The International Table Tennis Association (ITTF) is saddened by the news of Cho Yang-ho’s passing on Sunday night. He was 70.

President of the Korean Table Tennis Association (KTTA) since 2008, Cho Yang-ho was also chairman of Korean Air and of the Hanjin Group.

Not only did the airline grow into one of Asia’s largest under his leadership, but also table tennis in Korea Republic has flourished.

Cho Yang-ho was instrumental in the nation hosting last year’s ITTF World Tour Grand Finals (in Incheon) and winning the bid to stage next year’s World Table Tennis Championships (in Busan), while the Korea Open has become an ever more established event on the annual ITTF World Tour.

Mr Cho was also a key supporter of the  2011 Peace & Sport Cup in Doha, Qatar. Furthermore, he collaborated closely with the ITTF around the launch of the Unified Korea team, which has won over the hearts and minds of the Peninsula and world as a whole since coming to the fore at the 2018 World Championships.

“Cho Yang-ho was not only a great leader and president, but also a charming man and an amazing servant to table tennis. He will be dearly missed by everyone associated with the sport.”

Thomas Weikert, ITTF President

Everyone at the ITTF sends out their most heartfelt condolences to Cho Yang-ho and his family, while remembering with great fondness his extraordinary devotion to the sport he loved.