Sörling was elected as the first female president of ITTF in 2021. At the re-election in Doha in June, she was challenged by Qatar's own ping-pong base Khalil al-Mohannadi.
Just before the congress, it was revealed that al-Mohannadi was reported by a whistleblower for suspected bribes.
The actual voting became dramatic. Sörling won by a narrow margin, 104–102, whereupon turmoil broke out in the congress hall. A group of men – without mandate – stormed forward towards the stage, including the opponent's son, who according to Sörling was not even supposed to be in the hall.
It was very uncomfortable. I saw delegates with fear in their eyes. I felt safe in Qatar, but not in the congress room, she says.
Sörling was eventually escorted from the place and taken to another hotel with the help of the Swedish embassy.
She says she was never close to giving up, but reflected afterwards:
I thought: "Why am I doing this?" But one must try to make one's contribution. There are more Swedish values needed in the world.
