40 Young Stars, Coaching Scholarships Headline ITTF Africa Hopes Week 2026

Africa’s next generation of stars is set to take centre stage in Accra, Ghana, as 40 promising U-12 players from 15 Member Associations gather for the ITTF Hopes Week & Challenge Africa 2026 from July 13 to 18.

The ITTF’s flagship talent identification programme will bring together 23 boys, 17 girls and 21 coaches for a six-day development camp designed to nurture young talent while creating opportunities for coach education.

The camp combines high-level technical training, tactical development, personalised guidance and international exposure, providing participants with a structured pathway towards elite-level table tennis.

Outstanding players will earn the chance to qualify for the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge 2026 and be considered for selection to the prestigious ITTF Hopes Team.

Following the camp, three coaching scholarships will be awarded to young coaches whose athletes have previously participated in the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge.

Working alongside experienced experts as part of an integrated coaching team, the selected coaches will gain valuable hands-on experience while strengthening their technical, tactical and pedagogical competencies.

According to ITTF Head of Development Projects, Katarzyna Kubas, investing in coaches is just as important as identifying talented young players:

“Beyond athlete identification and development, the ITTF Hopes Week & Challenge Africa 2026 is also a fantastic opportunity for coaches.

“Coaches’ development is an essential component of the programme, featuring dedicated educational sessions that enable coaches to learn from experts, exchange experiences, share best practices, and build a strong network with colleagues from across the continent.”

Leading the technical programme is experienced Head Coach Eva Jeler, who returns after previous involvement in the Africa Hopes programme. She will be supported by a young continental coaching team comprising coaches from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia and Benin.

The programme is further enhanced by the participation of female coaches through the ITTF My Gender. My Strength. initiative, reinforcing the federation’s commitment to gender balance, inclusion and long-term coaching excellence across Africa.

Organised in partnership with the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) and the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), the ITTF Hopes Week & Challenge Africa 2026 forms part of the ITTF’s global Hopes pathway, identifying and developing the continent’s most promising young players while strengthening coaching capacity across Africa.