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As a Portuguese citizen, Hugo would normally be eligible to enter the United States through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), since Portugal is part of the Visa Waiver Program for European Union countries.
Hugo submitted his ESTA application as usual. However, due to an unusually long processing time by the U.S. authorities, he proactively contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He was then informed that he was no longer eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, as he had traveled to Cuba in 2023 to compete in the Pan American Championships and the Olympic Qualifying Event for Paris 2024 — both sanctioned by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
Faced with this situation, Hugo immediately took steps to obtain an emergency visa, with support from the United States Table Tennis Association (USATT) and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Although the emergency appointment was approved, there was no available consular interview slot that would allow him to travel in time for the competition.
“I followed the exact same protocol I’ve used for all my previous trips to the U.S. with my Portuguese passport. Once I was made aware of the issue, I mobilized my entire team to secure an emergency visa. Unfortunately, time was not on our side. It’s extremely frustrating to miss one of the season’s most important tournaments due to something beyond my control — especially after such a strong period of results,” Hugo stated.
Indeed, Hugo is currently enjoying the best form of his career. Over the past two months, he has celebrated two historic achievements: winning the 2024 World Cup and claiming the silver medal at the World Championships.
Just last weekend, he added another title by winning the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana — his eighth WTT title since the tour was rebranded in 2021. Also in June, he closed a remarkable chapter with Liebherr Ochsenhausen, helping the club secure the German Bundesliga title after nine consecutive seasons.
• In professional table tennis, players are required to submit their rackets to match officials shortly before a match for a mandatory control inspection. Traditionally, these rackets have been transported in plain brown envelopes, offering minimal protection and no visibility of the racket’s condition during handling.
• The decision to adopt transparent cases was prompted by a serious incident involving world number 2 Wang Chuqin 🇨🇳 during the mixed doubles event at the 2025 World Championships. Wang reported that, upon receiving his racket prior to a match against the Brazilian pair Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi 🇧🇷, he observed visible scratches on the rubber and slight peeling along the edge. He stated that the racket was in flawless condition when submitted. However, the umpire claimed it had been returned unchanged. As a result, Wang was forced to compete using a backup racket.
• In light of this incident, the Chinese Table Tennis Association has taken a proactive and protective measure, setting a potential standard for the global table tennis community. The transparent case provides full visual confirmation of the racket’s condition at all times and adds an essential layer of security against potential tampering or mishandling.
