Competitive Table tennis returns with State Championships 2020
Gandhidham,Gujarat: After more than a year practicing and playing at home, state paddlers will be back in action displaying their competitive talent as the state TT returns with STIGA Cosco Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2020.
The State Championship to be held under the aegis of Gujarat State Table Tennis Association and supported by Kachchh District Table Tennis Association will be held in two phases at Gandhidham.
Three-day first phase starts on January 29, comprising Cadet Boys and Girls, Sub Junior Boys and Girls, Men and Women category matches.
With pandemic Covid-19 playing havoc, no state ranking tournaments were held in 2020. However, GSTTA has decided to restart the game by organising the State Championships 2020 following the government directed guidelines.
Players have been eagerly waiting to return to the competitive games. It will be interesting to see how players quickly adapt to the situation. Certainly, for a player it will test of character as there is no margin of error. Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) is gearing up to organise National tournament in February.
“We very well understand that players will be under pressure as it is going to be the only tournament. But after the pandemic Covid-19, we had to start somewhere. Moreover, TTFI will host the National tournament soon. And we wish our players to have competitive matches before it. After discussions, everyone agreed to organise only the State Championships for the year 2020. An ideal time and format to restart,” said Vipul Mittra, IAS, President Gujarat State Table Tennis Association.
Besides attaching Covid-19 self declaration form, the participants will have to pass the mandatory RT-PCR Test. Players should have the Aarogya Setu App installed and maintain social distancing when while playing are some of the directives given to participants by GSTTA.
“The matches will be played without spectators. Not even parents will be allowed to sit inside the stadium,” the GSTTA president remarked while emphasising on the guidelines issued by the TTFI to organise tournaments.
