by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Notably Thomas Weikert met Shahrokh Shahnazi the Secretary-General of the Iran National Olympic Committee and Afshin Badiee, Vice President of the Asian Table Tennis Union and Board Member of the International Table Tennis Federation.

Additionally, after a pleasant lunch on the first day of his itinerary, a further meeting was the order of proceedings.

Alongside Shahrokh Shahnazi and Afshin Badiee; Thomas Weikert met Qiumars Hashemi, the President of the National Olympic Committee and Mehrdad Alighardashi, President of the Table Tennis Federation of Islamic Republic of Iran. At the meeting Thomas Weikert was able to detail the German model for sport, the role of the National Olympic Committee and the financial structure.

Additionally, Thomas Weikert visited the Iran Table Tennis Academy where a Women’s National Team Camp under the direction of Chinese female coaches was being conducted.

Situated in a multi-sport complex, the premises proved most impressive; the deep red court mat in particular attracted the attention.

Matters concluded on the second day of the visit with a sightseeing tour and lunch with Dr. Gholamreza Shabanibahar, the Iranian Deputy Minister of Sport, before leaving to attend the Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships in Cape Town.