BTTA won’t stop players from joining WBTTA

The Bengal Table Tennis Association, India’s oldest state association in the game, is clearly tired of the constant politicking that’s been going on for about five long years now.

The Bengal Table Tennis Association (BTTA), India’s oldest state association in the game, is clearly tired of the constant politicking that’s been going on for about five long years now. Despite being stripped of its official status by the all-powerful Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), the BTTA has managed to survive and fight on.

Amidst all the pressure and nagging problems, the BTTA is all geared up to host the 74th state champonship to be played in the city from December 17 to 21 at the Kshudiram Anushilan Kendra.

Interestingly, putting to rest all differences, the BTTA is set to allow the best players in the state championship to also join the West Bengal Table Tennis Association (WBTTA), if the players wish to do so.

BTTA vice-president Gopinath Ghosh told reporters at the announcement of the tournament: “We have no other option. By just getting registered with the BTTA, any state champion or runner-up will fall prey to dirty politics in the future. So, if they wish to join the WBTTA, we have decided that we won’t stop them. Otherwise, they will never get the opportunity to part in tournaments at the national level.” It was learnt that the BTTA is also trying to get its best best players registered with other state associations so that they can represent national ranking championships in the future.

Meanwhile, for the upcoming tournament, 17 district table tennis associations have confirmed sending over their players for what is being seen as the oldest state championship. The total number of entries now stands at 946 for the 18 events for the tournament that boasts of a total prize kitty of Rs 29,600. None of the players who are registered with the WBTTA can take part in the state meet.