Hana Goda Challenges Mo Salah Amid Rising Table Tennis Career
Hana Goda, a young table tennis star, publicly challenged Mo Salah while rising in her sport after moving to Sweden for better training.
Key Points
- • Hana Goda moves to Sweden at 14 for training.
- • Goda won the first set against world number one Sun Yingsha.
- • She has boldly challenged Mo Salah to a ping pong match.
- • Goda describes Sweden as her favorite country and holds a strong emotional connection to it.
Hana Goda, a 17-year-old table tennis prodigy from Egypt, is gaining significant attention in the world of sports, particularly after her public challenge to renowned football star Mo Salah for a table tennis match. Goda moved to Sweden at age 14 to enhance her training, mirroring the path of fellow Swedish athlete Truls Möregårdh.
Competing recently in the Europe Smash tournament in Malmö, Goda faced the world number one, Sun Yingsha, where she impressed audiences by winning the first set 11-3, though she eventually lost the match 1-3 in sets. "It was a long time since I played with so much joy as today. I enjoyed a lot out on the court," Goda shared after the game, reflecting on her excitement and growth as a competitor. This marks her second significant encounter with Yingsha, following a competitive match that reached five sets at the Grand Smash in Las Vegas.
Ranked 24th globally, Goda has become a beloved sports figure in Egypt, especially as she pursues to achieve similar fame as Salah. Her emotional connection to Sweden is profound, having first visited at age 7, and she continues to train vigorously to accomplish her table tennis ambitions. Although Salah has yet to respond to her challenge, Goda humorously speculated, "Maybe he is too busy, or perhaps intimidated," as she looks forward to the potential match.