In a bid to elevate the presence of African table tennis players on the Olympic stage, the President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, expresses optimism at a meet-the-press event held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Alongside his vice-president, Andrew Mudibo, they are orchestrating strategies to nurture talent, particularly focusing on female players, in a bid to bolster Africa’s representation at the Olympics.
Both El-Salhy and Mudibo firmly believe that Africa possesses the potential to clinch Olympic medals on a favourable day. However, they highlight a critical issue impeding progress: the lack of substantial investment in the sport by African countries compared to the substantial investments made by China and other European nations.
*ATTF president reminisces on Ghana’s past glories*
Reflecting on Ghana’s illustrious history as a table tennis powerhouse in Africa, El-Salhy reminisces about the nation’s former glory days.
He emphasizes the urgent need for renewed investment and commitment to the sport to reclaim Ghana’s past prowess.
Mudibo echoes this sentiment, advocating for targeted investments in nurturing young players. He stresses the importance of laying a robust foundation for the development of table tennis talent in Ghana and across Africa.
How Ghana plans to restore past glories?
In line with this vision, the President of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Mawuko Afadzinu who double as Chairman of International Table Tennis Federation’s Sustainability Committee said highlights plans to support promising young talents such as Akli and Michael Yeboah.
Efforts are underway to secure potential scholarships from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for specialized training in Qatar, scheduled for May.
El-Salhy’s leadership at the helm of ATTF underscores a renewed determination to propel African table tennis onto the global stage.
With collaborative efforts and strategic investments, the ATTF aims to cultivate a new generation of skilled players who can compete at the highest levels of international competition.
As the ATTF prepares for the upcoming Olympics, all eyes are on the African players, with the participation of top talents from Ghana and 29 other countries in the table tennis arena.
This edition of the games, building upon the success of the inaugural event in Congo Brazzaville, promises to showcase the burgeoning talent and competitive spirit of African table tennis players on the world stage.
