International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Petra Sörling has praised the African Table Tennis Championships for providing a high-level platform for established stars and emerging players, describing the competition as an important pathway to the World Championships and a valuable introduction to senior international table tennis.
Speaking after the 2026 African Championships in Tangier, Morocco, Sörling highlighted the growing depth of talent across the continent and the emergence of a new generation eager to test itself against experienced opponents.
“The continental championships are very important. We can see that all the players like to compete. We can also see it’s a pathway for the World Championships,” Sörling said.
She noted that more teams are introducing younger players, adding that Africa possesses considerable talent capable of raising the standard of the sport.
“And especially here in Africa, I can see that there is a lot of talented players. And it’s a very, very high level,” she added.
Sörling pointed to the men’s team final as an example of the quality and intensity on display, highlighting the challenge posed by a young player to Egyptian star Omar Assar. She said the contest demonstrated the mental demands of table tennis and the competitive level the championships have reached.
“Table tennis is a mental game. But it’s really nice to see that we have these good matches on the highest level,” she said.
Beyond the established names, the ITTF president stressed the importance of giving young players opportunities to experience senior competition, where they can learn from more seasoned opponents and develop the confidence needed to progress internationally.
She also recalled meeting a young Moroccan girl who was excited to compete at senior level for the first time, describing such experiences as part of the championships’ wider value to the sport.
The 2026 African Championships were held in Tangier from October 18 to 25, bringing together leading players from across the continent. Egypt emerged as the dominant nation, winning the men’s and women’s team titles and sweeping the individual gold medals across singles and doubles events.
Sörling’s remarks underline the championships’ dual role: deciding continental honours while helping nurture the next generation of African table tennis players.
 President Petra Sörling has praised the African Table Tennis Championships for providing a high-level platform for established stars and emerging players, describing the competition as an important pathway to the World Championships and a valuable introduction to senior international table tennis.){kind=link}