Doha: Doha is set to host the General Assembly meeting of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Tuesday. Throughout this meeting, a new president will be elected, with the participation of representatives from over 220 national federations across various continents.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari candidate, Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, who is also the President of the Qatar Table Tennis Association, the Arab Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), and the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU), and First Vice President of the ITTF, has launched his bid for the ITTF presidency alongside Swedish Petra Sorling, the current ITTF President, and President of the Mauritanian Table Tennis Federation, Mohamed Ould El Hassan.
Al Mohannadi is highly vouched for by major continental federations, who place full confidence in him due to his elevated position on the global stage, along with his administrative competency gained throughout a history of functions in various careers at home and abroad, spanning over 40 years. His name is associated with a development vision that aims to regain balance in the table tennis game structure globally.
He began his career as both a player and an administrator before assuming the presidency of QTTA, followed by his leadership of ATTF and ATTU. Throughout his tenure at the helm of QTTA, he played a role in transforming Doha into one of the global venues for hosting major international tournaments, including the World Championships and WTT Star Contender events.
Al Mohannadi has contributed to accelerating the advancement of table tennis across the Arab region and bolstered the sport's progression on the Asian level, particularly in infrastructure enhancement, expanding the game's reach, and raising the qualification standards of coaching and administrative personnel. His support also extended to introducing modern technologies in refereeing and television coverage, thereby fostering advancement of the sport across all levels.
Should Al Mohannadi secure victory, he would become the first Arab and Asian to preside over ITTF. For her part, Petra Sorling is bidding for a new term in office, as the first woman to have assumed the presidency of the ITTF since its establishment in 1926, seeking to retain her position. Meanwhile, El Hassan is also vying for the presidency, aspiring to represent Africa effectively.
Chair of the Nominations Committee at the ITTF, Abdullah Yousef Al Mulla, affirmed that the candidacy of Al Mohannadi is the culmination of a long-standing journey marked by dedication and contributions in service of the sport at both the continental and international levels. Al Mohannadi had milestones in support of this sport on the global stage and was present in all stages of its advancements, with a footprint in tournaments and initiatives that helped advance this sport.
Al Mulla affirmed that the elections come following Qatar's success in organizing the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025. In addition, Al Mulla praised the QTTA's efforts, spearheaded by Al Mohannadi, to present the tournament in a commendable manner.
Member of the ITTF's Board of Directors, Khaled El Salhy, expressed confidence in Al Mohannadi's capability of making a breakthrough in coaching affairs once he succeeds, adding that he hopes to see his success reach the pinnacle of this sport globally. Assuming this position by Al Mohannadi, El Salhy underlined, would contribute to advancing the sport on all stages, lauding Qatar's success in organizing the ITTF WTTC Finals Doha 2025.