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Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
ITTF to probe AGM disruption after presidential election
May 31 (Reuters) - 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.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Lots of work to be done for China to return to top of men's table tennis, Wang says
China's top table tennis official has heaped praise on the country's paddlers after they swept the singles titles at the World Championships in Doha, but said challenges remained in improving the men's game. At the Lusail Sports Arena on Sunday, Wang Chuqin won his first world title in the men's singles, while compatriot Sun Yingsha defended her crown from two years ago. Wang and Sun also won the mixed doubles event, while Kuai Man and Wang Manyu won the women's competition. However, Japan's Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami won the men's doubles titles, with China failing to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1975. 'We made it to the final in four events, and three of them were against athletes from other countries,' Wang Liqin, president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, said. 'According to the previously set goals and calculations, we were very determined to reach the final and ultimately achieved this victory, including this time, in the men's singles event. Gold medallist Sun Yingsha (right) with compatriot and silver medallist Wang Manyu. Photo: EPA 'For us, the biggest challenge is the men. Compared to the women, our entire male team still needs to improve their ability and experience in major competitions.'
Washington Post
7 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Olympic official Petra Sörling wins table tennis election in close vote disputed by Qatari opponent
DOHA, Qatar — In a hard-fought election, IOC member Petra Sörling retained the presidency of the International Table Tennis Federation on Tuesday in a 104-102 win over her Qatari opponent. It is rare in Olympic sports elections for an incumbent president and IOC member to be challenged so directly. Supporters of the losing candidate, ITTF senior executive vice president Khalil al-Mohannadi, then called into question the integrity of the vote held after Qatar hosted the world championships. Delegates in an increasingly chaotic election hall in Doha were told the ITTF executive board was going into an emergency session to decide on the next steps. Sörling, re-elected for a second four-year mandate, is one of just three female presidents of a governing body of more than 30 Olympics sports on the Summer Games program. The Swedish official was elected in 2023 as an International Olympics Committee member. Al-Mohannadi has been a member of the ITTF board for most of the past three decades. He left the board for three years from 2006 after an election for deputy president was annulled. That election dispute went to an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport , where the judge found 'convincing evidence that bribery did take place' including offers to reimburse travel expenses. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
7 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Olympic official Petra Sörling wins table tennis election in close vote disputed by Qatari opponent
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — In a hard-fought election, IOC member Petra Sörling retained the presidency of the International Table Tennis Federation on Tuesday in a 104-102 win over her Qatari opponent. It is rare in Olympic sports elections for an incumbent president and IOC member to be challenged so directly. Supporters of the losing candidate, ITTF senior executive vice president Khalil al-Mohannadi, then called into question the integrity of the vote held after Qatar hosted the world championships. Delegates in an increasingly chaotic election hall in Doha were told the ITTF executive board was going into an emergency session to decide on the next steps. Sörling, re-elected for a second four-year mandate, is one of just three female presidents of a governing body of more than 30 Olympics sports on the Summer Games program. The Swedish official was elected in 2023 as an International Olympics Committee member. Al-Mohannadi has been a member of the ITTF board for most of the past three decades. He left the board for three years from 2006 after an election for deputy president was annulled. That election dispute went to an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where the judge found 'convincing evidence that bribery did take place' including offers to reimburse travel expenses. ___ AP sports:
Reuters
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
China's Sun, Chuqin win singles world titles
May 25 (Reuters) - China swept the singles titles at the world table tennis championships again, with Wang Chuqin securing a dominant 4-1 victory over Hugo Calderano in the men's final and Sun Yingsha retaining the women's crown on Sunday. World number one Sun overcame a stubborn challenge from Wang Manyu, outwitting the world number two in a thrilling final to clinch gold with a 4-3 victory in Doha. Former champion Manyu, who beat Sun in the 2021 final, fought back from two games down and saved four championship points to take the contest down to the wire. "We have played each other many times since childhood. So every time we meet in the finals, it would be a tough match," Sun said. The 24-year-old started well, winning the first two games 11-6 12-10. Manyu bounced back to dominate the next two games, and was a point away from winning the fifth but Sun saved the game point and took it 12-10. Sun quickly took a 10-6 lead in the sixth game, putting her a point away from winning the championship, but Manyu held her nerve to win the next three points. The defending champion pushed for victory with a forehand that Manyu barely got her paddle to, but the ball soared up high and nicked the table, putting Wang level at 10-10. Manyu seized the momentum to win the sixth game 13-11 and took a 3-0 lead in the decisive seventh. "At that time my mentality fluctuated a little bit," Sun admitted. Sun, who had beaten Wang in nine of their previous 10 meetings, rallied to win the seventh game 11-7, however, to secure the title. "Every day I fought hard... and I cherished each game. And I'm extremely happy I managed to stand till the last," Sun added. World number two Wang claimed his first singles gold at the World Championships, beating Calderano 4-1 to avenge his loss to the Brazilian at last month's World Cup. World number three Calderano, the first Brazilian to win the World Cup, was no match for Chuqin's speed as the Asian Cup winner forced Calderano on to the defensive. "After losing (at) the World Cup, I fell into doubt, especially during my training," said Chuqin. "So I had a challenger's mindset." Chuqin, who lost the 2023 final to compatriot Fan Zhendong, took the first two games 12-10 11-3, and although Calderano bounced back in to win the third 11-4, the Chinese regained control to seal victory. Earlier, Japan won the men's doubles title for the first time in 64 years, with Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami edging out Taiwan's Lin Yun-ju and Kao Cheng-jui 3-2.
