Petra Sorling re-elected ITTF president

Petra Sorling was re-elected president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) here, the ITTF announced on its official website on Tuesday.

President of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Petra Sorling is seen during the kick-off ceremony of the 2022 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

The Swede received 104 votes, narrowly defeating the other candidate, Khalil Al-Mohannadi of Qatar, who received 102.

According to the ITTF website, the AGM had to be suspended after it was disrupted by outsiders. As a result, it will need to be reconvened specifically for the election of vice presidents, with Sorling expected to announce the new date in due course.

The continuation of the election must take place no later than November 2025 to comply with the ITTF Constitution, which stipulates a four-year term for the Executive Board.

Meanwhile, hosts for the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships between 2027 and 2029 were selected during the AGM.

Astana, Kazakhstan, will host the 2027 World Table Tennis Championships, while the team championships in 2028 will be held in Fukuoka, Japan. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will host the 2029 edition of the sport's most prestigious event.