Kosovo was represented for the first time with its national flag in an official international competition at the World Table Tennis Team Championship in China from February 24 to March 2, 2008.

In this championship, Kosovo was represented by Besart Domaniku, Betim Sejdiu and Jeton Beqiri in the men’s competition and Besire Domaniku, Arjeta Terstena and Blera Abazi in the women’s competition.

The President of the Kosovo Table Tennis Federation, Jeton Oruci, in an interview for KosovaPress, emphasizes that 17 years ago a big step was taken and the history of Kosovar sports was marked.

“17 years ago was a historic day for Kosovo sports, but especially a historic day for Kosovo table tennis. On February 17, Kosovo’s independence was declared, while on February 24, the Kosovo Table Tennis Federation was accepted into the International Table Tennis Federation with full rights, and participated in the World Team Championship in China… It was a historic moment due to the fact that our flag was raised among 155 different flags, it was the flag of the youngest state in the world at that time, and Kosovo was participating for the first time in a countrye that did not recognize its independence”, says Oruci.

Oruci further states that despite the fact that China does not recognize Kosovo as a state, the athletes did not encounter any obstacles, because they had received guarantees from the International Table Tennis Federation that would be no problems.

“There were no problems regarding participation, because guarantees were received at that time that our athletes would not be hindered. Of course, the countries that don’t recognize us did not feel good, it was very challenging, and our federation at that time did not find it easy at all to participate in that competition, in that World Championship, but it succeeded, it managed to score some victories, but not to have any great results…The main message was that Kosovo has the capacity, it has athletes, and it is worthy of representing itself in international competitions”, Oruçi further emphasizes.

Oruci says that for some time now, Kosovo has continued to be worthily represented in the international arena by the sport of table tennis.

In May of this year, two international table tennis championships will be organized in Prishtina, such as the WTT Youth Contender and the WTT Feeder Series, thus proving the commitment and trust that the Kosovo Table Tennis Federation has from the International Table Tennis Federation.