A traditionally fertile ground for table tennis, Asia was treated to a visit from ITTF President Petra Sörling. The Swede traveled in Japan and Korea, where she was able to interact with local officials and discuss the prospects for developing sport in these countries. During her two days in Tokyo, the leader discussed in particular the 2028 World Team Championships in Fukuoka, who are " a milestone for our sport and a celebration of the Japanese tradition of table tennis " according to her. Sörling also spoke with the Japanese Olympic Committee and met with Morinari Watanabe and Sebastian Coe on the sidelines of the World Athletics Championships.
She then attended, along with ITTF Secretary General Raul Calin, the General Assembly of the International Paralympic CommitteeMeetings with the President of the Korean Olympic and Sports Committee, Ryu Seungmin, and with the President of the Korean Table Tennis Association, Lee Tae Sung, were also scheduled. Among the topics of discussion, the legacy of the Busan 2024 World Team Table Tennis Championships and preparations for the 2026 Gangneung World Masters Championships.
« We all have very vivid memories of our time in Busan last year, and the work of the Korean Table Tennis Federation made it possible to maintain the momentum of our sport in the country, rejoices Sörling. We can already see this in the strong interest in Gangneung, with registrations reaching 20% of the expected participation in just two months. » The ITTF president then took the direction of China for the last Grand Smash of the season.
