African Member Associations were prominently represented at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Annual General Meeting, at the Hilton London Wembley.
The gathering formed part of the global centenary celebrations of table tennis, marking 100 years since nine founding nations established the Federation in the very country where the sport was born.
At least 32 African nations were in attendance, including Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, and Botswana, among others.
They joined more than 100 Member Associations from around the world for a full day of presentations, discussions, and landmark decision‑making that will shape the sport’s next century.
The AGM, was presided over by ITTF President Petra Sörling alongside the Executive Committee and Council, while ATTF Chief Operating Officer Dr Kweku Tandoh and ATTF Vice President Technical Professor Germaine Karou served as ITTF AGM Scrutineers for the proceedings, showing Africa’s continued contribution to global table tennis governance.
Earlier in the week, during the Council meetings, Ghana’s Mawuko Afadzinu was confirmed for another two‑year term as Chairman of the Sustainability Committee.
The defining moment of the day came as member associations voted to adopt the new ITTF Centenary Constitution, the product of one of the most extensive and inclusive consultation processes in the Federation’s history.
The updated statutes establish a modern governance framework designed to guide table tennis into its second century, fulfilling a mandate set at the 2025 AGM.
The agenda featured presentations across finance, media and public relations, talent development, annual reports and other long‑term strategic pillars aimed at accelerating the sport’s global growth.
The AGM also honoured individuals and associations whose contributions have significantly shaped the sport. Among the distinguished honourees was Masahiro Maehara, whose award was presented by ITTF Vice President and ITTF‑Africa President Wahid Oshodi.
Maehara is a World Championships medallist, who dedicated decades after his playing career to coaching.
As head coach of Japan’s national men’s and women’s teams for over sixteen years, he played a pivotal role in establishing Japan’s modern athlete development system, introduced in 2001, which has been pivotal to the country’s current success on the world stage.
Magali Montes, President of the Federación Deportiva Peruana de Tenis de Mesa, was recognised, receiving the Most Active Member Association of the Year award from ITTF Athletes’ Commission Co‑Chair Liu Shiwen.
A special merit award was presented to veteran writer, editor, and historian Ian Marshall, who served the ITTF from 1995 until his recent retirement.
Marshall has written more than 20,000 articles, edited 100 issues of Swaythling magazine, and contributed to the coverage of nineteen World Championships, twelve World Junior Championships, five Olympic Games, and four Paralympic Games.
Also, the event concluded with a presentation from Kazakhstan, hosts of the 2027 World Championships, followed by an update on ITTF’s collaboration with the International Olympic Committee ahead of the first‑ever Olympic Games on African soil — the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
In her closing remarks, ITTF President Petra Sörling thanked the table tennis family for their presence and contribution towards a greater next century of the sport, reaffirming the Federation’s commitment to global representation and inclusive leadership.
ITTF‑Africa.
 Annual General Meeting, at the Hilton London Wembley. ){kind=link}