming 2020 World Veteran Championships; play commences on Monday 8th June and concludes on Sunday 14th June.
Is the tournament set to break all records? Entries opened on Friday 1st March; to date over 2,500 players have registered. The goal is 4,600 competitors.
In 2006, the city of Bremen set new levels in terms of numbers, as no less than 3,650 entries were received; in 2012 in Stockholm, 66 national associations were represented: another barrier broken.
Later, in 2016 on Spain’s Costa Blanca both records were exceeded: in Alicante / Elche 4,500 players from 80 countries were registered; some 15,500 matches (a grand total of 55,000 games) were played on 165 competition tables in one hall.
Then for 2018 in Las Vegas, where a total of 3,969 players registered, representing a record 90 national associations. Impressively the playing statistics read 10,927 matches, 49,811 games and 687,887 points!
Furthermore, in Las Vegas famous names were on duty, most significantly Sweden’s former world champion, Jörgen Persson who won the men’s singles 50 to 54 years category; now there is more than a strong rumour that a celebrated Frenchman will compete in Bordeaux.
Winner of the men’s singles title at the national championships on no less than 17 occasions, the 1976 European champion, before at the 1977 World Championships in Birmingham securing the mixed doubles title in partnership with Claude Bergeret, the first ever world title won by France, Jacques Secretin is expected to compete in men’s singles 70 to 74 years.
Now surely as Claude Bergeret is the newly elected secretary of the Swaythling Club, a special mixed doubles event can be arranged?