The International Table Tennis Federation has officially closed one of the most delicate institutional processes of recent years. During a virtual meeting held on April 15, 2026, the federation’s Executive Board acknowledged that the Court of Arbitration for Sport had formally concluded the procedure related to the May 2025 presidential elections, marking the end of a dispute that lasted several months and drew attention from the international table tennis community.

The resolution comes at a particularly important moment for the federation, which is seeking to refocus its efforts on upcoming sporting and institutional challenges. The CAS decision definitively ratifies the election of Petra Sörling for the 2025-2029 term, providing stability to an organization preparing to celebrate one hundred years of history while seeking to project an image of unity after a period marked by internal tensions.

The appeal was closed after the withdrawal of the claim

The termination order issued by CAS on April 14, 2026 came after Khalil Al-Mohannadi and the Qatar Table Tennis Association formally withdrew their appeal on January 7. The challenge had been filed after the ITTF Tribunal had previously dismissed the complaint on September 1, 2025, validating the results of the elections held on May 27 of that year.

With this resolution, the ITTF’s governing structure is now fully supported both by its own internal bodies and by the highest arbitral authority in world sport. Beyond the legal implications, the closure of the case also marks the end of a period of uncertainty for national associations, athletes and officials who were waiting for a clear definition regarding the federation’s future leadership.

ITTF looks to move beyond the controversy and toward its centenary

The federation has viewed this moment as an opportunity to move into a new phase. ITTF officials positively highlighted the new leadership within the Qatar Table Tennis Association, valuing the possibility of building a more collaborative and positive relationship in the coming years for the benefit of the global development of table tennis.

However, there is still one unresolved matter related to the events that took place during the Annual General Meeting on May 27, 2025. The independent investigation led by the Integrity Unit into the irregularities recorded during that meeting is still ongoing and continues to be carried out in accordance with the applicable regulations. While that process continues, the ITTF is focusing much of its attention on the celebration of its centenary, a milestone that aims to bring together the entire table tennis family around one hundred years of history, evolution and international growth.