The Iraqi Table Tennis Federation officially submitted a request to the International Table Tennis Federation on Saturday to host the World Championships in 2028 and 2029.

In a statement to Shafaq News Agency, President of the Iraqi Table Tennis Federation Harde Rauf said, "Competing to host the World Championships with several advanced countries in table tennis reflects the strenuous and significant efforts made by the federation to enhance the status of table tennis in Iraq."

Rauf added that "Iraq is capable of organizing sports events that align with international standards and regulations. We are confident that this step will open new doors for the development of sports in Iraq and strengthen its role in building bridges of communication with countries worldwide.

The President of the Federation noted that "the Iraqi Olympic Committee, led by Aqeel Mften, has been a key supporter of this step, playing a pivotal role in providing logistical and technical support to the Iraqi Table Tennis Federation. We also acknowledge the significant praise we received from the Asian Table Tennis Union, with the President of the Union, Khalil Al-Muhannadi, commending Iraq's efforts in this field. Competing to host this global event is an indicator of the progress of Iraqi sports."