CAIRO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's top women's table tennis player Hana Goda has strengthened her dominance in Africa after claiming the 2026 ITTF Africa Cup title in Libya earlier this month, securing the continental crown for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in her career.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Goda said she entered her latest African championship well prepared after training camps in Europe and a long competitive season that helped sharpen her performance.
"There was good preparation with camps in France and Germany before the African championship," she said.
Currently playing for a French club, she added that a long season of training and competing in the European Champions League and the French league had further strengthened her readiness for the African challenge.
"I have great confidence that a person's effort and pursuit of their goal never goes to waste," Goda emphasized.
The championship posed a new challenge for Goda as it was held in Libya, where she was competing for the first time. "I was concerned about the hall and the venue there," she said.
"But honestly, the Libyan federation did its utmost to ensure the hall, the venue, and the playing conditions were very good, and they really were," she added.
Goda, 18, is currently ranked 27th in the ITTF senior women's standings and eighth in the U19 category.
Her journey in the sport began at a young age under the guidance of her former Chinese coach Zhang Chaoling, who was then coach of Egypt's national team and the club Al Ahly.
"My esteemed Chinese coach left a big mark on me because he taught me how to love table tennis and be creative in it," Goda told Xinhua.
During her development, she attended multiple training camps across China and competed in international tournaments there - experiences she said helped shape her career.
With her position firmly established at the top of the African game, Goda now has her sights set on the goal of winning an Olympic medal.
"Of course, the most important dream is an Olympic medal for Egypt. This has been my dream since the first day I started table tennis," she said.
Goda also encouraged Egyptian youths, especially young girls, to take up sports.
"I encourage all girls to practice sports, especially table tennis, because it is very enjoyable," she concluded.
