A Systematic Review of Talent Identification Practices Within Table Tennis.

Abstract

Talent identification (TID) within sport provides extensive development opportunities to enhance the potential for senior success. However, little is known about the effectiveness of TID in table tennis. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to examine current research and practice in TID in table tennis, identify commonalities, disparities, and gaps in the literature, and provide directions for future research on TID in table tennis. A search of the electronic databases (EBSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus) was conducted from September 2023 to March 2025. The search terms utilized represented table tennis, talent, performance, giftedness, and athlete selection. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, 31 articles were thoroughly reviewed. The results established three common themes: morphological qualities, performance profiles, and player characteristics. A key finding established maturation bias as a limitation in talent identification within table tennis, highlighting the importance of maturational assessments in future initiatives. Furthermore, given that most studies used a cross-sectional design, future research should consider longitudinal designs to provide a more accurate assessment of talent and development.