Infrastructure, the need of the hour in Indian TT

A glimpse of what is in store was visible on the opening day when Maharashtra’s Sanil Shetty pulled off an upset win over Portugal’s World No. 18 Tiago Apolonia. The league features 10 topranked youth players in the country (five boys and five girls) among the 24 Indians and the three-week duration will prove to be a key learning experience for them. 

Former India player and national champion Kamlesh Mehta said it was his vision to have youth players included with an eye for the future. “It is a decade-long programme that we’ve got into agreement with various state federations. The aim of UTT is that in 2024, some of our players should win a medal in the Olympics. 

So, it is in the right direction that we must encourage the youth players who are the future of Indian table tennis,” he said. While the experience is unparalleled, it is the infrastructure (state-of-the-art clubs, grassroots development) that is vital for the sport to grow in the country. Ace Indian paddler A Sharath Kamal hoped the league could change the Indian table tennis system. 

“Infrastructure is very important. That is one major area in Indian sport where we lack. Probably, if the league is successful, more players will play, and that, in turn, will translate into the need for more infrastructure. It is the system that needs to produce players. I hope this league can do that,” he quipped. Noted Indian junior coach A Muralidhara Rao said the advent of corporates into the scene is a good sign for the sport. 

“All major leagues are competitive because of the presence of corporates. When competition increases, it helps the sport grow. More players will take up the sport and that will translate into advanced coaching levels. To sustain advanced coaching levels, we need a better and an up-to-date set up. 

On the whole, the future looks good. It now remains to be seen how we go about,” he said adding that the organisers have tried to bring the best to the sport.