26-05-2025
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.
