As part of ETTU’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and development, an analysis of gender-related data submitted by 41 of ETTU’s 58 registered Member Associations in 2025 provides insight into participation trends across European table tennis. The findings highlight encouraging progress in some areas, while also pointing to where further efforts can make a difference.
The Gender Equality Committee collected information relating to participation by gender across playing, officiating, coaching, governance and administrative roles. The aim was to better understand membership structures and identify opportunities to support greater gender balance across European Table Tennis.
Where we stand today
Across the Member Associations that responded, women currently represent around 20% of registered players. When participation is analysed on a per-association basis giving equal weight to each Member Association the figure rises slightly to just over 21%.
This confirms that while female participation is present across Europe, it remains uneven and continues to be an important area for development.
It should be noted that all responding Member Associations allow members to self-identify their gender at registration, and none apply verification checks.
Positive signs at youth level
One of the most encouraging findings appears in youth categories. Among U19 players, female participation reaches almost 28% on average per Member Association, suggesting that more girls are entering the sport than in previous generations.
This points to the positive impact of grassroots initiatives and youth programmes, even though further efforts are still needed to move closer to balanced participation.
Retaining women in the sport remains a challenge
While youth participation shows promise, female representation decreases in older age categories. Among veteran players, women account for around 17% on average per association.
This highlights the importance of not only attracting girls to table tennis, but also creating environments and pathways that support long-term engagement and continued participation throughout adulthood.
Beyond playing: pathways into roles and leadership
Female representation is lower in roles such as coaching, officiating and governance. Based on the data provided, women represent approximately 24% of coaches on average per association and account for around 23% of board members
Some associations report higher percentages of female coaches, including Estonia, Latvia and Guernsey. Others, such as Italy and the Netherlands, stand out in absolute numbers of female coaches despite having overall female player participation close to the European average. This suggests that increased female coaching representation is not solely driven by a larger female playing base and may reflect different development or recruitment approaches.
At governance level, the average association board in Europe consists of around 10 members, with approximately three women, although significant variation exists between Member Associations.
Female representation is notably higher in administrative and professional roles within Member Associations. On average, women account for around 44% of association staff, suggesting that organisational environments within European table tennis are closer to gender balance than playing, coaching and officiating pathways.
Officiating: challenges and opportunities
Across the responding associations, nearly 2,200 national umpires are registered, with an average of around 70 per association. Of these, 345 are women, representing a relatively low proportion. Given that officiating is accessible across genders and abilities, this area presents a clear opportunity to further increase female participation.
At international level, 496 international umpires are registered, with 87 identifying as female. Latvia and Azerbaijan report higher-than-expected numbers relative to their size, although overall figures remain low.
Policy context and awareness
At the time of data collection, no ETTU Member Association reported having a formal Transgender and Non-Binary Policy in place. However, all associations expressed interest in the work currently being developed by Table Tennis England, which is undergoing consultation and review.
Member Associations were also asked whether completing the survey changed their initial assessment of gender equality within their organisation. Only a small number indicated a change, suggesting that awareness alone does not automatically translate into reassessment.
Looking back: what has changed since 2020?
While the data collected in 2025 differs in scope from that gathered in 2020, a comparison of common indicators ,including players, coaches, employees, board members and umpires, offers useful context. Across these comparable categories, female representation has remained broadly stable over the past five years, with no major structural shift at the European level.
Different realities across Europe
The data highlights significant differences between Member Associations. Some report relatively balanced participation and strong female representation across roles, while others face greater challenges due to size, history or structural factors. Looking beyond total numbers helps identify positive examples and opportunities for shared learning across Europe.
Moving forward together
Overall, the 2025 data provides a valuable snapshot of gender participation in European table tennis today. It confirms that progress is being made in certain areas, while also reinforcing the need for continued focus on retention, visibility and leadership pathways for women and girls in the sport.
By continuing to share data, experiences and best practices, ETTU and its Member Associations can work together to build a more inclusive and sustainable future for table tennis across Europe.
Sally HUGHES & Galia DVORAK
