Lausanne, June 5 (IANS) The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Friday said the World Youth Championships 2026 will be held in Istanbul, Turkiye, from November 21 to 28 after a change of host from Bahrain, with the event dates remaining unchanged.

The Bahrain Table Tennis Association decided to withdraw after close consultation with the ITTF, prioritising the safety and well-being of all athletes, officials, and delegations participating in the event due to the war in West Asia.

ITTF President Petra Sorling welcomed the announcement, saying, “We are grateful to Bahrain for their understanding and their commitment to putting the welfare of our athletes first. We have every confidence that Turkiye will deliver an outstanding event, and we look forward to seeing the next generation of champions compete on this historic stage.

The event, which brings together the world’s best junior talent across Under-19 and Under-15 categories, will mark the first ITTF world title event ever staged in Turkiye.

The event will be held at the Ata Sporları Merkezi, a venue no stranger to table tennis, having previously hosted WTT events, and one that is also set to serve as a valuable platform for Turkish organisers ahead of Istanbul 2027, the fourth edition of the European Games.

“Hosting the ITTF World Youth Championships is a significant step forward for the Turkiye Table Tennis Federation and a reflection of our continued commitment to growing the game across Türkiye. We have been working hard to develop the sport at every level, and welcoming the world’s best young players to our country is exactly the kind of moment that inspires the next generation. We look forward to putting on an event that Türkiye can be truly proud of,” Kerim Koc, president, Turkiye Table Tennis Federation.

–IANS

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