Table Tennis: Under-prepared but eyeing good show

Pakistan to leave for Asian Table Tennis Championship in Shanghai.

KARACHI: Despite the poor law-and-order situation in the city, Pakistan junior table tennis players are gearing up for the Asian Table Tennis Championship with a camp in Quetta, confident of an impressive show at the event that starts from July 15 in Shanghai.

The six-member team will leave for China on July 12 ahead of the 30-team event as the second seeds from South Asia after India’s qualification in the world group.

According to Pakistan’s top junior player and captain Salman Virk, holding a camp in Quetta was risky as some players refused to come to the city due to security concerns.

“It would have been better had the camp been arranged elsewhere,” Bhatti told The Express Tribune. “We’re given good security but players are obviously concerned. But while security is an issue, we are not compromising on our performance. We’re preparing with the seniors and we’re benefitting from it. Hopefully, we’ll do well at the event.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2012.