ITTF Elects Egyptian Omar Assar Into Athletes’ Commission
Egyptian table tennis player Omar Assar has been elected into the Athletes’ Commission of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), after amassing the highest number of votes at the just concluded elections.
Assar was elected as one of 10 members from other continent who will serve on the Athletes’ Commission from 2022 to 2026.
Despite not doing a lot to solicit for votes during the campaign period, the reigning 2022 African champion garnered a massive 45.94 % of votes from his peers in Africa to win the sole continental slot after the online elections were concluded on Sunday 13 November.
The number of votes accrued by Assar during the elections were clear of the 2 other African candidates, Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou – who had served in the erstwhile commission and Togo’s Lawson-Gaizer Fessou, vying for same position.
Speaking on Assar’s election into the Athletes’ commission, ITTF President Petra Sörling, congratulated all the candidates and said she was looking forward to working closely with them.
“I would like to thank all the candidates and congratulate the ten elected athletes. The Executive Committee and I are looking forward to working closely with them,” Sörling said.
“The Athletes Commission is crucial as it links the athletes and the ITTF, ensuring the athletes’ priorities and viewpoints are communicated and represented. I am also delighted by the large increase in the number of votes; our athletes are more and more engaged in the future direction of the sport of table tennis.”
All members of the Athletes’ Commission will be invited to the forthcoming ITTF Summit in December in Amman, Jordan. At the summit, the commission along with IOC Athletes’ Commission member Ryu Seung-Min, will elect two chairs to sit on the ITTF Executive Committee.
For the first time the two chairs will be one man and one woman to ensure gender parity.
Chidi Nwoke/ITTF Africa.
