Europe has been given pride of place in both the boys' and girls' categories of the Global Cadet Challenge 2010 table tennis championships set to unfold at the Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy indoor stadium on Tuesday. Behind them come Asia and Pan America.
Players from 32 countries will compete on an inter-continental format, other teams including Oceania and host India.
Glenn Tepper, Executive Director, Development, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), while complimenting the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) for making the sport the best presented and attended during the recent Commonwealth Games at Delhi, said India was among the applicants for establishment of the ITTF's international training centre.
Going by the huge potential for the game, he said India could host a World junior championships in the near future.
Raul Calin, Director, Global Junior Programme, ITTF, said two inspections earlier in the year had confirmed the eligibility of Hyderabad to host this world class event vis-à-vis the venue, ancillary rooms for dope testing, etc.
Action on the two main tables would be web-cast live on the ITTF's website, he added.
Table Tennis Federation of India Secretary-General Dhanraj Choudhary said six Indian players would be in the fray, this being a great opportunity to pit their skills against the world's best.
S.M. Sultan, Tournament Director, TTFI Vice-President and Andhra Pradesh Table Tennis Association Secretary, said K. Spoorthy would be representing the country here, after her recent triumph in the US Open.
Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, AP Minister for Sports and IT, will be the chief guest and A.K. Parida, Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, will inaugurate the championship at 9.30 a.m. The guests of honour include Tony Yue, Chairman, ITTF Junior Commission.
