GUWAHATI, June 1 � Over 300 players from 12 affiliated units of Assam Table Tennis Association (ATTA) will fight for top honours in the SM All Assam Ranking Table Tennis Championship being organised by Don Bosco Alumini (DBA) at the Don Bosco School, Panbazar here from June 7 to 9.
Giving details about the championship, Bikash Agarwal, secretary of the DBA said the tournament has been sponsored by the SM Group which has been counted as a Ranking Championship. Players from Guwahati, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Duliajan, Nazira, Mangaldai, North Lakhimpur, NF Railway and Oil India Limited have confirmed their participation in the championship.
Don Bosco principal Fr Joseph Thellakat revealed that all the players will be accommodated at the school premises and the tournament will be organised in the newly constructed indoor stadium of the school. Altogether nine tables will be set on an artificial turf, he said.
Official of the SM Group Rajiv Agarwal said they will provide financial support for the tournament. Fifty per cent of the total expenditure will be borne by their group along with other support.
DBA president Pradyut Bhuyan said their organisation has been organising other activities and providing financial assistance to some NGOs apart from holding this TT championship. He also promised to continue this meet so that new talents could be identified and nurtured.
ATTA secretary Tridib Duvarah revealed that they are providing technical support to the meet like other State ranking tournaments. This time the ATTA will allot nine new boards along with artificial turf. He further stated that their organisation has been providing support to the State level players with kits and other facilities. The ATTA is also sending players to train outside the State.
Organising secretary Gautam Hazarika informed that the champion and runners-up will pick 90 and 60 points respectively. Others players in all the groups will also get points.
Competitions will be conducted in cadet, sub-junior, junior, youth, seniors and veterans for both men and women.
