The 72-year-old former Chinese table tennis world champion Xu Yinsheng was awarded as the first honorary president of the International Table Tennis Federation during the world table tennis championships?in Moscow?on Wednesday.

The nomination, proposed by the ITTF executive committee, has been passed in the ITTF congress.

"I was grateful for the appointment by ITTF where I myself had a very pleasant working experience as a former chief. My job here was supported by everyone and I learnt a lot," the former ITTF chairman recalled at the conference.

"I would also thank the Chinese table tennis federation, who pushed me onto the world stage of this game," he stressed.

Xu told reporters after the meeting that this was the first time ITTF awarded a former chief the honorary title.

"This is an encouragement for me and my jobs in ITTF," he said, "I am the first one to receive the honour. I believe Adham Sharara will receive it after he leaves off the post."

Xu was the president of ITTF from 1995 to1999. Canadian Adham Sharara succeeded him in 1999 to become the sixth ITTF chief.