The worldwide governing body claimed that the ITTF, ITTF Foundation and World Table Tennis (WTT) had made "significant strides" in making the sport more inclusive and diverse but admitted that "more needs to be done within all entities".

Looking to mark International Women’s Day, the ITTF released a statement yesterday that aimed to reinforce its efforts to "empower women in all their diversity and promoting a gender equal sport every day of the year".

The ITTF is led by Sweden’s Petra Sörling, who is the only the third female President of a Summer Olympic International Federation alongside World Triathlon’s Marisol Casado and the International Golf Federation’s Annika Sörenstam.

According to the ITTF, its development programmes provided support to 4,136 women and girls last year with female participants making up 45 per cent of the total figure.

"This achievement shows that the ITTF development programmes are effective in encouraging more women and girls to participate in the sport and to help bridge the gender gap in table tennis," the ITTF wrote.

It was also reported by the organisation that the ITTF Foundation impacted 3,369 women and girls through its programmes last year.

Female participation was at 48 per cent with women leaders making up 33 per cent of the overall figure.

The ITTF added that the WTT played a "significant role in promoting gender equality" with 1,429 women and girls’ players competing across its events and receiving equal prize money.

Away from the sport, the ITTF staged a Gender and Diversity (GEDI) meeting in Durban, South Africa at the start of this year.

ITTF officials, including Sörling, executive vice-president Wahid Oshodi and gender diversity commissioner Hajera Kajee, discussed the importance of gender and diversity within the organisation.

The ITTF said the purpose of the GEDI plan would be to guide future actions and ensure that the gender and diversity targets comply within the governing body.

"The plan will be adopted by the Executive Board soon after International Women’s Day, demonstrating the organisation’s continued commitment to achieving gender equality in table tennis, not least in terms of participation," the ITTF wrote.

"To kick-start the plan, a baseline survey will be sent out to all member associations and continental federations worldwide, gathering crucial feedback on gender and diversity within the sport and the organisation.

"Through these efforts, the ITTF Group is taking concrete steps and affirming that every individual is welcome and valued in the world of table tennis.

"By setting an example for other organisations and individuals to follow, the ITTF is demonstrating that every individual has a role to play in creating a more gender-equal and diverse world."