Jane Chen / Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng urged governments at all levels and the local public to come together effectively to organize a most exciting world ping-pong championships. The mayor was on an April 24 inspection tour of the local venue for the 48th World table Tennis Championship, to be held in the city from April 30 through May 6.
Along with Han on the visit to the Shanghai Grand Stage, which has undergone a four-month renovation at a cost of 90 million yuan (US$11.25 million), were Wu Zhiming, director of Shanghai Public Security Bureau, and Yang Xioadu, vice Mayor and vice dean of the organization committee of the ping-pong event.
Han inspected the refurbished venue and other preparations for the event, including the media center, reception, security, communications and the opening ceremonies.
He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the organization committee for their contributions to the event as well as for the help from all levels of society, and encouraged the committee to even improve on the preparations for this blue-ribbon table tennis event.
Top table tennis players from more than 130 countries have signed up to compete in five categories during the weeklong competition: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles.
China, dominant in the sport for the past decade, will field a star-studded squad led by world No. 1 men's singles player Wang Liqin, a Shanghai native.