All Eyes on Battle to Rule Table Tennis

Qatari's bid to be president of the sport's international federation draws scrutiny

- Hannah Beech

DOHA - In a near-empty venue in a near-empty patch of desert on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar's capital, table tennis stars unfurled deadly slices and killer smashes last week as they vied to be crowned world champion.

Behind the scenes, another battle was playing out with just as much ferocity, as a wealthy Qatari businessman sought the presidency of the governing body of international table tennis, the latest example of Persian Gulf interests trying to extend their influence over global sports.

For many people, table tennis may evoke images of college dorms or suburban basements, but it is one of the world's most popular sports and a growing commercial force, particularly in East Asia.

Interviews with dozens of the sport's current and former officials and players have cast light on the rising power of Gulf nations such as Qatar and raised concerns about a history of bribery and lavish spending by Qatari officials — in table tennis and in other sports.

On May 19, a Swiss whistle-blower who has tangled with Khalil Al-Mohannadi, a Qatari businessman who hopes to be elected president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) this week, was detained at the sport's world championships in Doha.

The whistle-blower, Georg Silberschmidt, a former official with Swiss Table Tennis, was surrounded by more than 20 security personnel and taken into custody after passing out flyers for a new players' union meant to promote athletes' rights.