Steve Dainton, CEO of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), issued a public apology for the confusion and disruption that marred the ITTF's Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Tuesday. The apology followed concerns raised about the voting procedures during the meeting.
Dainton stated that, after discussions with President Petra Sörling, the decision was made to temporarily halt the AGM. The ITTF intends to mediate between the involved parties to find a resolution.
The AGM in Doha saw the re-election of Sörling as ITTF president. She secured 104 votes, while her opponent, Khalil Al-Mohannadi, received 102 votes. However, questions arose during the roll-call voting process, specifically regarding the discrepancy between the number of online member associations present and the final online vote count.
The meeting was ultimately suspended due to external disruptions. The AGM will be reconvened solely to conduct the election of vice presidents. The new date for the meeting will be announced by Sörling, with a deadline of November 2025 to comply with the ITTF Constitution's stipulations regarding the Executive Board's four-year term.
Former president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, Liu Guoliang, participated in the election for the new ITTF Executive Committee at the AGM. During his speech, Liu presented his vision for the development of table tennis, emphasizing the importance of global growth and expansion to ensure the sport's long-term sustainability.
0 Comments