Lailaa Edwards Heads to Morocco With South Africa’s Table Tennis Flag

Photo Credit: Sascha Düser via Pexels

The South African heads to Tangier for the ITTF Senior Africa Championships as she continues her international journey.

Johannesburg, South Africa (08 October 2026) – Lailaa Edwards is heading to Morocco with more than just a table tennis paddle in her bag.

The South African is set to represent the country at the ITTF Senior Africa Championships in Tangier, where she will take on some of the continent’s best players with another major opportunity waiting further down the road.

The championships form part of the qualification journey towards the 2027 World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Astana, Kazakhstan.

It is another step in a journey that started much closer to home.

Her love for table tennis began when she was 11, playing with her siblings and cousins in her aunt’s garage. What started as family fun eventually turned into something much more serious, with her first major breakthrough coming when she won a tournament at the Totomeng Table Tennis Club in Soweto.

More than a decade later, Edwards has become a familiar name in South African table tennis.

She has represented the country on the international stage and has shared the court with some of Africa and the world’s leading players. She was also part of the South African women’s team at the 2024 World Team Table Tennis Championships.

Her latest opportunity comes with the backing of the people and clubs who have been part of that journey, including Raiders Table Tennis Club, the Johannesburg Table Tennis Association and the South African Table Tennis Board.

And if there is one thing Edwards appears to have in abundance, it is patience.

Her calm and composed approach is one of her strengths, particularly when matches get tight and opponents start turning up the pressure. Rather than rushing the game, she has spoken about adapting her tactics and staying analytical when facing unfamiliar opponents.

That mindset will come in handy in Tangier. The trip is another reminder of the growing opportunities for South African players in a sport that does not always get the same spotlight as rugby, cricket or football.

But the local table tennis scene continues to produce athletes competing at continental and international level, while clubs and associations play an important role in developing the next generation.

Now it’s time to fight for every point and enjoy the opportunity to wear the green and gold.

There will be plenty of points to win and plenty of pressure to handle, but Edwards knows the drill. One point at a time.