Africa Aims for World Table Tennis Champion by 2028

Wahid Oshodi, the newly elected president of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), expressed confidence that Africa can produce a world table tennis champion within the next five years. Speaking at the ATTF's 2024 annual general meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oshodi emphasized that African players are closing the gap in the sport.

He succeeded Khale El Salhi, who led the federation since 2010, and previously served as the executive vice president of the International Table Tennis Federation. Oshodi highlighted the achievements of players like Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar, and Dina Meshref, who have demonstrated the ability to compete at the highest levels.

He noted the historic performance of Egyptian teenager Hana Goda, who became the first African female and second African overall to reach the quarter-finals of the ITTF World Cup in Macao. Oshodi underscored the importance of youth development, leveraging Africa's large young population to nurture emerging talent and improve access to equipment and resources across the continent.