PANJIM: Goa is up and ready to host the 37th National Games in October-November, thundered Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Anurag Thakur at the Indoor Stadium, Taleigao, on Sunday.
Thakur who attended the closing ceremony of World TT Contender Goa, declared: “Last year, Gujarat hosted the National Games and it was a grand success and now Goa will host it and give a chance to thousands of players an opportunity to participate, perform and go up the ladder, setting new records and ultimately be the platform for the future of India,” remarked Thakur.
“The WTT Star Contender Goa will usher a new dawn in table tennis for India, what with 200-plus world star players and 40plus best Indian players for whom it will be a big learning experience in participating in one of the biggest events in table tennis in India,” remarked Thakur.
“I am sure the youngsters will pick up the nuances of the sport so as to make a career in the sport. It has been a very big learning experience for them. That apart, India has proved that the country is ready to host big world events. We successfully organised the FIFA World Women Under-17 football championship and FIDE Chess Olympiad in the past and now we are ever ready to host bigger world-level events,” stated the Union Minister.
The Union Minister complimented the organisers for the way they accomplished to conduct the 5-day event on a highly successful note. “From the reviews, feedback from the participants across various countries and also the pat on the back by the President of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Petra Sorlingwas, it is evident that it was a proud moment for both Goa and India that a world ranked event was conducted in a highly professional manner, be it concerning the venue arrangements, organisation with the team behind the show doing their best, to put up a wonderful show for the first time in the country in table tennis,” he concluded.
