Jane Pinto, one of the most influential figures in Kenyan and world table tennis, has died exactly one week after celebrating her 91st birthday.
Pinto, who served as President of the Kenya Table Tennis Association from 2002 to 2014, passed away in Nairobi on Wednesday. She had previously served as Deputy President of the association for eight years, a tenure that laid the foundation for her transformative leadership of the sport in Kenya.
During her time at the helm, Pinto was credited with reshaping the sport’s landscape in the country. Her leadership was marked by unwavering support for national team members, while she maintained a special focus on creating opportunities for underprivileged players who would otherwise have been locked out of competitive table tennis.
Pinto’s influence extended far beyond Kenya’s borders. Her relationship with the International Table Tennis Federation dates back to the 1980s under the presidency of Roy Evans, when she was named a corresponding member of the ITTF Media Committee.
She later became a full member of the committee and went on to serve on the ITTF Board of Directors. From 2007, she was a valued member of the ITTF President’s Advisory Council. In recognition of her decades of service, she was conferred the distinguished position of Personal Honorary Member of the ITTF.
Her global contribution was formally recognised at the 1997 World Championships in Manchester, where she received the prestigious ITTF Merit Award for outstanding contributions to the development of the sport worldwide.
