MUSCAT: The Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA) is making its final preparations to host the WTT Contender Muscat 2026 which is scheduled to take place from January 19 to 24, 2026, at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. The international TT event will mark the first major international table tennis event of the calendar year and will continue Oman’s momentum as a rising global destination for world-class sporting competitions.
The upcoming WTT Contender will form a key component of OTTA’s annual international hosting programme, as the Sultanate of Oman now organises two major WTT events every year including: the WTT Contender in January and the WTT Star Contender in November.
This January edition comes shortly after the remarkable success of the WTT Star Contender Muscat 2025 which ended last month as the event featured participation of nearly 300 participants representing 32 countries and delivered an exceptional week of elite-level action. The Star Contender’s global exposure, high attendance and outstanding organisational standards have further strengthened Oman’s reputation within the international table tennis community.
The WTT Contender Muscat 2026 will feature an intense competition across five categories including: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Players will compete for a total prize purse of $100,000, in accordance with WTT’s official Contender Series regulations. The event is expected to attract a strong field of international ranking players representing different nations, many of whom have frequently participated in previous editions hosted in Muscat.
The OTTA officials are busy in arranging all operational, technical and logistical arrangements which are in progress stage ahead of January opening. The event will be organised in full coordination with World Table Tennis (WTT) and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), ensuring adherence to global standards for venue setup, broadcast systems, equipment, athlete services and competition management.
Building on lessons and achievements from the recent Star Contender, OTTA is implementing enhanced organisational features, including improved venue layout, upgraded training facilities and enhanced services for athletes, officials and spectators. Last month’s Star Contender received praise from WTT executives for its superior event delivery, including advanced broadcast integration, seamless competition operations and the high level of professionalism demonstrated by Oman’s organising committees and volunteer teams.
The event also serves as an important opportunity for Oman’s national team players to participate, gain technical experience and earn valuable ranking points as they compete alongside top-level international athletes. The presence of global stars in Muscat will continue to encourage the development of the sport in Oman and provides young local talents with exposure to world-class performance benchmarks.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
