Table tennis: Junior event termed a resounding success

PTTF earns unanimous praise for its management of event in Karachi

Nabil Tahir July 19, 2016

PTTF earns unanimous praise for its management of event in Karachi. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The South Asian Cadet and Junior Table Tennis Championships was unanimously regarded as a successful event as hosts Pakistan as well as table-topping Sri Lanka — who bagged the most medals — both expressed their satisfaction and lauded the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation’s (PTTF) efforts.

The Sri Lankan contingent finished with nine gold, four silver and a bronze medal to claim the championship’s top spot. With that medal-laden showing, the Islanders also booked their spot in the Asian Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship which will be held in Thailand, Bangkok in September.

Following their win, Sri Lankan player Imesh Idaya Ranasinghe was quick to credit Pakistani authorities for their hospitality and arrangements, which in their opinion, helped them perform to the best of their abilities.

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“We were able to perform well because we had a great environment here in Karachi, which enabled us to concentrate fully on our game,” Ranasinghe told The Express Tribune. “All the credit goes to PTTF and our coach and manager.”

Pakistan, on the other hand, claimed one gold, three silver and six bronze medals to finish second on the podium. And Sindh’s top junior player Hamza Godil believes such tournaments will go a long way in reviving the interest of table tennis in Karachi, which has been deprived of international sports in recent years.

“Karachi was losing its status as the hub of table tennis, but at this tournament, a lot of players showed up to see international players compete with their own eyes,” said Godil.

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Meanwhile, Faizan Zahoor, who won Pakistan’s sole gold in the cadet boys’ singles category by downing Sri Lanka’s Harshana Karadawela 3-0 in the final, believes he and his teammates could have won a lot more had the began preparing for the tournament a bit early.

“I am glad I was able to win a gold, but if we had trained more than just four days, we would have won many more gold medals,” claimed Zahoor.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.

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