Manama: The WTT Youth Contender Manama 2026 table tennis tournament has successfully concluded in Bahrain. The event took place from January 14-17 and featured 129 players from 19 countries competing for top honors.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the closing ceremony was attended by notable figures including Dr. Abdulrahman Askar, CEO of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, who is the President of the Bahrain Table Tennis Association (BTTA) and the Arab Table Tennis Federation (ATTF).
Dr. Askar highlighted the commitment of the GSA, guided by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to support international tournaments. He stated that hosting youth events is in line with the "Golden Generation" initiative, which aims to nurture future sports champions.
Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz expressed satisfaction with the positive feedback from participating countries and representatives of the International Table Tennis Federation. She praised the national staff for their efforts in ensuring a successful championship and acknowledged the support from the Bahrain Olympic Committee and the General Sports Authority.
Bahrain's athletes delivered commendable performances, securing six medals in total. Kinda Mahmood achieved second place in the Girls Under-13 singles category, while Hessa Abdulrahman and Al Jouri Al Dosseri shared third place. In the Boys Under-13 singles, Al Sayed Ahmed Faisal Al Banna secured third place. In the Under-11 category, Al Sayed Yousif Faisal Al Banna won a silver medal, along with Shouq Al Dosseri and Hoor Al Saeed.