Wahid Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation, has voiced strong enthusiasm for the upcoming ITTF-Africa Championships, highlighting the remarkable performance levels demonstrated by the participants.
He praised the Tunisian Table Tennis Federation for stepping in to organize the event following Rwanda’s unexpected withdrawal, emphasizing their expertise and dedication to advancing the sport.
Oshodi expressed particular excitement about the influx of emerging young players set to compete in Tunis from October 12 to 19.
He emphasized that this championship will act as a crucial qualifying stage for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships, scheduled to take place in London.
“With the current peak form of our athletes and the rise of promising youth competitors, this year’s contest promises to be intensely competitive,” Oshodi remarked.
He further noted that numerous junior athletes who recently excelled in youth competitions held in Lagos have secured spots on their national squads for the Tunis event.
Oshodi believes their participation signals significant development and readiness to challenge seasoned veterans, predicting surprising outcomes as these young contenders aim to make their mark.
“At the same time, the seasoned expertise of our veteran players will add an extra layer of excitement to the matches,” he added.
Highlighting Tunisia’s proven track record as an event host, Oshodi assured that the tournament atmosphere will be on par with any major international table tennis competition.
He identified the team events as the centerpiece of the championship, underscoring their role as qualifiers for the 2026 World Team Championships in London.
The 2026 tournament will celebrate a century of table tennis, returning to London-the birthplace of the ITTF and the inaugural World Championships in 1926.
This year’s championship will showcase Africa’s elite players competing across seven disciplines: men’s and women’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team events.
The Rades Multisports Hall will be the stage for eight days of exhilarating, high-caliber matches, spotlighting the continent’s top table tennis talent.
