Sorling's security fear claims during ITTF AGM false: QTTA
Doha
The Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) had dismissedITTF President Petra Sorling's claims that she felt unsafe during the IITF Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Doha on Tuesday. The entire AGM was broadcast live through Youtube channel.
In a clarification issued on Wednesday, QTTA stated:
'As the host of the 2025 ITTF Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) takes seriously recent media reports suggesting that ITTF President Petra Sorling felt unsafe during the meeting and was escorted out under duress. These claims warrant factual clarification.
Throughout the AGM, all security, protocol, and support services functioned without interruption. Ms.
Sorling, like all delegates and officials, had access to comprehensive, round-the-clock VIP transportation, logistical coordination, and hotel-based support. At no point was her movement restricted or her personal security compromised.
Video footage confirms that Ms. Sorling left the stage voluntarily and walked unimpeded to her room within the same hotel complex where the AGM was taking place. There was no intervention, no confrontation, and no diplomatic escort out of the premises.
While we acknowledge that personal experiences and emotional perceptions can differ, we respectfully emphasize that a subjective sense of discomfort is not an indication of a security failure.
QTTA did not receive any complaints or requests for assistance from Ms. Sorling or the ITTF Executive during or after her departure.
Moreover, it is important to note that QTTA and its leadership, including Mr. Khalil Al-Mohannadi, have worked closely with Ms. Sörling for years. She has always received and benefited from QTTA's full cooperation, hospitality, and public support in multiple international contexts. That legacy of collaboration makes it especially regrettable that the current circumstances are being framed in a manner that implies hostility or neglect by the host federation.
QTTA stands by its record and the professionalism of its staff and volunteers, who ensured that every delegate was treated with respect, care and dignity .'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatari Serena Sheikh clinches silver at WTT youth table tennis tournament in Jordan
AMMAN: The rising Qatari player Serena Sheikh achieved a striking milestone by snagging second place in the Under-13 Women's Singles category at the WTT Youth Contender Amman table tennis tournament, held in Amman, Jordan. Serena incredibly exhibited highly competitive skills in her debut global participation, embarking on her career in this tournament with an outstanding attacking performance, during which she easily made the cut throughout the preliminary rounds, before achieving convincing triumphs in the knock-out rounds and ultimately reaching the final. In the semi-final, Serena engaged in a challenging match against the Syrian Rachel Abboud, which ended with Serena clinching the match 3-2 in a thrilling contest that showcased her mental toughness and skill under pressure. In the final, she faced Iraqi player Athmar Nasser in a showdown that went the full five games. Despite a hard-fought battle, Serena fell 3-2, securing second place and the silver medal, adding another notable achievement to Qatar's youth table tennis legacy. This participation represents a paradigm shift for this rising star and confirms the existence of a new generation of Qatari talents capable of competing globally, thereby promoting the Qatar Table Tennis Association's hopes for an honored representation of Qatari teams on the Asian and global stages in the future.
Qatar Tribune
18-06-2025
- Qatar Tribune
QTTA chief challenges ITTF presidential election result
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Table Tennis Association President Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi in a statement released has announced that he has taken legal steps to challenge the legitimacy of the recent fractious International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) election held last month for the presidency of the Olympic sport's international governing body. Al Mohannadi has filed an appeal before the (International Table Tennis Federation) tribunal and submitted a formal case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He described the electoral process of the ITTF to have been rigged by 'serious violations' that undermine the principles of transparency and democracy. The ITTF failed to resolve the conflict following the controversial re-election of Sweden's Petra Sorling as its president, after she received 104 votes against her opponent Khalil Al Mohannadi's 102 which was marred by the number of online votes. Al Mohannadi expressed his deep gratitude to the national federations that supported his candidacy and expressed their clear objection to the irregularities that marred the voting process. He considered this support to represent 'a shared belief that the future of the game must be built on sound legal and institutional foundations.' International legal steps: Resorting to arbitration Al Mohannadi revealed that he had filed a formal appeal with the ITTF Arbitration Tribunal, in addition to filing a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He emphasized that these steps came after submitting a formal complaint to the Nominations Committee, and within a clear legal framework stipulated by the ITTF Constitution and its electoral regulations. Alleged electoral violations The statement listed the most prominent of what it described as 'fundamental irregularities,' which includescCase:> 1. Accepting electronic votes despite the President of the General Assembly's announcement that voting would be paper-only, which it considered a 'clear violation of official directives.' 2. Registering federations on election day itself, exceeding the approved registration deadline. 3. Counting votes from federations that were not officially registered or had not been verified through the 'official roll call.' 4. Excluding the Nominations Committee, the sole body authorized to oversee the electoral process, which constitutes a violation of oversight and integrity procedures. Call to freeze electronic voting Al Mohannadi has called for a suspension of the use of electronic voting in all international federation elections, noting the need to establish technical and legal mechanisms to ensure accurate verification of each vote. He cited a similar precedent from the 2017 Dusseldorf elections, when proxy voting was annulled due to misuse, emphasizing that the current situation calls for a similar measure to preserve the legitimacy of the elections. Justice first Al Mohannadi has stressed that this is 'not just about an electoral outcome,' but rather a defence of 'the future of our sport and our international institutions.' He emphasized that the legal process will be pursued to the end to ensure justice and protect integrity of the sport. Election background The ITTF General Assembly, held on May 27, 2025, at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha, Qatar, witnessed a tense atmosphere after indications of tampering with the voting process final results raised widespread questions, particularly after irregularities were detected regarding the number of electronic votes compared to the official announcement during the attendance registration process. This was in addition to the registration of federations on election day itself, and the counting of votes not included in the roll call. These circumstances cast a shadow over the integrity of the elections and sparked widespread controversy within the game and among representatives of several national federations. Al Mohannadi's actions are expected to have significant repercussions in the global sports community, especially with the growing calls to review electoral systems of international sports bodies, enhance transparency, and combat what some consider 'political control over sports.'
Qatar Tribune
02-06-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Rabeah and Rasha win titles at WTT Contender Series in Kosovo
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar's promising players Rabeah Khalid Al Kuwari and Rasha Laghribi made a remarkable achievement winning in their respective categories of the Kosovo International Table Tennis Championship, a WTT Contender Youth Series in Pristina, Kosovo. Rabiah Al Kuwari won the Under-11 Youth title following an epic and thrilling 3-2 victory over Sri Lankan player Tavi Samaraweera. Despite trailing 11-7 in the first set, Rabeah managed to come back and win the second game 11-9, before losing the third set 11-6. Rabeah again demonstrated his strong determination, winning the fourth 12-10, leveling the scores at 2-2. The match was decided in a marathon tiebreak that lasted 16-14 in favour of the Qatari star, who shone with steadfastness and confidence under pressure to deservedly secure the title. This was Rabeah second title in the same tournament after a bronze medal in the under-13 section, despite originally competing in the under-11 category. The triumph highlights his great potential as a promising player from Qatar Table Tennis Association's (QTTA) Dream Team project. Meanwhile, Rasha Laghribi made history in her first international event by winning gold in the under-11 Junior category with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Greek player Cleo Madesi. Rasha started the match trailing in the first set 9-11, but quickly regained her composure and won the second set 11-7. Despite losing the third set 9-11, she showed strong character and came back strongly in the fourth, winning 11-6, to win the match in a tiebreaker 11-9 and claim the gold medal. Rasha also won a bronze medal in the under-13 category. The double achievement which underlines her status as one of the most upcoming talent. This victories of the Qatar players are the fruits of the great efforts made by QTTA to support emerging talent through participation in international tournaments and by providing them exposure and experience. This victory in Kosovo is an important milestone in the journey of the Qatari Dream Team, which includes a group of promising players.
