The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has issued an official statement following the conclusion of its Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, in Doha, Qatar. Official Statement from the ITTF: Petra SÖRLING (SWE) was re-elected President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Doha on Tuesday, 27 May 2025. Sörling received 104 votes, while her opponent, Khalil AL-MOHANNADI (QAT), received 102. Election Process and Outcome As the communication of the outcome of the election resulted in the disruption of the AGM and in unsubstantiated allegations of irregularity, the ITTF would like to clarify that the election process was conducted in strict accordance with the ITTF Constitution and Statutes and in full respect of the Member Associations’ rights. In particular: In light of the above, the ITTF rejects the misconceived statement by some Member Associations to recognise any other result. The ITTF will not comment any further on the election process at this stage and will address any formal complaint it should receive in the appropriate forum. AGM Suspension and Next Steps After the presidential election had already concluded, the AGM had to be suspended following the disruption initiated by individuals who were neither delegates from Member Associations, nor members of the Executive Board, Council, Committees, or invited guests. The ITTF regrets and strongly condemns the disruption. It will conduct an investigation to determine the various responsibilities and take measures, in particular, to avoid a similar disruption from happening in the future. As an immediate step, the AGM will need to be reconvened to address the agenda items that could not be dealt with, including the election of the Executive Vice-Presidents, the appointment of the Continental Representatives of the ITTF Council and the appointment of the Committee Members. In line with Article 1.87.1. of the ITTF Statutes, the term of office of the ITTF Council Members is four years. The current ITTF Council was elected (Executive Vice-Presidents), ratified (Continental Representatives of the ITTF Council) on 24th November 2021. Their term will therefore expire on 24th November 2025. Accordingly, the elections and ratifications of the Members must take place before this date. Remaining Agenda items: The date and modalities of the AGM continuation will be announced in due course.
Budaörs Opens Semifinal Campaign with Confident Win Over Hodonin
In the opening leg of the Europe Cup Women semifinal held in Hungary, Budaörsi Sport Club claimed a valuable home victory over SKST Plus Hodonín. In the other semifinal, Polish side FIBRAIN KU AZS Politechnika Rzeszów defeated Saint-Denis 93 TT. Dóra MADARÁSZ gave the Hungarian club a perfect start with a straight-games win over Markéta ŠEVČÍKOVÁ. Karin GROFOVÁ put pressure on Helga DARI in an effort to shift the momentum, taking the first game. The match swung back and forth, with Helga claiming the second and third games, but GROFOVÁ forced a decider. In the end, DARI withstood her opponent’s attacks and secured a narrow win. With Budaörs leading 2-0, Mária FAZEKAS played under less pressure and delivered a composed performance, defeating Natalia PARTYKA in straight games to seal the victory. The second leg is scheduled for June 4. Budaörsi Sport Club – SKST Plus Hodonín 3-0
Where to Watch the 2025 HYLO Champions League Final 4 in Saarbrücken
Table tennis fans around the world will have the chance to witness Europe’s finest in action, as the 2025 HYLO Champions League Final 4 will be broadcast across multiple regions in Europe and Asia. All matches will be streamed live and free of charge on www.ettu.tv. Additionally, the event will be available on the following regional broadcasters (Please note: in the countries listed, the respective broadcaster holds exclusive live rights, and access via ettu.tv may be restricted): The 2025 HYLO Champions League Final 4 will take place on May 31 and June 1, 2025, featuring the following semi-finals matchups:
HYLO Champions League Final 4: Suchedniów Aims High Against Host Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken will host the 2025 HYLO Champions League Final 4 on May 31 and June 1, bringing together four of Europe’s top clubs. In the semifinal, hosts 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will take on Polish challengers KS Global Pharma Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów, who made headlines with a remarkable comeback in the quarterfinals. In an all-Polish thriller, they overcame KS Dekorglass Działdowo to reach their first-ever Champions League Men Final 4. Representing Suchedniów will be Robert FLORAS, Deni KOZUL, Mateusz ZALEWSKI, and Jeongwoo PARK, aiming to extend their historic run. The German powerhouse will line up with a star-studded squad: Patrick FRANZISKA, Darko JORGIĆ, Cedric MEISSNER, Eduard IONESCU, Truls MOREGÅRD, and Yuto MURAMATSU. KOZUL, who recently competed at the ITTF World Championships in Doha, shared his mindset heading into the big weekend: “I had a bit of time to rest after Qatar, but the Final Four has always been on my mind. That helps – mentally, I’ve stayed focused. It’s an important competition, and everyone wants to be 100 percent ready.” Preparations are already underway. “After so many international tournaments and the World Championships, it’s difficult to coordinate everyone’s schedules. My Korean teammate PARK Jeongwoo has already arrived in Germany, so we can train together and it will help him adjust to the time difference. Robert and Mateusz are preparing at their training centers in Poland. On Friday, we’ll all be together for our final practice and match tactics.” Speaking about the upcoming semifinal, KOZUL added: “We know it will be a tough match. Saarbrücken has top-class players like FRANZISKA, MOREGÅRD, and my good friend and teammate Darko JORGIĆ. It’s also something special – we’ve made history for Slovenian table tennis by having two players in different teams at the Champions League Final 4. We’re the underdogs, but the pressure is on the other side. We’ve already shown we’re not afraid of anyone. Even when things looked lost, we came back, our team spirit and chemistry are amazing. I really can’t wait for the match to start.” KOZUL reflected on the key strengths of both sides: “Our main strength is our team spirit and belief in ourselves. On paper, they’re better, but we’re eager to surprise. It’s just one match, and with a bit of luck, we hope to reach the final. Saarbrücken’s strength is definitely the quality and experience of their players, but that also comes with pressure. We’ll enter the match with a clear head and fighting spirit. I believe in myself, my teammates, and this club.”
