First in Central Asia: Tokayev discussed the World Championship in Astana with the head of ITTF
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked Petra Sörling for her consistent support in developing table tennis in Kazakhstan, noting that the country attaches great importance to its cooperation with the International Federation.
"The President of Kazakhstan highlighted the growing interest in table tennis among Kazakh youth, with over 260,000 people now playing the sport systematically. According to him, the state is actively developing the specialized infrastructure necessary for training athletic reserves and hosting competitions," the Akorda press service noted.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also expressed special gratitude to Petra Sörling for her assistance in organizing the World Table Tennis Championships, which will be held in Astana in 2027, marking the first time the global tournament will take place in Central Asia.
The sides emphasized the historical significance of the upcoming World Championships, noting that hosting the event will provide a substantial boost to the development of table tennis not only in Kazakhstan but throughout the entire region.
Photo by the Akorda press service
In turn, the head of the ITTF thanked Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his comprehensive support of table tennis in the country and shared the federation's plans for the further promotion of the sport.
The President also awarded Petra Sörling the Order of Dostyk (Friendship), 2nd Class, for her contribution to the development of table tennis in Kazakhstan.
Photo by the Akorda press service
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Notably, in October 2025, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended a show match in Astana featuring world table tennis stars—one of the main events of the President's Cup.
Photo by the Akorda press service
During that event, he spoke with world table tennis stars and legends, including Olympic champion Xu Xin (China), world champion and Olympic medalist Werner Schlager (Austria), and world champions Fang Bo (China) and Joo Sae-hyuk (Republic of Korea).
Photo by the Akorda press service
The inaugural tournament brought together more than 300 participants from 14 countries, including players from the ITTF world top 100 and Kazakhstan's strongest athletes.