TT event will be a good test for our players: TTFI

According to TTFI secretary general Dhanraj Choudhary,over 250 participants and officials are expected to take part in the pro tour,which will be treated as a test event ahead of the Commonwealth Games in October and presents an opportunity to help the federation assess all aspects including the infrastructure.

“The event gives us a chance to see our players match their skills against top players in the continent as well as from Europe. This will certainly help our selectors choose teams for different upcoming international,including the Asian Games in Guangzhou,” said Choudhary.

Though a test event to assess the ground situation in the run up to the October Games where table tennis is a medal event,the Indian Open — a pro tour ratified by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) — comes to the country for the first time and with a total purse of $1 lakh. The championships assure the top prize of $12000 to both singles winners in men and women’s section.

Incidentally,this will be the biggest-ever prize money event to be held in India — the TTFI has held a $50,000 event once before — with almost all top Asian teams like China,Korea having agreed to participate. Some European countries like Germany and Spain too have given their consent,while Wales,Malaysia,Hong Kong and Singapore have already confirmed their entries.

Apart from singles in both sections,men’s doubles,women’s doubles and singles in under-21 categories for both boys and girls will also be held. “We expect a strong contingent from China and Korea with about 25 countries participating in this event. All participating nations have assured to send their top players for the championships,” said Choudhary.

Team stranded

Meanwhile,Choudhary said the Indian junior team has been stranded in Paris for the last two days owing to the problems faced by the volcano ash from Iceland. The 12-member team had gone to participate in the ITTF junior circuit events in Germany and France.

“I am in touch with the team and the feedback is that Air India may,hopefully,operate its flight from Paris tomorrow. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” said Choudhary.