The South Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships 2013 is expected to be organised at the state capital in July. Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) would be sending a proposal to the Jharkhand Tribunal Sangh soon regarding this three-day international game hosting.
This table tennis tournament would be held at the Junior (18 years) and Sub Junior (15 years) level cadets here. As many as 100 to 150 participants comprising boys and girls separately from seven countries would be participating in this championship including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri lanka and Bhutan.
Remembering the peaceful conduct of National Games here in 2011, TTFI Secretary General Dhan Raj Choudhary who was at the town yesterday said, “The budget of this tournament is Rs25 lakhs. We need the support of the State Government since it has all the essential facilities required for international fame table tennis organisation which demands for proper utilisation.”
Prior to Jharkhand, TTFI had approached Sikkim for hosting the game this year but the stadium there is under construction. This tournament was last held at Shillong in 2012.
“Winner of this South Asian tournament will represent at the Asian Zone Junior Table Tennis Tournament to be held at Qatar in September this year. Those who qualify this Asian level would be playing at the World Championship,” added Choudhary.
Choudhary felt that the Jharkhand government must approach the Sports Authority of India for proper utilization of the table tennis talent in the state. TTFI requires 8 to 10 tables for this sport and has decided to return back these tables to the state table tennis association so that they can distribute it among the district level tennis units.
Jai Kumar Sinha, Secretary of State Table Tennis Association and Dhan Raj Choudhary felt the need of opening a table tennis academy under the aegis of State Government.