A landmark moment for table tennis came earlier this year when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved the inclusion of the mixed team event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games
As she seeks a second term as president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Petra Sörling has shared a comprehensive vision for the sport’s global development, highlighting recent Olympic progress, gender equity initiatives, and her future strategy for the federation.
Sörling, who will contest the ITTF presidency against Mohamed El Hacen Ahmed Salem and Khalil Al-Mohannadi, outlined her manifesto built on three core pillars: sharing the benefits of growth with member associations, cementing ITTF’s status as a leading international federation, and shaping the sport’s future through strategic investments.
A landmark moment for table tennis came earlier this year when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved the inclusion of the mixed team event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Sörling, who has long advocated for the expansion of Olympic table tennis events, described the move as both a personal and professional milestone.
“I’ve wanted to increase the number of Olympic table tennis events ever since I was president of the Swedish Table Tennis Association,” she said in an interview with international media. “Sweden put forward a proposition in the 2021 ITTF AGM to have some kind of mixed team world championships, and the congress found it very interesting. That started the process.”
Sörling recalled how collaboration with the Chinese Table Tennis Association helped bring the idea to life, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Mixed Team World Cup. The tournament, hosted twice in Chengdu, proved a successful model and laid the groundwork for its Olympic debut.
“We could see in Chengdu how teams cooperated not only in matches but also in strategy and preparation. It showed gender equality in action—not just in principle but in real dynamics,” she said. “The Mixed Team World Cup has prompted our member associations to place more resources and priority on women’s table tennis.”
She admitted the IOC’s approval came faster than expected but considers it validation of the ITTF’s collaborative efforts. “LA28 will be a new milestone when this event becomes part of the Olympics,” she said.
Sörling also emphasized her alignment with IOC president-elect Kirsty Coventry, praising her athlete-centered vision. “Kirsty has an excellent background as a highly decorated athlete. While she comes from an athlete’s perspective, I come from the international federation side. Together, I believe we can elevate how table tennis is presented and engage more fans globally.”
As the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals prepare to open in Doha on Saturday, Sörling expressed excitement about the level of competition and the potential for surprises. “Just a few weeks ago in Macao, Brazil’s Hugo Calderano won the men’s singles title. But it will be difficult for anyone to beat China’s top players,” she said. “Table tennis is a mental game. It’s all about the details, the preparation, and the tactics.”
Asked to make predictions, she declined. “I’m not the one to predict how it will go,” she said with a smile. “But there was a lot of energy in the venue today during practice, and I’m very excited about the event. We will have the opening ceremony on Saturday—and then the game is on.”
With momentum from recent achievements and a clear vision for the road ahead, Petra Sörling stands poised to continue shaping the future of global table tennis.
