They may seem similar, but they are completely different. What is the difference between the Asian Games and the Asian Table Tennis Championships?

China, the reigning champion, has also gone all out, having adjusted the schedules of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha

The Asian Games will be held in Aichi Prefecture, and the Table tennis competition will take place in Toyota City from the 20th.

For the average Table tennis fan, the difference between the "Asian Games" and the "Asian Championships" can be hard to grasp.

First, the Asian Games are a major event held once every four years, often called the "Asian Olympics." Since they are organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), each country's Olympic committee also treats them seriously. In the Singles event, each country has a maximum of two entries. Just like the Olympics, athletes are sent not by the Table tennis association but by the JOC (Japanese Olympic Committee). This historic event began in 1951, and this will be the third time Japan has hosted it, after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994, 32 years later. A total of 43 sports will be held at the Asian Games in Aichi.

Of course, China, the reigning champion, is taking it extremely seriously. The fact that it has kept its two leading players, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, out of WTT (World Table Tennis) events since August so they could focus on preparations shows just how much it is invested in this tournament.