Hyderabad, June 3: With fewer tournaments in the past two truncated years, table tennis in Season 2023 is back on track and looking to go full steam. As a result, the first UTT National Ranking Championships, getting underway tomorrow at the Firefox Sports and Resorts facilities here, has brought back life into the TTFI-conducted ranking events and smiles to the faces of players of all hues.

All the smiles of over 1100 participants have translated into 1900-plus entries in six categories of boys, girls, men and women. Understandably, the hosts, Telangana State Table Tennis Association (TATTA), are overwhelmed by the response. Their enthusiasm knew no bounds when they learnt of A. Sharath Kamal's entry and the participation of the multiple CWG medallist in the season-opener is the best advertisement for the sport and, of course, the hosts.

But two iconic names, G. Sathiyan and Manika Batra, are missing from the start list at the event. Nevertheless, the rest of Who’s Who in Indian table tennis in both sections will compete for the ranking points, especially in light of the policy revision. Of course, the prize purse close to Rs. 9 lahk for the tournament is equally luring.

What makes the tournament significant for the hosts is the participation of the reigning national women’s champion, Sreeja Akula, a gold medal winner in the mixed doubles at the Birmingham Games. The locals are bound to root for the soft-spoken girl's success up close and at home, as will her fans and friends in the country. That could put enormous pressure on her shoulders, but she would be game for it, as always. 

Local lad SFR Snehit is another rage in the state, and he would like to pick up from where he left off a few seasons before. His ability and skills were never in doubt, but consistency is what is lacking from his repertoire. He trains regularly with Sharath in Chennai and would want to pick his brain and imbibe this rare quality from him.

The opportunity also presents the other players to make the most of the absence of Sathiyan and Manika to grab the titles and the sizeable prize money and, more importantly, log their first points on the ranking table for the season.

Tomorrow, the events begin with Under-11 Girls and Boys, followed by Under-13 Girls and the Under-15 singles events. With so many entries, it is a big challenge for the Competition Department of the TTFI to complete the schedule of events daily in the next six days, even if it means stretching every bit of officials’ sinew.

Luckily, the TSTTA has arranged for 20 STAG tables with adequate facilities for practice tables to keep every player on their toes. Competition Manager, N. Ganeshan, is equally ready for the challenges with his referee’s team headed by A.S. Kler, his deputy T.G. Upadhyay and 60 Blue Badge, International and National Umpires.

Though the events begin at 9 a.m., the formal inauguration of the championships is at 4 p.m. by V. Srinivas Goud, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, besides holding the portfolios of Excise and Prohibition and Archaeology, in the presence of TTFI Secretary General Kamlesh Mehta and other dignitaries.