Sheikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Table Tennis Federation, won the Asian seat on the International Table Tennis Federation Council, after obtaining 20 votes out of a total of 32 votes in the elections that took place yesterday, Saturday, in Tashkent. This result is an important step for Bahraini sports, as it gives it direct representation in international bodies that oversee the organization and development of table tennis worldwide.
The election included seven candidates, but three of them withdrew before voting began, leaving the race between only four candidates. Sheikha Hayat won over her competitors, with Daoud Al Hajri receiving 8 votes, while Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Nasser Al Saud and Mohammed Hussein Al Rumaihi received 2 votes each. The result shows that Sheikha Hayat was able to gather broad support from the members of the AFC General Assembly, which reflects great confidence in her leadership abilities.
At the conclusion of the coronation ceremony, Sheikha Hayat thanked the members of the General Assembly, expressing her happiness with the confidence bestowed on her by the AFC. She stressed that this support represents an additional responsibility that motivates her to continue working to serve and develop the game at the continental and international levels. She also stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between national federations, unifying efforts, and exchanging experiences to expand the base of practice and raise the levels of players and training staff.
Sheikha Hayat currently holds the position of Vice President of the AFC for West Asia, in addition to her presidency of the Bahrain Federation. Her victory in these elections adds a new presence to Bahraini sports in international bodies, and gives it a platform to highlight Bahrain’s achievements in table tennis, as well as advance the development of the game in the region. It will cooperate with the International Federation to officially assume the position, while adhering to the plans developed by the National Federations to enhance cooperation and exchange of experiences.