Adham Sharara (centre), President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), is seen along with Khaleel Al Mohannadi, president of Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA), and Ahmad Al Mohannadi (right), a Qatari player that took part in the Qatar Open 2013 Table Tennis Championships. PICTURE BY: IBRAHIM KUTTY
DOHA: The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Adham Sharara has predicted it will take rivals at least another five or six years to break the Chinese domination in the sport.
Sharara, who is currently in Doha to attend the Annual Executive Meeting and the Qatar Open 2013 Championships said: “I don’t think it will take that long, may be five or six years. You can see from the junior level, the French and Japanese are beating the Chinese, so they will grow together. In five to six years you will find much bigger and harder competition in the sport.”
Having been the President for more than a decade, Sharara has made many changes to make the sport more attractive and entertaining to spectators.
He said if he is re-elected in May, it would be his final term.
The Canadian also praised Qatar’s organisational skills of the $212,000 event and said it’s good that Qatari players are being given the opportunity to improve.
“It gives the opportunity to Qatari players themselves to see the top level so that they can improve but also participate in this event. What I’m pleased about this particular event is that more Arab countries are participating,” said the 59-year-old.
Excerpts from a detailed chat Sharara had with The Peninsula at the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee Hall.
Question: You have been in charge of ITTF for more than 10 years. Are you planning to introduce any more changes in the sport?
Not really. What I’d like to do in the last four years, if I’m elected is to consolidate the structure of the ITTF, give more importance to the continental federation. It will allow the continental federation and help the ITTF develop the sport everywhere in the world. This for me is very important. Secondly, we feel the ITTF does a lot of work that is unseen. That means we do a lot of development work, we provide a lot of assistance to developing countries. We’re also making a lot of changes in our presentation but this is not really promoted. I have just hired this month a promotion manager. His job is to tell the world and the international partners like the IOC, Sport Accord and all the big international sports federations to tell what the ITTF is doing.
This championship consisted of 15 Qatari players. Aya Majdi said to The Peninsula on Thursday that the competition will ‘make a big difference to her’. How do you feel when you see Qataris playing in this championship?
If you go back 10 to 15 years ago, there would be no activity in Qatar whatsoever. If we look now, Qatar are organising on an annual basis this Championships, as well as other regional and junior championships. It gives the opportunity for Qatari players themselves to see the top level so that they can improve but also participate in this event. What I’m pleased about this particular event is that more Arab countries are participating. I remember five or six years ago, there would be no Arab countries at all and when I asked them why they are not participating they replied ‘it’s too strong for us. We come and we lose.’ So I told them ‘if you don’t come you will always lose. You have to come and lose, and then you come and win.’
Will the Middle East countries have a greater influence on table tennis in the future?
It is difficult to tell. It will take time. China are strong and always are strong. Egyptian players are doing very well now internationally. But in the Middle East, the gap between those top ranks are quite far. They need to do a lot more work, have more participation in international events and more training opportunities with top coaches and top players. All this takes a lot of time.
What do you make of Aspire facilities?
I think it’s tremendous. I wish we had something like this in my country. Only my wish is that it can be used to its maximum effect. That means more athletes competing, more training sessions, and maybe more exchanges with other countries.
Can Qatar hold more world events?
Yes. The main problem is how to attract spectators to the sporting events. I can see in football the number of spectators is not so large. Maybe the population is not so used to going out to watch events live, and watch events through TV. I’m not too sure about the football (World Cup in 2022) or the handball (2015 World Championships) what will happen. But we find in table tennis this is our weak point. From hospitality, organisational point of view, the Qatar experience now has reached top level. We can see here, everything here is running like clockwork. The hall looks fantastic and all the services that are provided are excellent. The hospitality for the players and officials are at the highest level, we cannot complain about anything. The only thing we need is more spectators. I think it’s a problem for all sports not just in table tennis.
You had said in a previous interview that it will be some before the Chinese domination can be broken. When is the earliest do you think this could happen?
Just a few weeks ago, the defending and world champion Xiu Xu lost in the quarter-finals in Austria. So this means it’s possible. China are very consistent and strong, and prepare well for the main events like the Olympics or world events. But in other events it’s possible because everyone is not on top form. If players beat them in these events, they will gain confidence and can beat them in the main events. It’s almost like the European players want to avoid the Chinese. If they know the Chinese are playing an event then they will compete in a different event to avoid them. I don’t think it will take that long, may be 5 or 6 years. You can see from the junior level, the French and Japanese are beating the Chinese. So they will grow together can I say 5 or 6 years you will find a much bigger and better competition for the Chinese.
Will the Chinese lift the titles on Sunday (today)?
If I have to bet, then yes. (laughs). But I would’ve lost the bet in Austria (referring to Xiu Xin’s quarter-final exit in Austria). THE PENINSULA
