At 58 years of age, Johanna Grech continues to live table tennis with the same intensity that first drew her to the sport decades ago. Today, she serves as Deputy President of the ETTU Gender Equality Committee, where her work focuses on advocacy, inclusion and creating fair opportunities for women across European table tennis.
Coming from Malta, one of Europe’s smallest table tennis nations, Grech believes that limitations are often more internal than external.
“The greatest obstacle is often ourselves,” she says. “Participating in different roles – as a player, an official or a coach, comes down to mindset and determination.”
That mindset was shaped early. Her journey began in a family garage, a modest setting that ignited a lifelong passion. From there, she progressed to the National League and earned the honour of representing Malta on some of the sport’s biggest stages: World Championships, European Championships, the Games of the Small States of Europe and the European Mixed League. Her international path also took her to Italy, where she competed for three seasons.
Between 1983 and 2007, Grech was a constant presence in international competition, a period she describes as formative not only for her sporting career, but for life itself. Over more than two decades, she held the title of national champion, while also securing podium finishes for Malta at the Small States Games and in the European Mixed League.
Some of her most meaningful experiences came at World and European Championships, where competing against larger nations brought both challenges and lessons.
“Some of my proudest moments came while competing at the World and European Championships. Representing Malta, I celebrated both victories and the unique challenges of being from a country with limited resources and fewer opportunities for international exposure. Facing larger European nations taught me resilience, and my determination helped me leave a meaningful mark for Malta in the sport, but this was not enough, I knew that as a player I reached my MAX. I searched for more opportunities within the sport.”
That realization opened new paths. GRECH transitioned into administrative and governance roles, serving on Malta’s National Council, being elected to an ITTF Committee, and later becoming a full member of the Technical Committee from 2005 to 2007. These roles allowed her to influence the sport’s development while upholding principles of fairness and equality.
Her commitment deepened when she became Secretary General of her National Council, focusing on strengthening the domestic table tennis community. Election to the National Olympic Committee of Malta followed, further expanding her ability to support sport at a national and international level.
Today, GRECH remains active both on and off the court. As a coach at a local Table Tennis Centre, she works closely with young players, passing on not only technical knowledge, but values shaped through decades in sport. At the same time, her role within the ETTU Gender Equality Committee allows her to advocate for inclusion and visibility across Europe.
“My role as Deputy President of the Gender Equality Committee of the ETTU allows me to champion inclusion, fair play, and create opportunities for women from every corner of Europe who wish to join one of the world’s oldest sports. Through these positions, I strive to make table tennis more accessible and welcoming, supporting anyone who dreams of participating, regardless of their background or previous experience. Table tennis helped me grow as a person. The discipline, teamwork and perseverance I learned through the sport still guide me in everything I do.”
GRECH continued:
“Table Tennis is a sport that helped me grow as a person, strive for my dreams, and achieve results both on the table and beyond. Throughout my journey, the values learned through intense training, competition, and teamwork have profoundly shaped my character and outlook. The discipline and perseverance fostered by the sport have not only brought success in matches but also instilled life skills that continue to guide me in every aspect of my personal and professional life as a director in the National Olympic Committee and as deputy President of the Gender Equality Committee of the European Table Tennis Union.”
Her message to future generations, especially to women coming from smaller countries, is clear and unwavering:
“Size does not define your future.”
Are Things Better for Men?
Alongside stories like GRECH’S, the Gender Equality Committee continues to gather data to better understand the reality for female players. A short survey conducted during the European Championships in Zadar collected around a dozen responses from players, a small sample, but one that still offers insight.
One recurring theme concerned competition schedules, with women often playing early in the day while men’s finals conclude events.
At national level, respondents felt that male players are still, in many cases, slightly better supported than female players. Encouragingly, perceptions were more positive when it came to ETTU competitions, suggesting progress at the European level.
While the results are indicative rather than definitive, the Committee sees this as a starting point.
As Johanna Grech’s journey illustrates, meaningful change often begins small – but with persistence, it grows.
