Vadodara, December 10: With as many as 75 teams finally confirming their entries, the second edition of the 11Even Sports Inter-School National Championships got underway at the Sama Indoor Complex with the usual march past as teams lined-up before chief guest Dhanraj Choudhary, secretary-general of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and other dignitaries on the dais.

Kamlesh Mehta, director of 11Even Sports and eight-time national champion, spoke on the salient features of the school event while Table Tennis Association of Baroda, Jayaben Thakkar, welcomed all participation and the guests present on the dais.

Taking over from Kamlesh Mehta, TTFI secretary general dwelled further on the school event, calling it the only event held at the grassroots across all disciplines. In that sense, he said, the TTFI along with 11Even Sports are working closely to take the sport to various corners of the country.

He also said that how the event, in just two years’ time, has grown as he pointed out that in the inaugural edition only 19 states competed at state level events while this year the number had swelled to 28.

He also used the presence of Team India coach Massimo Costantini to remind the players that they need to show the kind of urge in shaping their future as they have done to make it to the nationals here. “Who knows, some of you could be drafted into the national teams provided you pursue with all dedication. The foreign coach has been assigned to look for young players who have the potential to be the part of the Indian team. “It all depends on you how you take things from here on. Work hard and you will reap the benefits,” he advised before declaring the meet open.

Later the schoolchildren were treated to some cultural programmes which they watched with keen interest.