Kalikho Pul memorial state TT championship from 12th-14th Oct
TTA to conduct 1st ever Kalikho Pul memorial state TT championship from 12th-14th.
Itanagar
The Table Tennis Arunachal (TTA) is all set to host first ever Kalikho Pul Memorial State TT championship (KPMSTT). The tournament will be held from Oct 12th to 14th next here at Indoor hall, MLA cottage at ESS Sector Itanagar.
At least 86 participants from 13 districts and 4 players from Sangey Lhaden Sports Academy registered for the KPMSTT championship. This was formally announced by the TTA Secretary General (SG), Pasang Dingla at a press conference held at Arunachal Press Club here today.
Dingla informed that will be three categories both for man and women in Junior, Sub-junior and senior (open category). The tournament will start from 9 am to 7 pm and no entry fee will be a charge to witness the games,
Earlier, two edition of state table tennis championship was organised by TTA since its inception on 2010, but, the sport failed to get reorganisation among the people and sponsors.
However, hope came when the family of late Kalikho Pul- former Chief Minister who was an enthusiast sporty person, agreed to uplift TT in the state under his name, informed Dingla.
He informed that TT federation has made great afford to make this championship a success. Since, table tennis is still in its initial stage to provide professional assistance, two national umpires- N Rupadharti Devi and Y Amos Singh and Ksh Mahendra Singh (International Blue badge’s umpire and referee) from Manipur will conduct the event.
“There will be Umpire clinic session for the senior member players, focusing on the basic and internal rules of table tennis at MLA cottage. The clinical session will enhance the future of this sport in the state” adds Dingla.
The star player who had previously and still represented the state at national levels like Nyader Angu was state champion (open category) and Joseph Perme (sub-junior) represented the state in national level who was placed in 48 ranks. They have received professional training from the Korean coach, he informed.
“Though, registered entries of 13 districts and its participants have very much encouraged us, but, fewer women players is somehow depressing,” said TTA, vice-president, Karpu Chisi adding more, but, we hope the numbers will recede at next edition of Kalikho Pul memorial state Table Tennis championship”.
Total 16 districts have registered under TTA and affiliated to Table Tennis Federation of India and Arunachal Olympic Association & Sports Authority of Arunachal with attachment of more than 110 players at various points of time informed Karpu Chisi.
The TTA while appealing the local denizens of twin capital city to witness the tournament and encourage the morale of the players