A wealthy Qatari businessman’s campaign to lead the sport’s global body is being investigated. One of his critics was detained and interrogated in 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 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 like Qatar and raised concerns about a history of bribery and lavish spending by Qatari officials, both in table tennis and in other sports.
Last Monday, a Swiss whistle-blower who has tangled with Khalil Al-Mohannadi, the Qatari businessman who hopes to be elected president of the International Table Tennis Federation this week, was detained at the sport’s world championships in Doha.
The man, Georg Silberschmidt, a former official with Swiss Table Tennis, was surrounded by more than 20 security personnel and taken into custody after passing out fliers for a new players’ union meant to promote athletes’ rights.