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Athletes from five disability categories competed in a special needs table tennis tournament at Aspire Zone this Ramadan, highlighting Qatar’s commitment to inclusive sport, safety and community empowerment.A special needs table tennis competition held at Aspire Zone, as part of the annual Ramadan Sports Festival, has drawn increased participation this year, underlining Qatar’s focus on inclusion and accessible community sport.The event, hosted by Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) in collaboration with the Qatar Paralympic Committee, brought together athletes from five disability categories: deaf, blind, sitting mobility, standing mobility and mental mobility.“We do our best to accommodate all five disabilities at the same time,” said Noha Tawfiq, senior events production member and member of the Ramadan Sports Festival Committee at AZF.Tawfiq explained that specialised adaptations are introduced to ensure accessibility for all participants. “We are using this special table for the blind that depends on the hearing where they can use their hearing ability to play and to score,” she said, noting that different formats of table tennis are designed to suit each category.The festival has been running inclusive sporting activities for more than a decade. “We have been doing this for more than 10 years. We have very special attention for the special needs community,” Tawfiq said.Addressing parental concerns, she emphasised strict safety measures. “They’re doing the sports under the supervision of Aspire Team as well as the Qatar Paralympic Committee and all the safety measures are being dealt with very, very accurately to make sure that they are safe and not only safe but happy”.Organisers say the psychological impact is equally significant, noting that “it’s a very important feeling that these people feel that they are heroes and that they win and that they are accepted by the community, just like normal individuals,” Tawfiq added.Hussain Alhaddad, member of the Federation for Special Needs and competition manager at Aspire, said the tournament is a regular Ramadan fixture and noted that participation has grown.While athletes with disabilities compete in multiple sports, including goalball, athletics and football, he described table tennis as particularly accessible.“For table tennis, this is a very easy match for them, a very easy game. That’s why we make it every year,” he said.Alhaddad stressed the rehabilitative and social value of sport. “The sport is very important because they will move their body... for rehabilitation and also to release their stress,” he said. “They will feel like they are one of this community. They can play, they can do everything.”He encouraged families to engage with structured sporting pathways. “If anybody knows someone with special needs, he can send him to our federation for sports for special needs and register him, and also let him be part of this community,” he said.As Ramadan continues, organisers say the message is clear: inclusive sport is not only about competition, but about belonging, dignity and creating heroes within the community. 

The Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2026 returns to Doha for its second year as an ATP500 event, following its debut season’s recognition as the ATP 500 ‘Tournament of the Year.’ This success reflects the strong partnership between ExxonMobil Qatar and the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF), a relationship built on a shared vision to excellence and developing local talent.ExxonMobil Qatar, the tournament’s title sponsor, welcomed fans back to its popular stand at the heart of the Public Village. A major attraction each year, the booth offers interactive experiences, from a full-size racing simulator to surprise meet-and-greets with top players making it a must-visit spot for fans of all ages.These opportunities for autographs, photos, and personal interactions at the booth have created countless memories for attendees.ExxonMobil Qatar extends the excitement to its own community. Employees enjoy the unique chance to take part in pre-match coin tosses, and young players gain inspiration from professionals during a special kids’ clinic hosted by QTF.“Our goal is to create meaningful connections with the community and celebrate the spirit of our collaboration,” said Rashid al-Hajri, Vice President and Public and Government Affairs Manager at ExxonMobil Qatar. “These shared experiences are central to our partnership with QTF and the tournament’s continued success.”The ExxonMobil booth also includes a dedicated space for Dadu, Qatar’s Children’s Museum. It is designed to give kids a fun place to learn about mangroves during the tournament, offering hands on activities that bring Dadu’s educational experience straight to families attending the event.As an industry leader in almost every aspect of the energy and petrochemical business, ExxonMobil’s focus goes beyond core business operations to positively impact communities where it operates. The company is dedicated to being a responsible corporate citizen, advancing industry solutions, and delivering energy to enhance livelihoods.The company plays an active role in community development and education initiatives particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as a key driver of economic growth and opportunity, aligning its efforts with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy. This commitment supports the creation of a skilled workforce that propels growth and opportunities for a sustainable future. 

Antonia Ruzic said she was grateful she stayed on site after her early qualifying round exit at the Dubai Tennis Championships as the Croatian lucky ‌loser capitalised on a flurry of withdrawals and ​stunned Grand Slam winner ‌Emma Raducanu in the main draw.Ruzic, ranked 67 ‌in the ⁠world, was ‌initially beaten in the qualifying ‌first round by Rebecca Sramkova last week but earned a ⁠spot in the main draw with seven prominent players, including Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, pulling out.The 23-year-old was rewarded with a clash against 2021 U.S. Open champion Raducanu after Elisabetta Cocciaretto's injury and she made the most of her time under the spotlight, sealing a 6-1 ​5-7 6-2 victory on Monday for her first career top 30 win."The whole turnaround was crazy," Ruzic said."I was a lucky loser ‌who had lost in the ⁠first round ​of the qualifiers. A lot of the girls were ​cancelling and a lot of them were not here to sign (as alternates). I was like 'OK, I'm going to sign and let's see what happens'."Ruzic explained she and her compatriot Petra Marcinko - who also received an entry into the main draw as one of seven lucky losers - had remained in Dubai as they were playing the doubles tournament together."We were going to stay here for ‌two-three days. It's crazy ‌because I got in ⁠on Monday. Playing against Emma, of course, is a tough ⁠match," Ruzic added."We ⁠played three sets of good tennis and it was a battle in the third. I'm happy I managed to get it under control and that I won in the end."Defeat ended world number 25 Raducanu's disappointing spell in the Middle East hard ​court swing, with the 23-year-old seeking medical attention midway through the match against Ruzic for an unspecified issue.The former world number 10 struggled with illness in her Qatar Open first-round match with Camila Osorio last week, when she was forced to retire in the third set while trailing by two games to love.Briton Raducanu reached the final of the ‌Transylvania Open earlier ​this month and was beaten by Sorana Cirstea. 

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) organised a number of sporting events and activities as part of the National Sport Day celebrations, held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. His Excellency the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie took part at the activities alongside the assistant undersecretaries of the ministry, in addition to department directors, who joined employees in the activities in an atmosphere characterised by interaction and positive spirit. The events included various activities such as padel and tennis, walking and fitness exercises, with notable participation from ministry employees and their children. The ministry was keen to provide a fully integrated organisational environment that observes safety and comfort standards to ensure a safe sporting experience for participants, reflecting the level of readiness and organisation in the implementation of its public events. Accordingly, HE Dr al-Subaie stressed that National Sport Day represents an important national occasion for reinforcing concepts of quality of life, raising awareness of the importance of adopting healthy and sustainable lifestyles, and building a more active society. He noted that the ministry views sports as a supportive element in enhancing job performance efficiency, improving the work environment, and strengthening employees’ psychological and physical well-being, considering such initiatives as contributing to the creation of a positive and motivating workplace. Dr Farhoud Hadi al-Hajri, director of the Public Relations and Communication Department at the ministry, affirmed that National Sport Day represents a unifying national occasion reflecting the state’s concern for human health and its commitment to entrenching a culture of sports practice in society as a fundamental element in building individuals and enhancing their capacity for contribution and productivity. 

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) is participating in the National Sport Day (NSD) 2026 today through a wide range of sports activities for the ministry’s employees and their families at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, in co-operation with the Qatar Tennis, Squash, and Badminton Federation.The event is set to include a variety of sports activities, such as padel and tennis, in addition to walking and fitness exercises.This will allow employees of different age groups and their children to take part in an interactive sporting atmosphere that enhances teamwork and communication among participants and encourages the adoption of physical activity as part of a daily lifestyle.Dr Farhoud Hadi al-Hajri, the director of the MoECC’s Public Relations and Communication Department, stressed that the ministry’s participation in the NSD is part of its efforts to support national initiatives that seek to raise awareness of the importance of sports and to reinforce health concepts in the work environment.He also pointed out that the NSD has contributed to reinforcing healthy values and concepts within the community and has played a role in raising awareness of the importance of practicing physical activity on a regular basis. 

Fourth seed Coco Gauff made an early exit from the WTA 1000 Qatar Open in Doha Tuesday after falling 6-4, 6-2 to Italian lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round. Gauff’s departure was part of a string of upsets, with sixth seed Jasmine Paolini and eighth-seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova also crashing out of the tournament at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.Amid the surprises, however, two title contenders marched on with authority. World No 1 and top seed Iga Swiatek showed her class with a dominant display, while newly crowned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina continued her strong run of form, both sealing comfortable victories to book their places in the last 16.American Gauff, who received a first-round bye, was also knocked out of the tournament in her opening match last year. The reigning French Open champion lost in an exhausting 5-7, 6-7 doubles match with Canadian Victoria Mboko on Monday, and her fatigue showed against the Italian as Gauff lost in just over 90 minutes.Cocciaretto will face Ann Li in the next round after only the third victory of her career against a top-10 ranked opponent. The world number 57 said she was inspired by her friend and skier Sofia Goggia, who took bronze in the women's downhill event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics at the weekend."We always send messages and FaceTime to talk about our sports and how you manage some things," she said of Goggia. "She gives me a lot of advice... I love how they (skiers) approach the sport. They have fear of nothing. They're focused a lot and they put themselves after everything."Former world number three Maria Sakkari saw off Paolini, also 6-4, 6-2, to set up a last-16 tie with Varvara Gracheva. Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko was another 6-4, 6-2 winner over Alexandrova.Swiatek dropped just eight points in the first set as she brushed aside Indonesia's Janice Tjen 6-0, 6-3 in her first match since losing in the Australian Open last eight to Rybakina. The six-time Grand Slam winner will play Daria Kasatkina for a place in the quarter-finals.She has won her last six meetings with the Russian-born Australian without dropping a set. "She can come to the match feeling that she has nothing to lose," said Swiatek of facing Kasatkina. "There are different ways the match can go, and I wouldn't say that focusing on the last results gives a lot. I'd rather stay ready for the challenge and not really think about the previous ones."Rybakina continued her fine form with a 6-2, 6-4 success against Wang Xinyu and will next face another Chinese player in Zheng Qinwen. World number three Rybakina has not played Zheng since a group-stage loss at the 2024 WTA Finals. Reigning Olympic gold medalist and world No 26 Zheng beat American upstart Alycia Parks, ranked No 77, in a gripping last 32 encounter.Rybakina is playing some of the best tennis of her career and the first set was more of the same as she took it for the loss of just two games. But Rybakina was made to work by the world No 227, who surprisingly broke at 2-2 in the second set, but was eventually pegged back by Rybakina at 4-4, allowing the Kazakh to eventually secure her safe passage into the next round with another break of serve shortly after.Australian Open semi-finalist Elina Svitolina and rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko also reached the third round. 

Macau’s former World No 1 Zhu Yuling and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju emerged champions at WTT Champions Doha, as the curtain came down on five days of high intensity table tennis at Lusail Sports Arena Sunday. Zhu completed a remarkable comeback by lifting the women’s singles trophy, while Lin finally ended a long title drought to claim the men’s crown. Zhu added another inspirational chapter to her comeback story by defeating third seed Chen Xingtong of China 4-2 (5-11, 13-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-8, 13-11) in a gripping final. The victory earned Zhu her first winner’s trophy and continued a stunning return to the sport following a four year absence from international competition. Chen set the early tone, imposing herself in the opening game and striking first despite late resistance from Zhu. The second game proved pivotal, with both players locked in explosive backhand exchanges that brought the crowd to life. Zhu saved two game points before levelling the match after Chen sent her finisher into the net at 12-11. Chen responded strongly in the third to regain control, but momentum swung again in the fourth as Zhu forced a decider in what was shaping into a finely balanced contest. The fifth game proved crucial. After seeing her lead reduced, Zhu called a time out and, despite Chen briefly levelling at 8-8, the decision paid off as Zhu reeled off three straight points to move ahead for the first time. The sixth game delivered the final twist. Chen threatened to force a seventh after moving 10-9 ahead, but a fortunate edge of the table brought Zhu back to 10-10. Chen had one last chance to extend the match, but sent the ball long at 12-11, sealing the title for Zhu. Holding her arms aloft, Zhu celebrated a hard earned triumph. “I am feeling relatively calm since I haven’t come out of the match yet. I played two matches today, which is the first time after I came back. It’s a big test for my physical and mental strength,” Zhu said. “I don’t know whether I am already reaching the end of my table tennis career. If I want to carry on, I’d treat every match, every day and every experience as the last one to compete and leave no regrets.” The title marked Zhu’s first appearance in a WTT Champions final and provided the perfect start to her 2026 campaign. For Chen, winner in Yokohama last season, the wait for a second WTT Champions title continues. In the men’s final, Lin Yun-Ju ended a 798 day wait for silverware with a commanding straight games victory over surprise finalist Jang Woojin of South Korea, winning 11-7, 11-9, 11-9, 13-11 at Infinity Arena. Lin last lifted a trophy at WTT Champions Frankfurt 2023 and had come close on several occasions since. This time, the 22-year-old showed no intention of letting the opportunity slip, producing a composed and ruthless performance to secure his fourth WTT Series singles title. The triumph adds to Lin’s previous successes at WTT Champions Frankfurt 2023, WTT Contender Zagreb 2022 and WTT Contender Almaty 2023, and signals a timely return to form for the player known as the ‘silent assassin’. Attention now turns to WTT Star Contender Doha, which be held at the Lusail Sports Arena from January 13-18. 

Stanislas Wawrinka will hang up his racquet at the end of 2026, the three-times Grand Slam champion announced on Friday, bringing down the ‌curtain on a 24-year professional career that saw ‌him gatecrash tennis's elite ‍during the sport's golden era.Switzerland's Wawrinka, who turned professional in 2002, ⁠will turn 41 in March, ⁠capping a journey that transformed him from perennial underdog to ‍giant-killer. Capable of playing ferocious tennis across all surfaces during his peak, the late bloomer's greatest triumphs came when it mattered most, stunning the tennis world by defeating the sport's biggest names on the grandest stages.Nicknamed 'Stanimal', Wawrinka conquered Rafa Nadal to claim the 2014 Australian ‌Open before he toppled Novak Djokovic twice -- at the 2015 French Open and 2016 U.S. Open -- each time beating the world ‍number one in the ⁠final."Every book ‌needs an ending. It’s time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour," Wawrinka wrote on Instagram. "I still want to push my limits and finish this journey on the best note possible. I still have dreams in this sport. I’ve enjoyed every part of what tennis has given me, especially the emotions I feel playing in ​front of you."Wawrinka won ‌16 ATP titles and had a career-high world ranking of three. He also ⁠captured Olympic doubles ‍gold alongside Roger Federer in 2008 and helped deliver Switzerland's maiden Davis Cup title in 2014. The announcement comes with Wawrinka currently 157th in the world after injuries and knee surgeries sent him tumbling down the rankings.He has not reached ​a Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2020 Australian Open and will likely need wildcards to enter the majors in his farewell season. After a first-round exit at Roland Garros earlier this year, Wawrinka admitted defeats were getting tougher to accept in his career's twilight, though he remained passionate about competing. "I’m looking forward to seeing you one more ⁠time, all around the world. One last push," he concluded. 

Kuwait, Pakistan, Jordan, Kazakhstan and Lebanon won their respective group matches in the men’s section while Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and UAE did likewise in the women’s section to keep their hopes alive for qualifying for the next stage of the FIP Asia Padel Cup organised by the International Padel Federation (FIP) together with the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) and Padel Asia at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Saturday.In the men’s section, Kuwait and Bahrain match was a keenly contested one with Kuwait winning it 2-1 to open their campaign on an emphatic note.Bahrain which had won the first match against Indonesia have lost one and won one, while Indonesia the third team in the group have lost the only match they have played so far.On Sunday, Kuwait take on Indonesia which will decide which of the team will make it to the last eight stage by virtue of being the group leader.In Group B, Pakistan got the better of China 2-1 and will face Thailand in their second match, which will also decide the group qualifier. Earlier on Friday China had defeated Thailand in the same group. In Group C, Jordan defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 to start their campaign on a winning note and will face South Korea, who had earlier lost to Saudi Arabia.Jordan has one win from one match, while Saudi Arabia has lost one and won another, while South Korea has lost the lone match they have played so far. The group leader will be decided on Sunday.In Group D, the Lebanon and Kazakhstan clash will decide the group leader, both the teams have won two of their matches in the group while Japan and Philippines have lost both their matches. The four group winners will join the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Australia, and Iran in the Final 8, scheduled from October 20 to 24. In the women’s section in Group A, Thailand were given a tight fight by the hosts Qatar but managed to overcome the spirited challenge 2-1.In the three-team group, Thailand and Lebanon have both won their first-round matches of the group and the group leader will be decided on Sunday when Thailand and Lebanon meet in the crucial tie which will decide which of the two teams qualifies for the quarter-final stage of the championship.In Group B, Indonesia registered their second successive win to remain on top of the group with an all-win record. On Saturday they defeated Bahrain 3-0 while on Friday they had defeated Kuwait 3-0.On Sunday, Kuwait take on Bahrain in the Group B.In the Group C matches, Saudi Arabia defeated Pakistan 3-0 while UAE edged past China 2-1. For Saudi Arabia this was their second successive win having won against China on Friday. UAE also won their second match of the group and the group leader will be decided after the match between Saudi Arabi and UAE.The two clash on Sunday, while China meet Pakistan in the other match of the group.The four group qualifiers from the three groups will be joined by Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Iran have already qualified for the last-eight stage by virtue of their FIP Rankings.Seventeen teams Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Australia, and Iran competing in the men’s section in the week-long championship, while fourteen teams Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Japan, Australia, Philippines, and Iran compete in the women’s section.ResultsMen's sectionGroup A: Kuwait bt Bahrain 2-1Group B: Pakistan bt China 2-1Group C: Jordan bt Saudi Arabia 2-1Group D: Kazakhstan bt Japan 2-1Group D: Lebanon bt Philippines 3-0Women's sectionGroup A: Thailand bt Qatar 2-1Group B: Indonesia bt Bahrain 3-0Group C: UAE bt China 2-1Group C: Saudi Arabia bt Pakistan 3-0Order of play (Sunday 19th October)Men’s matchesGroup A: Indonesia vs KuwaitGroup B: Thailand vs PakistanGroup C: Jordan vs South KoreaGroup D: Lebanon vs KazakhstanGroup D: Japan vs Philippines Women’s matchesGroup A: Lebanon vs ThailandGroup B: Kuwait vs BahrainGroup C: Saudi Arabia vs UAE Group C: China vs PakistanAll matches start at 3.00pmVenue: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex

Carlos Alcaraz won his eighth title of a sensational season in Tokyo and then pulled out of the Shanghai Masters because of “physical issues” and took aim at tennis’ packed schedule.The Spanish world number one hurt his ankle in his opening match at the Japan Open but shrugged off the issue to beat American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final. But immediately after downing the world number five, the six-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz took aim at the tennis calendar.“The schedule is really tight. They have to do something with the schedule,” the recently crowned US Open champion told reporters in the Japanese capital, echoing the sentiments this week of fellow major champions Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.Alcaraz subsequently wrote on Instagram that he will not play at the prestigious Shanghai Masters starting this week. “Unfortunately I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover,” the 22-year-old wrote.Alcaraz injured his ankle last week in Tokyo as he ran for a shot, crumpling to the ground and sitting on the court for about five minutes. He returned to play with heavy strapping on his ankle and has admitted that the injury had been on his mind throughout the tournament. It did not appear to bother him against Fritz, as he gave another breathtaking display to lift the trophy in his first appearance in Japan.He clinched victory with a cleverly disguised drop shot before strolling to the net to give Fritz a warm embrace. The win gave Alcaraz a measure of revenge after losing to Fritz for the first time at the Laver Cup in San Francisco two weeks ago.The number of matches in the men’s and women’s tennis calendar has been a major talking point in recent years, with players such as Novak Djokovic cutting back the tournaments they compete in as they near the end of their careers. Gauff called for shorter seasons and said it was “impossible” to play more than she already does, after Swiatek also hit out at the number of tournaments. They were speaking at the China Open, where five players retired injured from matches on Monday.“With more and more events being two weeks it just doesn’t really make sense to strain your body,” the American Gauff said after emerging unscathed to reach the quarter-finals. “I would like to see in my lifetime on tour that a solution be made to make the season shorter,” the 21-year-old world number three added.Gauff, the defending China Open champion and two-time major winner, weighed in after top seed Swiatek said on Monday she may skip mandatory tournaments to protect her health. Starting last year, the Women’s Tennis Association made it mandatory for top players to participate in each Grand Slam, 10 WTA 1000 events – which includes Beijing – and six 500-level tournaments.“I guess on a business standpoint, it can kind of make sense, but on a player health standpoint, I don’t really agree with it,” Gauff said. “I’ve basically played as much tennis as I possibly can.”Poland’s world number two Swiatek called the WTA’s mandatory requirements “pretty crazy”. In Tokyo, Alcaraz said he too would look at skipping mandatory tournaments on the men’s ATP Tour.“We as tennis players, we are not allowed to have a choice if we have to play or not,” he said following his convincing two-set win over Fritz. “To be honest, I have to consider in the future if I have to skip some mandatory tournaments just to maintain my physical condition in a good shape.”Daniil Medvedev retired injured from his China Open semi-final Tuesday.

Khalil bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi, President of the Qatar, Arab and Asian Table Tennis Federations and First Vice-President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), has officially filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, to contest the ITTF presidential elections.Al-Mohannadi described the case as one of “fraud and violation of democratic legitimacy”, echoing media reports that labelled the election outcome the “steal of the century”.The elections, held in Doha in May, ended with al-Mohannadi leading 98–87 in votes cast by national federation representatives present in the hall. However, Swedish candidate Petra Sorling gained an unexpected 17-4 advantage through remote electronic voting, tipping the final result. Al-Mohannadi rejected the validity of the 21 electronic ballots, noting that the number had originally been set at 16. The sudden increase, he said, shocked the General Assembly.In a statement released by the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) Tuesday, al-Mohannadi emphasised that the 2022 General Assembly in Doha — where 185 federations voted in person — reflected the true will of the membership. He stressed that administrative decisions or internal ITTF procedures should not override the democratic mandate, calling any such move “a violation of the essence of the electoral process and its credibility before the international sports community.”Responding to ITTF President Sorling’s recent remarks that “the file has been closed” and “the elections have been decided”, al-Mohannadi called the statements “misleading and inaccurate”. He pointed out that the ITTF’s internal arbitration decision is not final and remains under review by CAS.Al-Mohannadi underlined that the legal process will remain open until the ITTF General Assembly in London in 2026, where federations will again have the chance to vote. He pledged to pursue all available legal avenues “to defend transparency and protect the rights of member federations”, stressing that the dispute is not personal but “a legal and moral duty toward the global table tennis family”.He also warned against attempts to mislead federations into believing the case is settled, calling such claims a “deliberate distortion of legal reality”. He reaffirmed that the QTTA, alongside allied federations, will continue efforts until CAS delivers its final ruling.“Table tennis is bigger than any administrative or political dispute,” al-Mohannadi concluded, adding that safeguarding democratic legitimacy within the ITTF is “a collective responsibility to protect the future of the sport and its global reputation”.

Aya Mohamed etched her name in history by becoming the first Qatari woman to win the women’s singles title at the Arab Teams Table Tennis Championship in Casablanca, Morocco, Sunday. The 31-year-old defeated Jordan’s Tima Abu Yemen 3-2 in a thrilling final at the Mohammed V Indoor Complex, clinching Qatar’s 20th medal and fourth gold of the tournament.Mohamed also secured silver in doubles with Maryam Ali and another silver in the team event alongside Ali and Serena Sheikh.A pioneer for Qatari table tennis, Mohamed competed at the London 2012 Olympics and earlier this year, alongside Mohamed Abdulwahab, broke into the ITTF world’s top 100 in mixed doubles for the first time in Qatar’s history.Following her victory, Mohamed expressed pride in her achievement: “I am honored to be the first Qatari to win this title. This moment will stay in my memory forever. The final was tough, but with focus and determination, I was able to deliver this gold medal for Qatar.”Head of the Qatari delegation, Khalid Ali Al Kuwari, hailed Mohamed as a “champion of gold,” calling the triumph a reward for years of dedication and sacrifice, and credited Federation President Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi for his unwavering support.