Latest news with #QatarTableTennisAssociation
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- 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.
Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Qatari push to dominate another sport, table tennis, draws scrutiny
– In a near-empty venue in a near-empty patch of desert on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar's capital, table tennis stars unfurled deadly slices and killer smashes last week as they vied to be crowned world champion. Behind the scenes, another battle was playing out with just as much ferocity, as a wealthy Qatari businessman sought the presidency of the governing body of international table tennis, the latest example of Persian Gulf interests trying to extend their influence over global sports. For many people, table tennis may evoke images of college dorms or suburban basements, but it is one of the world's most popular sports and a growing commercial force, particularly in East Asia. Interviews with dozens of the sport's current and former officials and players have cast light on the rising power of Gulf nations such as Qatar and raised concerns about a history of bribery and lavish spending by Qatari officials – in table tennis and in other sports. On May 19, a Swiss whistle-blower who has tangled with Khalil Al-Mohannadi, a Qatari businessman who hopes to be elected president of the International Table Tennis Federation this week, was detained at the sport's world championships in Doha. The whistle-blower, Georg Silberschmidt, a former official with Swiss Table Tennis, was surrounded by more than 20 security personnel and taken into custody after passing out flyers for a new players' union meant to promote athletes' rights. For 24 hours, he and two employees of the players' union were interrogated, put in prison cells and pressured to sign documents in Arabic, a language they do not speak. A member of the union was shown a photo of Silberschmidt by a representative of the Qatar Table Tennis Association and was told that the Swiss man had broken the law. Silberschmidt and the two other people detained were later released without charges and left the country. 'I don't think I will ever go back to Qatar,' Silberschmidt said. The International Table Tennis Federation's presidential election is on May 27, and its integrity unit is investigating whether Al-Mohannadi or people supporting him are trying to influence the vote through monetary means, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The integrity unit declined to confirm or comment on specific cases under investigation. But in a statement to The New York Times, the federation said that because of 'the significance of our upcoming elections', it had 'engaged leading professional support specialised in the sector to ensure compliance and enforcement'. 'In response to recent allegations concerning certain candidates, we reiterate our absolute commitment to free, fair and clean elections,' the statement said. Al-Mohannadi, who is the federation's senior executive vice-president, did not respond to repeated queries from the Times. Few people in the table tennis world are willing to criticise him publicly. His rivals in the presidential election are the Swedish incumbent, Petra Sorling, and Mohamed El Hacen Ahmed Salem of Mauritania. Al-Mohannadi has been associated with the federation for decades. After he was elected its deputy president in 2005, accusations mounted that the Qatar Table Tennis Association had engaged in vote-buying. Delegates spoke of money stuffed in envelopes and travel expenses being covered in return for support from nations in Africa and Eastern Europe. The case was brought to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland . After receiving testimony from more than a dozen witnesses who described a range of electoral irregularities, the arbitrator ruled that there was 'convincing evidence that bribery did take place'. The election was annulled, and Al-Mohannadi did not run in the next one, held in 2006. But in 2014, he was again voted in as deputy president. Although there is little local interest in table tennis in Qatar, it had also hosted the world team championships in 2004. Al-Mohannadi, who used to work for the Qatari government as an undersecretary and at the state broadcaster, has promoted the sport for more than 30 years. In recent years, Qatar has been raising its global profile through sports. It has naturalised athletes from other nations to compete in the Olympics and has played host to major international events, most famously the World Cup in 2022. According to the United States Department of Justice, Fifa officials were bribed to vote for Qatar to host that tournament , in what many consider one of the dirtiest votes in sports history . Qatar denies all the allegations. Qatar has also held world championships in athletics, handball and artistic gymnastics. On the eve of the table tennis championships in Doha, Qatari officials boasted about fast-selling tickets. Chinese fans, who are among the sport's most avid, complained that they could not get seats. But at many of the early matches, the stands were devoid of spectators, except for officials and players' entourages. There are 227 member associations in the table tennis federation – more than in the United Nations – and each voting representative in the election on May 27 is eligible for about a week-long stay in Qatar, with flights and luxury accommodations covered. In 2021, Swiss Table Tennis and its German counterpart raised various concerns about Al-Mohannadi, including his ownership of a Qatari sports company that imported table tennis equipment, something that the federation's rules appear to forbid. (Al-Mohannadi eventually transferred the company to a family member.) The federation's then president suspended Al-Mohannadi from his vice-presidential duties over those concerns. But an internal investigation by the federation absolved Al-Mohannadi. Five people who served on table tennis boards with Al-Mohannadi said he was rarely interested in the details of governance, often staying away from meetings for long stretches. He occasionally spoke up to complain that the hotel suites in which federation officials were staying were lacking, they said. The current accommodation for federation delegates who have gathered in Doha for the May 27 election, one member from the Caribbean said, are 'spectacular'. On May 25, China won four of the five world titles on offer in Doha via Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu and Kuai Man, with Japan's men's doubles duo of Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami denying them a clean sweep. Qatar will be hoping to take the big prize on offer on May 27. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Qatar Tribune
02-06-2025
- Sport
- 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.
Straits Times
31-05-2025
- 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
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Sorling's security fear claims during ITTF AGM false: QTTA
Tribune News Network 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 .'
