Latest news with #KhalilbinAhmedAlMohannadi
Qatar Tribune
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Mohannadi leads talks in Tashkent to strengthen ATTF's partnership with Uzbekistan
Tribune News Network Tashkent Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, President of the Qatar, Arab, and Asian Table Tennis Federations, led a high-level delegation from the Asian Federation on an official visit to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. During the visit, he met with a number of senior government and sports officials, including Mr. Kudbiev Sherzod Davletovich, Chairman of the Tax Committee and President of the Uzbek Table Tennis Federation. The visit aims to strengthen regional sports cooperation and explore prospects for developing the game in Central Asia. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Uzbek Tax Committee, marked an important milestone in the partnership between the Asian Federation and Uzbekistan. Future plans for the development of table tennis were reviewed, particularly in light of the remarkable organizational and logistical success of the 29th Asian Youth Championship currently being held in Tashkent, with the participation of 361 players from 22 countries, amid widespread acclaim from international delegations and observers. Al Mohannadi expressed his deep appreciation for Uzbekistan's efforts in supporting table tennis, stressing that the excellent organization of the current tournament reflects the country's genuine commitment to advancing this sport. He also praised the quality of the facilities and the smooth organization of the 'Homo' complex, which hosted world-class competitions. During the meeting, Al Mohannadi emphasized that the Asian Federation is confident in Uzbekistan's ability to host the 2026 Asian Championships at an exceptional level. He noted that the country's successive successes in organizing tournaments, along with its advanced infrastructure, make it an ideal candidate to host one of the most important upcoming continental events. The meeting also addressed the importance of Central Asia as a strategic region on the global table tennis map. Long-term projects were discussed, including the establishment of regional training centers, the expansion of youth programs, and the enhancement of expertise exchange with member states. They also included supporting training and technical education initiatives, which would contribute to building a new generation of players and coaches in the region. Khalil Al Mohannadi emphasized that the partnership with Uzbekistan goes beyond hosting tournaments, extending to deeper levels of technical, technological, and administrative cooperation. He said the AFC's desire is to make Uzbekistan a pivotal partner in implementing continental development projects, and that this partnership represents a true model of complementary roles between sports institutions and national governments. The meeting participants also praised the growing role of sports tourism in supporting the local economy. The current Asian Youth Championship demonstrated Uzbekistan's great potential to attract international visitors and highlight the country's cultural and civilizational heritage. Mr. Kudbiev noted this, explaining that the Uzbek government views sports as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development plans. The meeting concluded with an affirmation of mutual optimism about the future of table tennis in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, and a commitment from both sides to continue working together to expand the game's horizon.
Qatar Tribune
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
QTTA chief challenges ITTF presidential election result
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Table Tennis Association President Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi in a statement released has announced that he has taken legal steps to challenge the legitimacy of the recent fractious International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) election held last month for the presidency of the Olympic sport's international governing body. Al Mohannadi has filed an appeal before the (International Table Tennis Federation) tribunal and submitted a formal case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He described the electoral process of the ITTF to have been rigged by 'serious violations' that undermine the principles of transparency and democracy. The ITTF failed to resolve the conflict following the controversial re-election of Sweden's Petra Sorling as its president, after she received 104 votes against her opponent Khalil Al Mohannadi's 102 which was marred by the number of online votes. Al Mohannadi expressed his deep gratitude to the national federations that supported his candidacy and expressed their clear objection to the irregularities that marred the voting process. He considered this support to represent 'a shared belief that the future of the game must be built on sound legal and institutional foundations.' International legal steps: Resorting to arbitration Al Mohannadi revealed that he had filed a formal appeal with the ITTF Arbitration Tribunal, in addition to filing a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He emphasized that these steps came after submitting a formal complaint to the Nominations Committee, and within a clear legal framework stipulated by the ITTF Constitution and its electoral regulations. Alleged electoral violations The statement listed the most prominent of what it described as 'fundamental irregularities,' which includescCase:> 1. Accepting electronic votes despite the President of the General Assembly's announcement that voting would be paper-only, which it considered a 'clear violation of official directives.' 2. Registering federations on election day itself, exceeding the approved registration deadline. 3. Counting votes from federations that were not officially registered or had not been verified through the 'official roll call.' 4. Excluding the Nominations Committee, the sole body authorized to oversee the electoral process, which constitutes a violation of oversight and integrity procedures. Call to freeze electronic voting Al Mohannadi has called for a suspension of the use of electronic voting in all international federation elections, noting the need to establish technical and legal mechanisms to ensure accurate verification of each vote. He cited a similar precedent from the 2017 Dusseldorf elections, when proxy voting was annulled due to misuse, emphasizing that the current situation calls for a similar measure to preserve the legitimacy of the elections. Justice first Al Mohannadi has stressed that this is 'not just about an electoral outcome,' but rather a defence of 'the future of our sport and our international institutions.' He emphasized that the legal process will be pursued to the end to ensure justice and protect integrity of the sport. Election background The ITTF General Assembly, held on May 27, 2025, at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha, Qatar, witnessed a tense atmosphere after indications of tampering with the voting process final results raised widespread questions, particularly after irregularities were detected regarding the number of electronic votes compared to the official announcement during the attendance registration process. This was in addition to the registration of federations on election day itself, and the counting of votes not included in the roll call. These circumstances cast a shadow over the integrity of the elections and sparked widespread controversy within the game and among representatives of several national federations. Al Mohannadi's actions are expected to have significant repercussions in the global sports community, especially with the growing calls to review electoral systems of international sports bodies, enhance transparency, and combat what some consider 'political control over sports.'
Qatar Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Al Mohannadi calls for integrity, inclusivity and leadership on eve of ITTF's elections in Doha
Presents vision for balance, justice, and development of the gameTribune News Network Doha Qatar's Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, candidate for the presidency of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for the 2025-2028 term, called for the growth of table tennis globally through bold commercial strategies and to reinvest in athletes and communities that power the sport on eve of the sport body's elections to be held in Doha on Tuesday. Al Mohannadi called for integrity, inclusivity and leadership while promising to restore balance in the distribution of financial resources within the federation and to promote fair and sustainable development of the game globally, especially in countries with limited resources. The elections will be held on the sidelines of ITTF's annual meeting and are expected to witness a three-way competition between Swedish candidate and current president Petra Sorling, Khalil Al Mohannadi, and Mauritanian Mohamed Ould El Hassan. Presenting his vision ahead of the elections, Al Mohannadi explained that more than 60% of the federation's current spending is directed to events and operations, while the share of development programs does not exceed 10%. He described this as a 'structural imbalance' that must be addressed to ensure equitable growth of the game across all continents. Al Mohannadi emphasized that his program is based on five main pillars: The first is player development, by doubling prize money by 2029, increasing the number of World Championship slots by 48%, and allocating a portion of WTT profits to support new countries hosting tournaments. The second is infrastructure support, by establishing 20 training centers by 2029 and fully equipping them to support training, competitions, and youth programs. The third pillar is enhancing transparency and governance, in line with the principles of the International Olympic Committee, implementing independent audit mechanisms, and reducing administrative costs. The fourth pillar being commercial and media innovation, by launching the ITTF Legends Tour, supporting local leagues in underserved areas, and updating the federation's digital platforms to enhance public engagement. The fifth pillar of Al Mohannadi's electoral program is social impact, by developing the work of the ITTF Foundation, supporting local projects in member countries, and facilitating mechanisms for obtaining grants and using them in talent discovery programs. Al Mohannadi said, 'We want a federation that serves everyone, provides opportunities for everyone, and restores table tennis to its true developmental roots, without compromising the organization's financial stability.' It's worth noting that Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi currently serves as Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation, President of the Qatar and Arab Federations, and as current President of the Asian Federation. He is one of the world's most prominent sports figures in table tennis, with over 40 years of experience in sports management and international tournament organization. If he wins, Al Mohannadi will be the first Arab and Asian to head the International Table Tennis Federation, a culmination of an exceptional career and a new era of balance and efficiency in global leadership of the game.
