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Kuwait Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Qatar table tennis says ‘prepared to escalate' after chaotic vote
DOHA: Qatar's table tennis association has warned of possible legal action as it disputes the result of a stormy leadership election for the Olympic sport's world governing body in Doha. The Qatari association, whose president Khalil Al-Mohannadi narrowly failed to dislodge Sweden's Petra Soerling as head of the International Table Tennis Federation, said it was 'prepared to escalate' the matter. Tuesday's 104-102 vote to Soerling ended in such acrimony that the ITTF's annual general meeting was suspended. The world body said the assembly was 'disrupted by outsiders' after the election result was announced. A Qatar Table Tennis Association spokesperson, in comments sent to AFP on Monday, said it was 'actively reviewing all legal and procedural options... We believe there are sufficient grounds to question the validity of the election process'. 'We are also consulting with legal experts to ensure that, if necessary, we are prepared to escalate the matter through appropriate international sports arbitration channels,' the spokesperson said. 'The outcome of the election cannot be considered settled until all procedural questions have been independently reviewed,' the spokesperson added. On Thursday, the ITTF said it would investigate the disturbance by people, believed to be Mohannadi supporters, who 'were neither delegates from member associations, nor members of the executive board, council, committees, or invited guests'. It said the election was conducted 'in strict accordance with the ITTF constitution and statutes' and that it 'rejects the misconceived statement by some member associations to recognize any other result'. After Tuesday's vote, Soerling told Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter she felt unsafe and left the meeting with the help of staff from the Swedish embassy in Doha. The QTTA spokesperson said 'at no point was her safety compromised', while acknowledging that Soerling 'may have felt uncomfortable, as many of us did in what was an emotionally charged and unexpected outcome'. 'We note that in highly politicized environments, it can sometimes benefit certain individuals to sensationalize events,' the spokesperson said, speculating that Soerling may have been 'misquoted or misinterpreted'. — AFP
RTHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Sports body to probe Doha table tennis AGM racket
Sports body to probe Doha table tennis AGM racket Petra Sorling left the International Table Tennis Federation AGM in Doha, Qatar, as she did not feel safe. File photo: NurPhoto/AFP The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) said it will investigate the disruption that forced the suspension of its annual general meeting in Doha this week after the re-election of Petra Sorling as president. The disruption started when Sorling, the ITTF's first female president, was re-elected until 2029 with 104 votes to the 102 received by her Qatari opponent, Khalil Al-Mohannadi. "After the presidential election had already concluded, the AGM had to be suspended following the disruption initiated by individuals who were neither delegates from member associations, nor members of the executive board, council, committees, or invited guests," the ITTF said. "The ITTF regrets and strongly condemns the disruption. "It will conduct an investigation to determine the various responsibilities and take measures, in particular, to avoid a similar disruption from happening in the future." The Qatar Table Tennis Association released a statement claiming there had been discrepancies in the online voting and calling for an independent and transparent review of the election. "We are prepared to cooperate with any independent investigation or tribunal, including before the Court of Arbitration for Sport," it said. The ITTF defended the legitimacy of the election process and said it was prepared to address any formal complaints in "the appropriate forum". Sorling decided to leave the meeting because she did not feel safe, as did the Swedish delegation, the Swedish Table Tennis Association said. The ITTF said it would reconvene the AGM before November to address agenda items that could not be completed in Doha. (Reuters)
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Table tennis-ITTF to probe AGM disruption after presidential election
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) said it will investigate the disruption that forced the suspension of its annual general meeting in Doha this week after the re-election of Petra Sorling as president. The disruption started when Sorling, the ITTF's first female president, was re-elected until 2029 with 104 votes to the 102 received by her Qatari opponent, Khalil Al-Mohannadi. "After the presidential election had already concluded, the AGM had to be suspended following the disruption initiated by individuals who were neither delegates from member associations, nor members of the executive board, council, committees, or invited guests," the ITTF said in a statement on Thursday. "The ITTF regrets and strongly condemns the disruption. It will conduct an investigation to determine the various responsibilities and take measures, in particular, to avoid a similar disruption from happening in the future." The Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) also released a statement claiming there had been discrepancies in the online voting and calling for an independent and transparent review of the election. "We are prepared to cooperate with any independent investigation or tribunal, including before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)," it said. The ITTF defended the legitimacy of the election process and said it was prepared to address any formal complaints in "the appropriate forum". Sorling decided to leave the meeting because she did not feel safe, as did the Swedish delegation, the Swedish Table Tennis Association (SBTF) said in a statement. The ITTF said it would reconvene the AGM before November this year to address agenda items that could not be completed in Doha. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Qatar Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Al Mohannadi calls for integrity, inclusivity and leadership on eve of ITTF's elections in Doha
Presents vision for balance, justice, and development of the gameTribune News Network Doha Qatar's Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, candidate for the presidency of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for the 2025-2028 term, called for the growth of table tennis globally through bold commercial strategies and to reinvest in athletes and communities that power the sport on eve of the sport body's elections to be held in Doha on Tuesday. Al Mohannadi called for integrity, inclusivity and leadership while promising to restore balance in the distribution of financial resources within the federation and to promote fair and sustainable development of the game globally, especially in countries with limited resources. The elections will be held on the sidelines of ITTF's annual meeting and are expected to witness a three-way competition between Swedish candidate and current president Petra Sorling, Khalil Al Mohannadi, and Mauritanian Mohamed Ould El Hassan. Presenting his vision ahead of the elections, Al Mohannadi explained that more than 60% of the federation's current spending is directed to events and operations, while the share of development programs does not exceed 10%. He described this as a 'structural imbalance' that must be addressed to ensure equitable growth of the game across all continents. Al Mohannadi emphasized that his program is based on five main pillars: The first is player development, by doubling prize money by 2029, increasing the number of World Championship slots by 48%, and allocating a portion of WTT profits to support new countries hosting tournaments. The second is infrastructure support, by establishing 20 training centers by 2029 and fully equipping them to support training, competitions, and youth programs. The third pillar is enhancing transparency and governance, in line with the principles of the International Olympic Committee, implementing independent audit mechanisms, and reducing administrative costs. The fourth pillar being commercial and media innovation, by launching the ITTF Legends Tour, supporting local leagues in underserved areas, and updating the federation's digital platforms to enhance public engagement. The fifth pillar of Al Mohannadi's electoral program is social impact, by developing the work of the ITTF Foundation, supporting local projects in member countries, and facilitating mechanisms for obtaining grants and using them in talent discovery programs. Al Mohannadi said, 'We want a federation that serves everyone, provides opportunities for everyone, and restores table tennis to its true developmental roots, without compromising the organization's financial stability.' It's worth noting that Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi currently serves as Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation, President of the Qatar and Arab Federations, and as current President of the Asian Federation. He is one of the world's most prominent sports figures in table tennis, with over 40 years of experience in sports management and international tournament organization. If he wins, Al Mohannadi will be the first Arab and Asian to head the International Table Tennis Federation, a culmination of an exceptional career and a new era of balance and efficiency in global leadership of the game.
Qatar Tribune
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Chuqin is new men's singles world TT champion
ITTF Doha The ITTF World Table Tennis Championships 2025 came to a thrilling close at the Lusail Sports Complex on Sunday as China's Wang Chuqin claimed his maiden world title, Japan's Shunsuke Togami and Hiroto Shinozuka ended a 64-year with the men's doubles title, and China's Sun Yingsha defended her women's singles crown in a gripping seven-game classic against Wang Manyu. Later at the presentationc eremony, Khalil Al Mohannadi, President of the Qatar, Arab and Asian Table Tennis Federations and First Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and ITTF President and Petra Sorling handed over the World Championship flag to Claire Brigall, President of the English Table Tennis Association, as England will host the next edition of the tournament in 2026. Chuqin overcame Brazil's Hugo Calderano. China rounded off its campaign in style with a flawless women's doubles performance from Wang Manyu and Kuai Man, securing their fourth gold of the tournament and reaffirming their dominance on the global stage. World No. 2 Chuqin delivered a masterclass performance to claim his first Men's Singles World Championship title, defeating World No. 3 Hugo Calderano of Brazil 4-1 (12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 11-2, 11-7) in a high-quality final. With this triumph, Wang not only secures his place in table tennis history but also becomes the first left-handed Men's Singles World Champion in over three decades—since Frenchman Jean-Philippe Gatien's victory in 1993. The victory also served as sweet revenge for Wang, who had suffered a narrow 3-4 defeat to Calderano just weeks earlier in the semifinals of the ITTF World Cup in Macao. This time, however, the Chinese star left no room for doubt, bringing his A-game in both physical preparation and tactical execution. World No. 1 and defending champion Sun Yingsha successfully retained her women's singles crown in a pulsating seven-game final against compatriot Wang Manyu, in what will be remembered as one of the all-time classic matches in World Championship history. The nearly 90-minute contest was a rollercoaster of momentum swings and high-quality rallies, with both players showcasing extraordinary skill, tactical depth, and mental resilience. Sun came out of the gates firing, dominating the opening two games with clinical precision. But Wang responded brilliantly, adjusting her tactics to play more aggressively, especially by stepping around for her powerful pivot forehand. The change paid off as she took the next two games in convincing fashion to level the match at 2-2. The fifth game proved to be a turning point. Wang earned a game point at 10-9, but Sun responded with three straight points under pressure to seize the game 12-10 and regain the lead. In the sixth, Sun looked poised to close out the match with a 10-6 advantage, only for Wang to mount a remarkable comeback. Displaying immense grit, Wang saved four match points—helped in part by a fortunate edge ball at 9-10—before taking the game 13-11 to force a decider. Sun appeared out of rhythm in the early stages of the final game and trailed 5-7. However, showing the poise and champion's mentality that has defined her rise to the top, she flipped the momentum with a stunning six-point run—her longest streak of the match—to take the game 11-7 and seal a dramatic victory. Japan's Shunsuke Togami and Hiroto Shinozuka clinched the men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships after a thrilling five-game battle against Chinese Taipei's Kao Cheng-Jui and Lin Yun-Ju. The Japanese duo triumphed 3-2, with game scores of 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6. The Japanese pair showcased a clear tactical understanding throughout the match, with left-handed Shinozuka playing a stabilizing role, minimizing risks and controlling the tempo, while Togami took on the enforcer's mantle—his explosive forehand proving to be a decisive weapon. Both players served with precision, particularly against Lin Yun-Ju, one of the game's premier receivers renowned for his backhand banana flick. Their tactical serving and well-placed spins effectively neutralized his signature returns. China's Wang Manyu and Kuai Man capped off the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships with a commanding performance, defeating Austria's Sofia Polcanova and Romania's Bernadette Szőcs 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-5) to win the women's doubles crown. The final proved to be a one-sided affair, as the Chinese duo showcased their class and composure, dismantling the European pair with ruthless efficiency. Wang and Kuai, who entered the match as clear favourites, delivered a performance that fully justified their billing, controlling the proceedings from start to finish with seamless coordination and clinical shot-making.
