The event, which will be just the second edition of the annual year-ending awards ceremony, is due to be held on January 7, 2015, a day prior to the start of the 2015 ITTF World Team Cup, scheduled to take place in Dubai from January 8 to 11.

The Awards show will recognise and celebrate the stars of table tennis, including the players and coaches.

The 2014 edition will include two new awards, the Table Tennis Star Coach, and the Fair Play Star, which is established and funded by the prize money stripped from Zhang Jike at the Liebherr 2014 Men's World Cup, to reward an act of fair play in the 2014 season.

Reigning Olympic champion Jike of China was fined his entire prize fund of $45,000 (£28,000/€36,000) after smashing two advertising boards while celebrating his victory in the final of the World Cup in Duesseldorf.

Jike was crowned the Male Table Tennis Star at the inaugural award ceremony in 2013.

Zhang Jike was stripped of his 2014 World Cup prize money after smashing two advertising boards in an over zealous celebration ©ITTF



"After a successful inauguration in Dubai of the 2013 Star Awards, we are heading back to what will be even bigger and better for the 2014 version," said Steve Dainton marketing director at the ITTF.

"Thanks to the support of Dubai and all sponsors who helped us to grow this concept so that we can recognise the best table tennis players on the globe."

The event will see seven awards handed out to some of table tennis' biggest stars with categories consisting of Male Table Tennis Star, Female Table Tennis Star, Para Male Table Tennis Star, Female Table Tennis Star, Table Tennis Star Point, Table Tennis Star Coach and Fair Play Star.

A number of the awards are sponsored by the likes of Ping Pong Dubai, Nittaku, Tinsue and Stag International.

Will Oscroft, marketing and communications director at Falcon and Associates, which facilitated the Emirate's sponsorship of Dubai 2014 ITTF Star Awards, said: "In addition to Dubai's support of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team, we contribute to the game's development at grassroots level through community initiative Ping Pong Dubai.

"Role models are key to this growth, inspiring budding youngsters to become the best they can be, which is why we are proud to be part of an event celebrating the individuals who have not only lit up table tennis in 2014, but who are also making a tremendous contribution to the future of the sport."

The nominees for the awards will be announced by the ITTF shortly.

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