1939 World Table Tennis Championships

The 13th World Table Tennis Championship was held to 11 March 1939 in Cairo (Egypt ) of 6. For the first time it was held outside of Europe. At the same time it was the last World Cup before the Second World War.

In Egypt, the table tennis sport had taken a certain upswing in recent years. In 1937 and 1938, the country posted a team to the World Table Tennis Championships. Now they had committed as a coach to Poland Alex Ehrlich. A lot of effort was being prepared before hosting the World Cup in their own country. The preliminary round was played at the Palais de la Société Royal d'Agriculture, the final eventually took place at the exhibition hall of Foudavag University held in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis. The last matches in the men's singles were transferred to the Opera House in Cairo, where the Egyptian King Faruk watching at times.

After the annexation of Austria to Germany strong should take " great German " teams. In the men but was abandoned on an application, because the Austrian Richard Bergmann ( emigration to England) and Alfred Dearest were not available. In contrast, the women with Hilde Bussmann and Trude Pritzi could make a very strong team.

In addition to the German men's team still lacked the teams of Hungary and the USA for political or financial reasons. For the first time took part in the following teams: Greece (men), Palestine (men and women ), Luxembourg (men and women ). For this World Cup was sparse. A total of 50 Egyptians and other 50 players participated from 13 countries.

The emigrants were not allowed to be used in teams, they could start only in the single and double competitions. Affected were Richard Bergmann (England, before Austria ) and Victor Barna (England, before Hungary).

The German women's team won the team competition and occupied in the doubles 1st place.

The good finishes some Egyptians agree partially with the " benevolent " draw the Organiser: In the single and double competitions are resolved so that the locals had late compete against strong foreign opponents.

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  • Because of the high temperatures first shorts were socially acceptable as a play clothes.

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