England Names Eight-Player Squad for London World Team Championships

London 2026 marks the centenary of the first World Championships, held in the same city 100 years ago, and Table Tennis England named its preliminary eight-player squad for the occasion on 22 March, selecting four men and four women to represent the home nation at what will be the largest World Championships Finals in history, with 64 men's and 64 women's teams competing across 13 days of elite action.

Tom Jarvis leads the men's quartet, with his credentials firmly established after reaching the final round of 16 in the men's singles competition at the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships in Doha. Jarvis's run was eventually ended by world No. 5 Liang Jingkun of China in the last 16, a defeat that nonetheless confirmed him as England's standout men's performer heading into a home championship. He is joined by Paul Drinkhall and Sam Walker, both 2016 World Championships bronze medallists and Olympians, and Connor Green. The women's squad is spearheaded by Olympian Tin-Tin Ho, alongside Tianer Yu, Jasmin Wong and Ella Pashley.

England's seeding-match opponents have already been confirmed as China, Sweden and Korea Republic. Those three ties form part of England's three seeding matches at OVO Arena Wembley on the Early May Bank Holiday weekend on 2-3 May, with results determining their placement in the draw for the last 32. From 4-10 May, Wembley hosts the knockout rounds as 32 nations battle for the world titles, culminating in Finals Day on Sunday 10 May.

Gavin Evans, Director of Performance Development, said: "It's exciting to name eight athletes in the England squad for a home World Championships and I know all of them are relishing the chance to take on the world's best players in front of a packed home crowd." Evans added: "Those athletes who are just outside the team have a great incentive to secure the fifth spot and put on the England kit for this once-in-a-generation opportunity."

The squad of eight is not yet finalised. With squads of up to five permitted at the World Championships, two wildcards will be added in the next few weeks, and the final members in each squad will be named in early April. Remaining places will be assessed by coaching staff based on a number of performance metrics, giving fringe players a clear window to force their way into contention.

The women's squad showed its quality at the European Championships in Croatia, where Tianer Yu came of age against Italy, while Tin-Tin Ho led an unbeaten qualifying campaign; Jasmin Wong and Ella Pashley also made important contributions. The England squads named for London are the same as those on duty at last year's European Championships, reflecting continuity of selection as the team builds toward a home tournament that, for a generation of English table tennis players, may never come around again.