Burnaby hosts elite qualifiers for the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships
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Burnaby, B.C. – The journey to the world stage passed through Burnaby as Canada’s top talent converged at École Alpha Secondary School. From January 17–18, 12 of the country’s elite female athletes competed for two coveted spots on the national team headed to the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, England.
Canada had already qualified two players for world tournament. The event in Burnaby was held to select the country’s remaining two spots.
“We invited 12 of the top female players in Canada to Burnaby,” said Tony Shaw, International Referee in Western Canada for Table Tennis Canada. “We are very honoured to organize this event and to qualify two players from this event for our national team. For these athletes, the road to London goes through Burnaby.”
The event was made possible through the support of Sport Burnaby, which provided venue logistics and coordinated accommodations for out-of-province competitors. The results of the Burnaby qualification tournament are here.
Table tennis is doing well in the Lower Mainland with many clubs throughout the region, including four clubs in Burnaby, along with multiple local tournaments and school championships each year, according to Shaw. “It’s popular and accessible,” he said. And Shaw agrees there’s an extra boost for the sport because of the new table tennis-themed hit movie Marty Supreme. The 2026 edition of the World Team Table Tennis Championships marks the 100th anniversary of the international tournament. The Championships will feature 64 men’s and 64 women’s teams competing at two London venues from April 28 to May 10, 2026.
Story and photos by Sam Corea
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