ITTF Mentorship Initiative Opens Applications for 2025
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By Imani Wright | GENEVA – 2025/06/20 18:45:23
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Mentorship Initiative, a program designed to support the professional progress of coaches and match officials.
The ITTF’s commitment to education for coaches and officials is reflected in the 2025 ITTF Mentorship Initiative. This program offers personalized guidance from experienced international experts over a five-month period, including online sessions, monthly assignments, and potential on-site learning.
In 2025, the initiative will focus on coaches and referees. High-achieving participants will have opportunities to gain practical experience. Selected coaches may be invited to the ITTF Global Coaching Conference 2025, while outstanding referees may be nominated to officiate at ITTF/WTT events.
The 2024 edition of the ITTF Mentorship involved 31 mentees from 26 Member Associations across four continents, including 17 match officials and 14 coaches.
Success Stories from the 2024 program
“I have learnt a lot in this program and realised that we all face the same challenges – developing countries as well as elite countries.”
the 2024 ITTF Mentorship program saw numerous success stories among its participants:
- Alvin Killer (Ugada) won four WTT titles with his player Joseph Sebatindira and participated in the 2024 World hopes Week and Challenge.
- Amah Amedke (Togo) earned the gold medal at the 2024 West Africa Regional Championships.
- Daniel Peterossi (Brazil) participated in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games with the Brazilian Paralympic team, winning four bronze medals. He also participated in the 2024 ITTF Para Table Tennis training Camp in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Haikun Wang (New Zealand) won the 2024 World Hopes Week & challenge title with his player Eli Ho.
Match officials also achieved important milestones:
- Young umpire mentees Margareta Suryani (Indonesia) and Mwape Mawbwe (Zambia) successfully passed the 2024 International Umpire Examination and became international umpires.
- Evaluator trainee Najeh Ghanem (Tunisia) participated in the Train of Trainers Workshop in Doha and recently conducted a basic umpires course in Côte d’Ivoire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ITTF Mentorship Initiative?
The ITTF Mentorship Initiative is a program designed to support the professional development of table tennis coaches and match officials through personalized guidance and learning opportunities.
Who is eligible to apply for the 2025 program?
Coaches and match officials from Africa, asia, the Americas, and Oceania are eligible to apply, in accordance with the 2025 Continental Development Programmes.
What are the key components of the mentorship program?
The program includes personalized guidance from experienced mentors, regular online sessions, focused monthly assignments, and potential on-site learning experiences.
How to Apply for the 2025 Program
Coaches and match officials can apply online through their respective Member Associations, following the 2025 Continental Development programmes. Each Member Association can nominate:
- Two candidates (one female and one male) in the able-bodied coaching area.
- Two candidates (one female and one male) in the Para coaching area.
- Two candidates (one male and one female) in the referees area.
Applications are open to candidates from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania, with a deadline of 24 June 2025.
Contact your Member Association for more information and submission details.
