Cairo may be in political turmoil, but the Egyptian contingent at the ongoing World junior table tennis championship here looks relaxed and focused on the challenges ahead. “We have had absolutely no problems because of the disturbances back home. They are confined to a few major cities. The national camp in Cairo went on without any hindrance before we came here,” says coach Helmy Ashraf.
Ashraf also reveals that the Chinese table tennis squad too had a preparatory camp in Cairo recently.
Egyptian National Table Tennis Federation president Alaa Meshref says: “Well, table tennis being not such a big sport, the impact is not that much. Fortunately, school children are still going to academies,” he says.
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But, he is quick to add that football, Egypt’s No. 1 sport, has been hit hard.
“The league is not being held now,” he says.