The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) today formally opened the 17th ITTF Sports Science Congress at Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, marking the first edition of the Congress since 2019. The two-day event brings together 240 delegates on-site and online from 31 Member Associations across five continents, underscoring the growing global commitment to evidence-based practice in table tennis.
At the Opening Ceremony, ITTF President Petra Sörling welcomed participants and celebrated the return of the Congress after a six-year hiatus. “Science has never been more important to our sport,” Sörling said. “By uniting researchers, clinicians, doctors and experts under one roof, we ensure that table tennis not only remains faster and more global, but also smarter and healthier for every athlete. Elite performance depends on scientific progress.”
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Scientific Planning Committee and our partners at Aspetar for welcoming us in a world-class facility, the first of its kind in the Middle East,” she added.
The Opening Ceremony was also attended by Aspetar Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdulaziz Jaham Alkuwari and Mr Ali Sultan Al Muftah, Assistant Secretary-General of the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA), who welcomed delegates on behalf of the local organising partners.
Dr Abdulaziz Jaham Alkuwari commented, “We are honoured to host the 17th ITTF Sports Science Congress here in Doha, the capital of sport. Serving both as the host of this prestigious scientific event and the official media provider for the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025, Aspetar reaffirms its commitment to advancing sports science, promoting athlete health, and supporting the global sports community through its expertise and leadership.”
Expanded scientific agenda
The 2025 programme is the most comprehensive in Congress history, featuring:
- 42 peer-reviewed abstracts authored or co-authored by more than 100 researchers in disciplines ranging from biomechanics and injury diagnostics to esports, equipment design, gender equality and Para table tennis.
- A broadened medical focus, with full plenary sessions on injury epidemiology, shoulder rehabilitation and travel sports medicine.
- A third of speakers are women, reflecting ITTF’s effort to create a more equitable, representative, and forward-looking table tennis community.
Dr Taisa Belli, Chair of the Scientific Planning Committee and Acting Chair of the ITTF Sports Science and Medical Committee, praised the depth of the line-up: “Our aim was to curate a multidisciplinary programme that answers real-world questions faced daily by table tennis players, coaches and medical teams. The response from the scientific community has been outstanding.”
Driving performance ahead of major events
Held just days before the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 and on the road to Los Angeles 2028, the Congress underscores the Federation’s strategy to embed cutting-edge science across all levels of the sport.
Over the two days, delegates will examine topics such as workload monitoring, sleep optimisation during transoceanic travel, sustainability in sport science and data-driven performance analytics. Outcomes and recommendations from the Congress will inform future ITTF development programmes and player-support initiatives.
First staged in 1989, the ITTF Sports Science Congress is the premier knowledge-exchange platform for medical professionals, sport scientists and coaches dedicated to table tennis. The 17th edition is co-organised by ITTF, QTTA and Aspetar, and accredited by the Ministry of Public Health.