Our attention turns to the stories of three Afghan girls and young women, Ava*, 18 years, Negar*, 15 years, and Arezoo*, 13 years, who have sought refuge in Iran. These girls and young women, like many others who have endured years of discrimination due to a select few, continue to persevere while holding onto hope, not only for themselves but also for countless others facing similar challenges.
Helia Asghari, a table tennis player from Iran, has achieved a remarkable milestone by being selected to participate in the 63rd International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors, as the sole representative from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Her journey began as a participant in the Rising Stars project, an initiative in Iran supported by the ITTF Foundation's Dream Building Fund powered by GSD, and aims to raise awareness on female rights and promote social inclusion. Helia's selection as the first-ever Irani representative from table tennis at the YOA Session is a testament to her exceptional skills, dedication, and her role in driving positive change within her community.
The Inspirational Women Series is a series of articles by the ITTF Foundation that supports and celebrates women’s participation in sport, as well as the courage they exhibit in challenging traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
FEMpowerment articles often focus on the obstacles one faces due to gender identity. In Dvorak’s case, her immigrant background possessed a bigger challenge growing up. In this article, the Olympian speaks up, about resilience, self-worth and the right to claim what’s yours.
Born in the Moldovan capital Chișinău, the now Austrian player shares with us the challenges she had faced as a young player, the inevitable relocation to continue the pursuit of her dream sport, as well as the solution she is bringing for the future generation of Moldovan players.
As an ITTF PTT Level 1 Certified coach, Luba Sadovska is known for her passion for table tennis. As the co-founder of the North Shore Table Tennis Club in Canada (NSTTC), she is known for her zero‑tolerance policy towards discrimination and inequality. And as a FEMpowerment advocate, Sadovska shares with us her aspirations and visions, as well as her struggles and frustration.
Anne Hursey is thought to be the youngest person to represent Wales at senior level at any sport, a young champion for the UNFCCC and has cooperated with the UN Embassy in London on climate change. Her undeniable talent in table tennis sees many more titles in the future, but the Welsh player is worried that there might not be a future if we do not act immediately against global warming.
