Top players miss the tournament, but entries soar

Margao, (Team Newsbuddy): The season’s second UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships is set to kick off tomorrow at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium in Navelim, and the excitement is palpable. With entries just about touching a staggering 2,500 across 12 categories, the enthusiasm for the sport has reached new heights. This growing passion for table tennis reflects the sport’s rising popularity in India, as players and institutions push to make their mark.

However, while the sheer volume of participants is an encouraging sign it raises eyebrows. Many players, even those unlikely to survive the demanding qualification rounds and past 60, have entered the competition. Some of this overconfidence is spurred by institutions backing their employees, while state associations often gratify ‘hopefuls’ who may not be up to the task. Nevertheless, it’s this unwavering belief in their potential that keeps the spirit of the game alive.

The Goa Table Tennis Association’s new office-bearers have reason to be excited, as reflected in their preparations. President Sudhir Verenekar has hired event management people to oversee the logistics, and the team is proving to be efficient. So far so good.

The championship will commence with the seniors’ category—men and women—with finals scheduled for the fourth day. On the men’s side, top-seeded Manav Thakkar, fresh from a stellar performance at the Astana Asian Championships, will lead the charge, alongside G. Sathiyan (PSPB) and Manush Shah (RBI). Both Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai have skipped the event.

In the women’s section, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee, who created history by winning a women’s doubles medal and contributing to India’s bronze-medal finish in team events of the Asian Championships, will look to extend their winning streak. With the top-ranked Indians in the world, Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra, missing the tournament, the stage is wide open to them, along with Diya Chitale, to shine again.

The Under-19 competitors will join the action a day later, adding more intensity to the domestic circuit. Facing off against some of the best in the U-17 and U-15 categories, these young players are eager to prove themselves, ensuring no shortage of thrilling matches.

As the tournament progresses into its final stretch, the spotlight will shift to the Under-13 boys and girls. The last two days of action will see the stadium buzzing with enthusiastic parents. Their involvement has always been crucial in nurturing these young talents, and their presence will add zing to the engagement.

With the overwhelming entries, the competition department faces a tough challenge. From managing group stages to the final draws, the referees will have their work cut out for them, especially referee T.G. Upadhya, and his deputies, and a batter of Blue Badge, International and National umpires in ensuring a smooth and fair contest. The contests, set to begin at 8 a.m., could stretch beyond 10 p.m. “I have taken note of the sizeable entries at the early stages and drawn up the schedule accordingly as we will use 23 Stag Global tables and their equipment. However, we will use the DHS balls for senior events only,” said Competition Manager N. Ganeshan.

But, as always, the unpredictability and energy of the event will make it one to watch, as table tennis in India continues to scale new heights.