DONIC NEW NATIONAL TEAM SPONSOR
Effective 1 March 2026, DONIC, the famous table tennis equipment company with headquarters in Germany, is the new National Team Uniform sponsor for Canada.
Table Tennis Canada welcomes DONIC and hopes for a long-term positive cooperation between the two entities.
The table tennis legends, Jorgen Persson and Jan-Ove Waldner, are pictured here with DONIC’s owner Frank Schreiner. Persson and Waldner are iconic World and Olympic champions and proud users and promoters of the DONIC brand.
TTCAN had the opportunity to ask Mr. Schreiner and his team some questions of interest to our Canadian table tennis community:
TTCAN – Table Tennis Canada is very happy to welcome you as its new National Team uniform sponsor. What other countries do you sponsor (apparel)?
DONIC – We currently supply the national teams of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and New Zealand with apparel, and we are very proud and happy to now welcome Table Tennis Canada to this group. Expanding our international partnerships is always special for us, and Canada is an exciting and important addition.
TTCAN – It seems that your marketing strategy is more focused on sponsoring clubs, especially in Germany. Why is that?
DONIC – That impression is partly correct. At the moment, we sponsor three clubs in the German Men’s Bundesliga and two clubs in the German Women’s Bundesliga. In addition, we support four men’s teams competing in France’s Pro A league.
However, our strategy has never been about signing the highest number of players or teams. With Jan-Ove Waldner and Jörgen Persson—who are still DONIC brand ambassadors—we were fortunate to have, for decades, the strongest non-Chinese ambassadors imaginable.
Today, our focus has evolved even further: we are strongly committed to providing table tennis players around the world with high-quality equipment at fair and affordable prices.
TTCAN – Do you also sponsor top players? Who?
DONIC – Yes, absolutely. From a sporting perspective, we currently sponsor players such as Anders Lind, who is ranked inside the world’s top 20, as well as Flavien Coton, the 2025 U21 European Champion.
In addition, we attracted significant global attention—especially in China and across Asia—with the signing of Zhang Jike. His Olympic and World Championship titles, combined with his unique personality, still carry enormous international appeal.
TTCAN – As you may know, the TIBHAR brand is based on the founder Tibor Harangozo, and BUTTERFLY is based on the founder Tamasu Senior’s love of butterflies. So what does the DONIC brand name mean?
DONIC – The DONIC company was originally founded by Dr. Georg Nicklas. The brand name comes from “DO” for Doctor and “NIC” from his surname, Nicklas. When Dr. Nicklas decided to move to Sweden in the late 1980s, he sold the company to the Schreiner family. That marked the beginning of DONIC’s long and successful growth story.
TTCAN – Other than Germany, which country is the largest DONIC importer?
DONIC – Without any doubt, our largest and most important export market is China.
TTCAN – In the Americas, which is currently the largest DONIC importer?
DONIC – In Canada, we have been working exclusively with Ping Pong Depot for many years. In fact, our cooperation with their CEO Mitch Rothfleisch goes back more than 35 years, which underlines the trust and continuity of this partnership.
Today, hundreds of DONIC tables are already in use across Canada in many major clubs and tournaments, including the Ping Pong Depot Quebec Circuit. With our new role as National Team uniform sponsor, we hope to further strengthen our presence and bring DONIC even closer to players and clubs throughout the country.
TTCAN – Your company produces rackets, rubbers, and tables. Which are the most popular models for each of these items?
DONIC – At the moment, our most popular blades are the two Zhang Jike models. In rubbers, the Bluegrip J series—introduced in 2025—has been extremely well received worldwide. When it comes to tables, the DONIC Waldner Classic 25 is internationally one of our best-selling models, thanks to its outstanding balance of quality, performance, and price.
TTCAN – The equipment for the 2026 Canadian Championships is already decided. However, TTCAN and the hosts of the 2027 Championships are considering using the DONIC Waldner table. How do you feel about that?
DONIC – We applied to be the official table supplier for the 2027 Canadian Championships, and we would be very proud if our tables were selected for Canada’s national championships.
Given that hundreds of DONIC tables are already successfully used in Canadian clubs and tournaments, we strongly believe that our tables meet the highest standards in terms of quality, durability, and playability. Supporting a flagship national event would be a great opportunity for us to further contribute to the development of table tennis in Canada.
TTCAN – In Canada, due to geography and distances, it can be difficult to import high-quality tables at reasonable prices. Do you have plans to make DONIC tables more accessible to Canadian clubs?
DONIC – Our tables are manufactured in Germany and shipped in full containers directly to the warehouse of Ping Pong Depot in Canada. From there, they are distributed to clubs across the country.
The long distances to and within Canada are indeed the biggest logistical challenge, especially for tables, as longer transport routes naturally lead to higher freight costs. To reduce this impact, some of our table models are shipped lying flat on special pallets to minimize volume and ensure safe transport.
Both Ping Pong Depot and DONIC place great importance on keeping our tables affordable for Canadian clubs. This approach has already allowed many clubs and tournament organizers across Canada to successfully use DONIC tables, and we continuously work together to further improve accessibility.
TTCAN – Would you consider sponsoring the playing equipment of Canadian top young players (U15)?
DONIC – That question certainly comes as a pleasant surprise. With our new cooperation as National Team uniform sponsor, we will be working even more closely with Ping Pong Depot, including significantly expanding our clothing range in Canada.
Supporting young talent is always an important topic for us, and this is something we would be happy to look at in more detail and evaluate together.
TTCAN – Does DONIC have outdoor tables? What materials are they made of, and is it financially possible to export them to Canada?
DONIC – Yes, we do offer several outdoor as well as indoor tables designed for home and recreational use, and these models are also available in Canada. All of our tables are manufactured in Germany according to the highest production standards. For our outdoor tables, we use weather-resistant, powder-coated metal components and durable melamine resin playing surfaces, making them suitable for long-term outdoor use.
TTCAN – Table Tennis Canada looks forward to a long-term, positive cooperation with DONIC.
DONIC – And we truly feel the same — we are excited about this partnership and the future of table tennis in Canada
