ITTF President Sörling Named WTT Board Chair, Oshodi Joins as Representative

Petra Sörling has taken on the role of Chair of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Board while retaining her position as ITTF President, the federation announced on March 13, 2026. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, was simultaneously appointed as an ITTF representative to the WTT Board. The moves follow a revised division of responsibilities within the ITTF Executive Committee and represent the most significant governance realignment between the federation and its commercial arm since WTT launched its board structure in October 2022.

Sörling and Oshodi replace Liu Guoliang and Khalil Al-Mohannadi in their respective roles. Liu had served as the first-ever WTT Board Chair since October 2022, a tenure of more than three years. Oshodi, listed as representing Nigeria on the ITTF executive board, steps into the representative seat previously held by Al-Mohannadi.

The appointments come on the heels of broader organizational changes at the federation. Steve Dainton, formerly ITTF Group chief executive, transitioned to become WTT's chief executive effective January 1, 2026. Dainton framed the current moment as a pivotal inflection point for the commercial body: "WTT was built to give table tennis a platform that matches the level of the sport and the scale of its global following. With that platform now firmly established, the focus turns to the next phase: strengthening the foundations, sharpening governance, and scaling with discipline so WTT can keep building long-term value for the sport." He added that he is "truly looking forward to working together with the new WTT Board" as WTT continues to grow and evolve.

Sörling, who was re-elected to a second four-year term as ITTF President following a contentious 2025 AGM that was temporarily suspended after the executive board said it "was disrupted by outsiders," now holds an unprecedented dual mandate across both bodies. The AGM ultimately concluded on November 15, 2025, at which point the full ITTF executive board was confirmed. That board includes Anthony Moore (Australia), Liu Guoliang (China), Paul Calle (Ecuador), Zeina Rashid (Jordan), Wahid Oshodi (Nigeria), Beatrice Romanescu (Romania), Veli Ozan Cakir (Turkey), and Virginia Sung (USA).

In a partial statement attributed to her new WTT role, Sörling set out her governance priorities directly: "As Chair of the Board, I am here to ensure that WTT operates with governance, profitability, accountability, and the long-term vision that ITTF" brings to the table. Her broader ambitions connect the WTT appointment to a wider reform agenda. "In 2026, the ITTF will celebrate its centenary, and the path ahead is ambitious. This is our opportunity to modernize our federation, to reform where needed, and to future-proof our sport for the next generation. The newly elected Board will be involved in this process. We will build and empower the next leadership team that will keep table tennis ahead."

She also acknowledged the outgoing leadership by name: "Steve and Raul have made their mark in ITTF modern history, and their time at the helm of the organization will be remembered as a pivotal, successful period. I am deeply grateful for their service, and I wish them the very best in their future endeavors."

With Sörling now bridging the ITTF presidency and the WTT Board chair simultaneously, the structural question going forward is whether that consolidated authority accelerates the governance alignment between the sport's governing body and its commercial engine, or whether it creates tensions that a more independent board structure was originally designed to avoid.