Table tennis talent Ivan Kahn is the new 'Groene Appel'

The support of the Reggeborgh Foundation means a lot to 18-year-old Kahn. “A great deal, in fact. Lately, it’s been tough to find sponsors. So being part of Reggeborgh now, alongside so many established names, is a huge honor for me.”

Ivan Kahn has been playing table tennis for as long as he can remember. Something he clearly picked up from his parents, who both reached the top level in the Netherlands. “It’s definitely in the family. My grandfather was a pretty good table tennis player too,” says Kahn, who won several Dutch national titles in his youth.

These days, Kahn lives and trains in Sweden. “I cover those costs myself, just like most of the international tournaments I compete in.” Earlier this year, the talented player claimed his first international title, winning the WTT U19 Tour event in Portugal. “That was amazing and totally unexpected. I’ve always believed in myself, but it just didn’t come together before. That was pretty frustrating.” After a good conversation with his parents and coach, he came up with a plan to improve. “For it to click in the very first tournament after that—it felt unreal. I’d never even come close to a final before, and suddenly I won the whole thing.”

The win has given Kahn a big boost. His next challenge is the Dutch National Championships, taking place from March 20–22 in Zwolle. He’s definitely ambitious. “I hope to compete at the European Championships, World Championships, and the Olympic Games one day, but for now I’m focused on finishing my junior career on a high,” says Kahn.

“We’ll be keeping a close eye on Ivan and wish him the best of luck at the upcoming National Championships,” says Inge Wessels of the Reggeborgh Foundation. “He’s incredibly driven, and it’s great to see that he consciously chose to move to Sweden to keep developing himself. With Ivan, we’re also adding a new sport—table tennis—to our 'Groene Appels'.”