"If opportunity doesn't knock," quipped "Mr. Television" Milton Berle, "build a door." We know, like the modern television show promises, that America's got talent. For most members of the US national table tennis team, however, the opportunity to compete internationally is prohibitively expensive. While reigning national women's champion Lily Zhang and men's champion Kanak Jha play professionally in European leagues, their teammates have yet to get the international experience they need to "level up." Thus, USA Table Tennis (USATT) has decided to build a door for America's top table tennis talent. Starting in 2021, the USATT's Performance Pathway Program will provide grants to a dozen of the nation's most promising prospects. The top four players from the women's, men's and para table tennis teams will each receive $4,000 toward their travel expenses. USATT High-Performance Director and five-time national men's singles champion Sean O’Neill praised the move. "I am extremely grateful this 2021 High-Performance program was approved by the USATT Board of Directors and allows our team members to compete both at home and abroad with less financial worries," said O’Neill. "As a former professional player, I am acutely aware of the costs to improve and compete while representing our country. "I believe in our team members and I know when given a chance to play in more competitions they will surprise many with their fight and tenacity," O’Neill continued. "I am thankful to USATT CEO Virginia Sung for allocating up to $48,000 to support our national teams as we head toward Tokyo, Paris and Los Angeles and ITTF World Events." With Lily Zhang and Kanak Jha proving that it is possible for Americans to make it as top international players, more and more young players now have role models to aspire to emulate. Now, thanks to USATT, there is a ready-made doorway to professional status.

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