TABLE Tennis ace Zhang Yining, the current World No 1 and a host of top players will compete in the US$135,000 (RM450,450) Volkswagen Women's World Cup at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium (KLBA) in Cheras on Sept 6-8.

The is the first major event Malaysia is hosting since the 2000 World Championships.

The tournament pits the top 15 paddlers of the women's game together with local star Beh Lee Wei.

The champion will take home a winner's cheque of US$44,000 (RM146,585).

Yining, is considered a legend in China after having won two Olympic gold medals in the 2004 Athens Games.
The 27-year-old is currently competing in the Beijing Olympics.

Among the other stars coming are China's Guo Yue, the World No 2, Li Xiaoxia, last year's women's pro tour winner, Hong Kong's Jiang Huajun, Singapore's Li Jia Wei and Gao Jun of the United States.

Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) president Datuk Tang See Hang said the event is the most prestigious event after the World Championships.

"This is one of the initiatives taken by the association to promote the sport in Malaysia," said See Hang at the launch of the event at the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.