A high-profile league is how a sport best draws attention these days. And it’s no surprise that table tennis has found the trend irresistible.
Ultimate Table Tennis has been welcomed unreservedly by Indian players and coaches – they figure that there is scope to better it, but are quick to pick positives, firmly in the knowing that the league is just-born.
There was an interesting occurrence during the Chennai leg that only the scribes covering it were privy to, which hinted at what the sport is in dire need of – visibility.
India’s top paddler and World No. 43 Sharath Kamal wanted, one day, to enter the media zone. Although players are allowed access to all parts of the stadium, he was stopped. The security guard didn’t recognise him, and a young journalist had to step in. This, in a league Sharath plays, a league in which loudspeakers boom his name, indeed a league everyone is heavily betting on to raise public awareness.
Thankfully, the audience – disappointingly sparse in Chennai – was well aware of who he was. “They should frequently show the line-up on the big screen,” said Sharath. “Or, the audience should be given a pamphlet with all the details.
“For instance, [squash star] Joshna Chinappa came one day and didn’t know anything about the format. In a sense, she came to watch me play, saw [my] doubles match, and left, thinking that I was done for the day,” he added.
Sharath said the league had to be held regularly and lengthened, if it is to impact the sport in the country.
“It’s a start,” he said. “We cannot have a one-year league straightaway. Foreign players will not come. They don’t know India. They don’t know how it will be organised. But, now, those who are here will surely spread the word that it’s professional, it’s worth the time and effort.
“[But] to develop the sport from the grassroots, we need a six-month league at least; you can’t do much in 15 days. Then, more will play, more will watch, and there will definitely be improvement.”
Sharath cited the example of the German Bundesliga, where he signs a 10-month contract every year. Factor in the German Cup and the Champions league, and he gets about 36 matches a year against international-quality opposition. This, besides matches for India. Someone who stays in India does not log the same competitive game-time. In fact, former India coach Peter Engel believed that Indian players didn’t have sufficient exposure against world-class talent.
Another thing Sharath was driving at is the benefit of having a clear-cut schedule: he knows what he’s playing, and when and where he’s playing them, till August 2018.
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The event is attractively packaged, especially for television. There is a tunnelled opening the players came out from when announced. They walk down a short ramp to the centre-stage – the table set on a red floor, bordered by billboards. On one side of the centre-stage, the competing teams sit, parallel to the action. This allows the cameras to pan and capture the mood in the dugout.
“It looked great on TV,” said K.R. Raji, a viewer who got hooked. “The way the players came in, the drama in the dugout… the red surface, especially.”
The reach of the broadcast is something everyone in Indian table tennis circles is excited about. “I think this will have an impact on the kids,” said V. Chandrasekar, three-time National champion and coach. “I just hope that the kids who watch it get interested and influenced in a big way.
“The commentary is an important aspect,” Chandra explained. “If you look at cricket, it adds in a big way to the viewing experience. Even if the commentary here is at least 25 per cent as good as it is in other sports it will be a big positive.”
The viewers The Hindu spoke to felt the commentary –fronted by official ITTF commentator Adam Bobrow and former player Neha Aggarwal – was a good mix of wit and insight.
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Innovation takes time settling, and the period of adaptation is often marked by mixed reactions.
UTT’s format, for instance, needed some getting used to, for both players and spectators. Each tie has nine matches, three games to a match. All games are played irrespective of whether the match is settled in two – because the tie’s winner is decided on the aggregate of games won. This needed a change in mindset.
The idea of hosting all nine matches on one table came in for praise from journalists who have seen it all. They felt it prevented the scattering of attention. They were also happy with the match-data available on the league’s website – plenty to play with.
The 10-second serve rule was welcomed less warmly by the players. “It’s not easy,” said Sharath. “[After] a couple of especially long rallies, we were still breathing heavy, but had to serve immediately. It’s just that we are not used to it. Many times, you are still bouncing the ball, preparing yourself.
“Normally, there is no time limit as such. You can walk around a little and all that, but you cannot delay the play.”
The format also forced tactical change. “In general, when you win the toss, you receive,” said Sharath. “But here you need to serve. Because, if it comes to 10-all in the third game [with a golden point deciding games], it’s better you’re serving then.”
G. Sathiyan, who represents Dabang Smashers, felt that the best-of-three system enabled upsets, increasing the uncertainty quotient and keeping the viewers interested.
“I think best-of-seven would’ve been too much for the audience to take in. This way, there are different climaxes. But nine matches, I think, is stretching it,” he said.
The game has gotten quicker over the years, which was clear during the Chennai leg. While this makes for some breathtaking kill-shots, rallies have shortened. Longer rallies add charm to the viewing experience – a lack of them is like awaiting a balloon to reach its potential full-blown size and seeing it pricked at the start itself.
A typical rally lasted four seconds. There was, however, one satisfyingly long rally, between Manika Batra and Wu Yang on day seven, that spanned 15 seconds.
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It’s a given that the native players will only gain – they get to pick the brains and plays of superior competitors.
There is no better way than to “watch and learn”, said Sharath. “Young Indian players like Archana Kamath [17] will benefit the most actually. They get exposed to different styles of play. Take [Nigerian] Quadri Aruna, for instance. He is excellent with his forehand. Par Gerell is one of the best servers in the world now.”
The other thing the league has visibly done is help Indian players unlock new levels of their potential. Evidence: Sathiyan, ranked 110, beat World No. 23 Stefan Fegerl in Chennai, and went on to defeat World No. 8 Wong Chun Ting in New Delhi. Soumyajit Ghosh beat World No. 29 Quadri Aruna. Madhurika Patkar and Manika Batra overcame higher-ranked opponents as well.
If nothing else, Indian table tennis’ brush with television and world-class talent has begun promisingly.
