The 25th edition of the Asian Table Tennis Championship, a qualifier for the World Championships in China next year, will begin today at the Lusail Sports Hall.
The tournament, which will end on October 5, is hosted by the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) with 194 players from 30 Asian countries participating.
Qatar will be represented by nine players, the men’s team includes four players: Ahmed Khalil al-Mohannadi, Mohamed Abdul Wahhab, Ahmed Muthanna al-Awlaki and Fahd al-Mughni. The women’s team includes five players: Maha Flamerzi, Aya Magdy, Maha Ali, Maryam Ali, and Shawq Abdullah.
The election of the general assembly of the Asian Table Tennis Union will be convened on the sidelines of the Asian Championship to select the new president. QTTA chief Khalil al-Mohannadi is up against President of the UAE Association Daoud al-Hajri. The election will also be held up for members of the Executive Office and the Board of Directors.
Qatar had won rights to host the Asian Championship for the second time in a row in its history after the 2000 edition as the first Arab and Gulf country, after withdrawal of China and India.
Al-Mohannadi, QTTA president and the First Vice-President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Asian Table Tennis Union underlined that Qatar’s hosting of many continental and international table tennis tournaments as big as Asian Table Tennis Championship this year is important and will enhance the confidence of the International Federation in Qatar’s organizational capabilities.
He said Qatar is well-known for its sports facilities and stadiums equipped with the latest technical and sports equipment in accordance with the highest international standards. He said the tournament is considered a mini-world championship due to the participation of the best players in the world, and players of East Asia countries, such as Japan, South Korea, India, Hong Kong and China Taipei.
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