HO CHI MINH CITY, July 4 (Xinhua) -- An international table tennis tournament kicked off here on Thursday with the participation of nearly 100 athletes from nine countries and regions.

Among the athletes from China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, there are several world-renowned male players, including Jiang Tianyi from China's Hong Kong, who was once ranked 14th in the world in December 2012, said the Ho Chi Minh City Table Tennis Federation.

The tournament will last ?till Sunday?.