A total of 40 promising young table tennis players will gather in Accra from July 13-18 for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Hopes Week & Challenge Africa 2026.

The ITTF talent identification and development programme would bring together 23 boys and 17 girls under the age of 12 from 15 African member associations, along with 21 coaches, for six days of intensive training and competition.

The programme combines technical and tactical development, personalised coaching and international exposure, providing young athletes with a pathway towards elite-level competition.

Top performers in Accra would have the opportunity to qualify for the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge 2026 and could be considered for selection to the ITTF Hopes Team.

The event would also focus on coaching development, with three scholarships available to young coaches whose athletes have previously participated in the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge.

Selected coaches will work alongside experienced technical experts as part of an integrated coaching team, gaining practical experience and enhancing their technical, tactical and teaching abilities.

“Beyond athlete identification and development, the ITTF Hopes Week & Challenge Africa 2026 is also a fantastic opportunity for coaches,” ITTF Head of Development Projects Katarzyna Kubas said in a statement.

“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,” she added.

The ITTF Hopes programme is one of the federation’s flagship youth development initiatives and is designed to identify and support talented young players at an early stage of their careers.

ITTF-Africa represents 54 member associations and oversees the development and promotion of table tennis across the continent.