International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Petra Sorling will hold the rare distinction of being one of the defending champions in the world-level TT competition when she is at the helm of the global administrative body of the sport.
The chief of ITTF is very much into the game, as she will be defending her women’s doubles crown in the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships 2023 in Muscat from January 15 to 21.
“I was a player long ago, before 20 years. Then, I was away from the sport for 18 years. Later, I came back to the sport as an administrator in the ITTF as a board member in 2009,” Sorling told the Observer in an exclusive interview.
“Table tennis is a sport for all ages and especially my passion for the sport brought me to Muscat as the ITTF president today,” she said.
Sorling became the first ever woman president of ITTF in December 2021.
The Swedish player won the title in the previous edition held in Las Vegas, USA, in 2018.
The championships are held every two years. The 2020 edition due to be staged in Bordeaux, France, was cancelled over Covid-19.
Sorling joined hands with childhood friend Pia Toelhoej of Denmark to claim the women’s doubles championship.
Toelhoej has vivid memories of playing TT with Sorling when they were children, aged eight and 11 years respectively.
“At that time we were rival players,” Toelhoej said with a smile.
The Danish woman, now running a company named Sport Invaders, said their previous acquaintance with TT inspired them to try their luck as a TT doubles team.
“We never lost touch with the sport and we could easily adapt into a good combination in the World Veterans Championship in Las Vegas,” she said.
Sorling said they won the title in the 45 plus category.
“We won the title in the 45 plus category. In the Oman edition, we will be competing in the 50 plus category.”
KEY START
The ITTF chief said the World Veterans Championships in Oman would be a major restart for the world TT body as well.
“The Oman event will be the ITTF’s return to major competitions after the impact of Covid-19. Therefore, it has a special significance and we are confident of staging a successful edition in Muscat.”
“Earlier, Oman had organised some high-profile events and after inspecting the facilities and arrangements here for the championship, I have supreme confidence in the hard-working organisers of Oman Table Tennis Association.”
“This will be ITTF’s major tournament before the World Championships in China in September. The TT worlds will be China’s return to major sports events as well after being held back due to the impact of Covid-19.”
She said she is hoping to claim the doubles title in Oman.
“Myself and Pia will exert all efforts to win the doubles gold in our category,” Sorling concluded.
