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PANAJI
Goa Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has support from Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and Asian Table Tennis Union for starting an academy in the State. With Sports Authority of India (SAI) also supporting the idea, the onus is now on the State government to give the go-ahead for a residential facility to groom future table tennis stars.
"The main aim is to promote youngsters - cadets, sub-juniors and juniors. We are keen on setting up the much-needed table tennis academy in Goa. I have spoken to the CM, and discussed a tripartite proposal with SAI and TTFI being involved along with the government to develop the facility. We are awaiting government's nod," said Vero Nunes, GTTA President.
Secretary General of TTFI, M P Singh urged the government to come up with an academy that will take care of the youngsters' schooling needs as well.
"There is lot of potential in the youngsters here. We are requesting the Goa government to set up a residential academy for table tennis in the State with support of SAI. Goa Table Tennis Association should be given the charge to manage the facility. We will provide technical support for the academy as and when GTTA requires any help,"
he said.
Dhanraj Choudhari, Advisor of TTFI, believes that finance should not be a hurdle for the academy project.
"Funding should not be a constraint as central government is ready to help... Goa can be the hub for table tennis by having an academy here. While TTFI/SAI can provide technical support, the infrastructure has to be created by the local government. Since results are encouraging for Goa in the cadets and sub-junior level; we have suggested that Goa should have table tennis academy so that they can produce more players in future. After Lusofonia Games, infrastructure seems to have been underutilised. So having an academy is the best solution, for optimum utilisation of the facilities," said Choudhari, who is also the treasurer of Asian Table Tennis Union.
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