Beijing, Jan 4 (IANS): The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced on Friday the establishment of a dedicated task force to gather feedback from players and review existing regulations, following the recent withdrawal of three Olympic champions from world rankings.

In response, the WTT expressed its full support towards the ITTF Executive Board's decision to set up the task force.

"As the global professional platform for our sport, WTT recognizes the vital role players, coaches, and teams play in shaping the future of table tennis," WTT said in a press release. "The creation of this task force ensures that their voices are not only heard but are integral to the decision-making process. The Players' Forum will provide an essential opportunity for open and constructive dialogue, underscoring the importance of transparency and inclusivity in our sport."

Members of the task force include Sharath Kamal Achanta, co-chair of the ITTF Athletes Commission, ITTF executive vice presidents Alaa Meshref and Wahid Oshodi, WTT executive director of events Mounir Bessah, and Polona Cehovin, WTT head of player relations. When announcing their withdrawal from world rankings on social media, both Fan and Chen cited the WTT rules imposing fines on players for not participating in events.

In addition to confirming the withdrawal of the three Olympic champions from world rankings, the Chinese Table Tennis Association said in a statement on Tuesday that it has been actively engaging with the ITTF and WTT to advocate for reasonable adjustments to competition rules.