Table Tennis
INTERNATIONAL TABLE TENNIS FEDERATION HANDS FORMER PRESIDENT FOUR-YEAR BAN
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has handed its former President Adham Sharara a four-year ban after finding him guilty of “inappropriate misconduct”.
According to the ITTF, the decision against the now Honorary President was taken with a “heavy heart”.
The Canadian has been banned from “all activity within or in connection with the ITTF”.
But he has told insidethegames that all of the allegations against him are “false” and that he will be launching a legal challenge.
Sharara added that members of the ITTF Executive Committee had already contacted him to offer support on what he described as a “very sad day for international table tennis”.
The official alleged he was being targeted by current ITTF President Thomas Weikert.
His ban follows a “comprehensive” investigation by the ITTF Executive Committee which ruled that he “breached his fiduciary duties during his terms of office”.
He has been found guilty of a conflict of interest during the process which saw the ITTF buy back its commercial and marketing contracts from TMS International – a company he set-up – as well as the “inappropriate” use of ITTF funds.
In addition, Sharara has been found to have interfered in the bidding process for a major ITTF equipment contract.
The ITTF claimed the Canadian did not appear to defend himself or present his side of the story.
“The Executive Committee reached this decision with a heavy heart after reviewing evidence reports, financial records and recommendations, including legal advice prepared by external legal counsel Withers KhattarWong and a report by professional services firm BDO,” the governing body said in a statement today.
“The Executive Committee concluded that the ITTF suffered damage as a result of Mr Sharara’s actions.
“It has therefore taken this difficult decision in order to protect the integrity of the ITTF and the sport of table tennis.
“Mr Sharara was informed of charges made against him and was presented with the relevant evidence.
“He and his legal team rejected various invitations from the Executive Committee to attend hearings to answer their questions, put forward his defence or attempt to resolve the matter in good faith.
“The ITTF Executive Committee’s decision to suspend Mr Sharara has been declared final and it considers the matter concluded.”
Sharara stepped down as ITTF President in 2014 having led the body since 1999.
He took on the newly-created role of chairman at the ITTF and later became Honorary President.
Weikert, Sharara’s deputy, took over Presidential duties from the Canadian and the German was elected to the role permanently in 2017.
The Canadian’s relationship with Weikert had broke down, however, and Sharara backed his rival for President in 2017, Belgium’s Jean-Michel Saive.
In October 2017, the ITTF announced that they had ended the deal which saw TMS International act as its IT service provider.
This reportedly came following a breakdown in their relationship as well as “problems with the service”.
It brought to an end a partnership with a company which had also enjoyed exclusive control of the world governing body’s commercial and marketing rights for 14 years until January 1, 2017.
Problems and delays with the online results service during the 2017 World Championships held in Düsseldorf had been reported and the ITTF has since taken commercial and IT arrangements in-house.
TMS was a company Sharara created in 2001 to take care of all of the ITTF’s commercial needs.
After insidethegames contacted Sharara for a response, the Canadian claimed the situation was due to his deteriorating relationship with Weikert.
He alleged that the ITTF wanted to stop the possibility of him from standing for its top job again after he became President of Table Tennis Canada (TTCAN) last year.
Sharara also alleged he had been subject to “vicious attacks” after declaring for Saive and that he had always provided responses and explanations through legal letters from his lawyer.
He claimed that at last year’s World Team Table Championships in Sweden he was told that the ITTF “wanted peace” and “would honour his legacy” but written confirmation of this never arrived.
Sharara said he was subject to allegations again when nominated for TTCAN President.
“The accusations and allegations against me are all false,” Sharara told insidethegames.
“The reality is that Mr Weikert and some others in the ITTF interpret my election as President of TTCAN as a step towards the Presidency of the ITTF.
“This is why the suspension is for four years in order not to permit me to run for President of the ITTF at the next elections.
“On 13 March 2019, I offered the possibility of a meeting in London in the first week of April 2019 or at the World Championships in Budapest also in April.
“On 14 March I received a response from Mr Weikert agreeing with a possibility of a meeting in London, but again with pre-conditions of guilt.
“I responded on 14 March stating that I would be happy to meet in London, but without any preconditions.
“Without any further notice the suspension was issued today.
“This morning I received hundreds of e-mails of support and of ‘amazement’ from the international table tennis community and even from some members of the ITTF Executive Committee.
“This is very heart-warming.
“According to the ITTF constitution, only the AGM has the right to remove the Honorary President of the ITTF.
“I am sure that this suspension will be questioned from within the ITTF membership.
“This is a very sad day for international table tennis, instead of wasting time attacking me with frivolous accusations, the current leader of the ITTF should focus on the future and build on the legacy that I have provided through my 25 years in the ITTF, including 15 years as President.
“Of course I will be taking legal action to fight this unjust and unfair suspension and I am confident that I will be successful.”
Africa’s leading table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, will spearhead the continent’s campaign at the 2026 ITTF World Cup in Macao, China, after being handed a challenging group-stage draw for the centenary edition of the tournament.
The competition, scheduled from March 30 to April 5, carries historic significance as the International Table Tennis Federation celebrates 100 years of the sport’s global administration. A total of 48 men and 48 women will compete for the prestigious Evans and Hammarlund Cups.
Aruna, Africa’s most decorated player on the global stage and the only African to have reached the World Cup quarterfinals—achieved in 2014 in Düsseldorf—has been drawn in Group 6 alongside Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar and Japan’s Sora Matsushima. The Nigerian will open his campaign on Monday against Pucar in what is expected to be a crucial tie in a tightly contested group.
Other African representatives also face formidable opposition. Egypt’s Omar Assar is placed in Group 5 with Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Jun-Yu. Meanwhile, Algeria’s debutant Stephane Ouaiche faces a stern test against France’s Simon Gauzy and China’s Wen Ruibo in Group 15.
In the women’s event, Africa’s hopes rest on a mix of youth and experience. Egypt’s rising star Hana Goda, the reigning African champion, will compete in Group 14 against Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching and Macao’s Leong On Na, as she aims to improve on her last-16 finish in 2025.
Veteran Dina Meshref faces one of the toughest assignments in the tournament, drawn in Group 1 alongside China’s world number one Sun Yingsha and Lin Yu-Jhun.
Also in action, Egypt’s Mariam Alhodaby will take on Germany’s Sabine Winter and Wales’ Anna Hursey in Group 12. At the same time, Algeria’s teenage prospect Tania Morice makes her debut in Group 16 against Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi and Romania’s Bernadette Szocs.
This year’s tournament introduces a significant format change, with Stage 1 group matches to be played as best-of-five games, increasing the intensity and leaving little margin for error. Only group winners will progress to the knockout stage, setting the stage for high-stakes encounters throughout the week.
With a difficult draw across both the men’s and women’s events, Africa’s representatives will need to deliver top-level performances to advance in what promises to be one of the most competitive editions in the tournament’s history.
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Nigeria’s Wahid Oshodi has reached another landmark in global sports administration following his appointment to the board of World Table Tennis (WTT), the commercial arm of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
The historic appointment was announced during the ITTF Executive Board meeting held on March 1, 2026, at the WTT Headquarters in Singapore.
Following the allocation of portfolios, ITTF President Petra Sörling and ITTF Executive Vice President Oshodi were nominated to represent the federation on the WTT Board. At the board’s subsequent meeting, Sörling was confirmed as Chair, succeeding former chairmen Liu Guoliang and Khalil Al-Mohannadi.
As the majority owner of WTT, the ITTF stated that it has a responsibility to ensure the commercial platform generates sustainable value for the sport and its 227 member associations worldwide. The latest appointments, according to the federation, reflect a renewed commitment to strengthening governance and strategic oversight of WTT.
Other members remaining on the board include Lei Zhenjian and Steve Dainton.
Speaking on her new role, Sörling emphasised the need for strong leadership and financial sustainability.
“The ITTF has always been the foundation on which table tennis thrives, and WTT is our instrument to take it further,” she said. “As Chair of the Board, I am here to ensure that WTT operates with profitability, governance, accountability, and long-term vision.”
Oshodi, who also serves as President of the African Table Tennis Federation, said his focus would be on building a solid governance structure for the organisation’s long-term development.
“Strong governance is what gives an organisation the structure to grow sustainably. I look forward to contributing to that work as the Board focuses on putting solid foundations in place for WTT’s long-term development,” he said.
His appointment represents a historic milestone as he becomes the first African to serve as a full director on the WTT Board.
Since its creation in 2019, WTT has transformed the professional landscape of table tennis with a modern and commercially driven structure aimed at elevating the sport globally.
Oshodi’s elevation also strengthens Africa’s voice in global sports governance. He first rose to prominence as President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, where he introduced reforms focused on governance, transparency, grassroots development and talent identification.
He later emerged as President of ITTF Africa, championing initiatives to expand the sport across the continent, improve coaching standards and create more international opportunities for African players.
His appointment to the WTT Board is widely regarded as both a personal achievement and a continental milestone, underscoring Africa’s growing influence in the governance and future direction of world table tennis.
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The ancient town of Otan Ayegbaju will once again take centre stage in Nigerian table tennis when it hosts the 6th Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Tournament from April 12 to 17, 2026.
The six-day championship, scheduled to take place at the iconic Idera Multipurpose Hall, has grown into one of the most prestigious events on the country’s table tennis calendar.
Established in honour of the late Michael and Felicia Alabi, the annual tournament has evolved beyond its memorial origins to become a major platform for discovering and developing emerging talent while giving established players the opportunity to reaffirm their dominance.
Over the years, the competition has served as an important bridge between grassroots participation and elite performance, attracting players from across the country and helping to strengthen Nigeria’s table tennis pipeline.
The 2026 edition is expected to be the biggest yet, with more than 250 players from all 36 states of the federation set to converge on the Osun State town.
Participants will compete across several categories ranging from U-15 singles to veteran, para and deaf divisions, reflecting the tournament’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity in sports.
Young prospects, experienced professionals, veterans, para-athletes and deaf athletes will compete side by side, creating a diverse and competitive environment that organisers say embodies the values of unity, resilience and excellence.
Beyond the competition itself, the tournament is also expected to attract coaches, scouts, administrators and table tennis enthusiasts from across Nigeria, reinforcing its growing reputation as a talent-development platform.
The influx of athletes and visitors is also anticipated to boost economic activity in the host community, with hotels, transport services and local businesses preparing to welcome guests during the week-long event.
Organisers believe the presence of top-level competition in the town will inspire young people in the community, giving them the opportunity to witness elite table tennis firsthand and potentially sparking interest in the sport among the next generation.
The event is supported by the Osun State Government, the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation and the Osun State Table Tennis Association.
As anticipation builds, fans and stakeholders are preparing for six days of intense competition, tactical brilliance and memorable moments when the 2026 Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Tournament returns to Otan Ayegbaju next month.
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