Alan Ransome OBE has received the highest award from the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) – Honorary Life Membership.

Ransome received the award this week at the Federation’s annual meeting, which took place alongside the Commonwealth Championships in India.

It comes after his 26-year service as Chairman of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation.

During his time in office, he was part of 11 Commonwealth Championships and 5 Commonwealth Games.

His greatest achievement during this period was to help get table tennis included in the Commonwealth Games, which happened for the first time in Manchester in 2002.

Ransome had stood again as a candidate, but lost the election to India’s Vivek Kohli.

Speaking after the election, Ransome said: “I would like to thank those Associations who have supported me.

“I have enjoyed my time in office and the CTTF is in a much stronger position than before I took office, and I would like to thank the people who have assisted me during this period.

“I wish the CTTF well going forward.”

England still have a presence within the Federation after Susie Hughes, who sits on the board of Table Tennis England, was elected as vice-chairman.

She commented: “I am grateful for the support I have received from members of the CTTF and look forward to working with all the Commonwealth Nations.

“There are challenges and opportunities going forward to ensure we build on the work of the past decades and continue to make the CTTF relevant to the international table tennis scene now and in the future.

“I would echo the words of others in thanking Alan Ransome for the significant contribution he has made to the Federation over many years.”

A list of elected officers of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation is as follows:

Vivek Kohli, Chairman (India)

Susie Hughes, Vice-chairman (England)

Mahinder Pal Singh, Secretary (India)

Audrina C. MaCdonald, Treasurer (South Africa)