Team Herald
PANJIM: Table Tennis in the state is set to get a boost following the announcement of a major ranking tournament to be held later this month. The first Dr Filipe Pinto Memorial All Goa Major Ranking Table Tennis tournament will be held between September 18-24 at Clube Vasco da Gama, in Panjim.
Kabir Pinto Makhija, who is organising the tournament, said it was his attempt to provide a boost to the game in the state given that his grandfather was a educationist and lover of sports.
The tournament has received a Major Ranking from the Goa Table Tennis Association and will be an annual event in the Goa table tennis calendar.The tournament will be held in the cadet girls and boys , sub-junior girls and boys, junior girls and boys and women’s and men’s singles.
Speaking to the Herald, Vero Nunes, President Goa Table Tennis Association said the association had approached the state government to set up an academy in the indoor stadium. This he said was necessary to boost the game in the state. The Sports Authority of India, SAI was willing to provide equipment free of cost along with foreign coaches but the state would have to make arrangements for the stay of the athletes. He said the CM promised to look in to the matter.
Speaking about Shantesh Mapsekar performance in the cadet category of the nationals where he snagged a silver medal , Vero said the association had brought in two Korean coaches in June and selected four players from the cadet, sub junior and junior section and gave them rigorous training from 7.30 in the morning to 8 o clock in the evening. Shantesh he said was now selected to play in the cadet category in the Indian open.
Asked why Goan players were absent in the seniors he said, the best players usually left to focus on the degree exams and the absence of a reservation quota in the professional colleges meant this would continue to happen. Tamil Nafu had a policy while Goa had nothing for athletes.
The Minister for Town and Country Planning, Vijai Sardesai will be the chief guest for the opening ceremony to be held at 4 pm on September 18 at Clube Vasco da Gama.
The Chief Minister ManoharParrikar will be the chief guest at the awards ceremony and give away the trophies and prizes to the winners on 24th Septemberat Clube Vasco da Gama at 7.30 pm.
