GUWAHATI, Nov 17 - The four-day second Syeda Dania Taski Memorial Nagen Hazarika Premier League Table Tennis Tournament will get under way at the Nagen Hazarika Table Tennis Foundation (NHTTF) here tomorrow. Altogether 16 teams, comprising of five leading paddlers of the State in each team, will be seen in action.
Giving details about the championship in a press conference today, Gautam Hazarika, one of the founders of the NHTTF and Manas Das, coach, said that the inaugural edition was held last year with a view to provide match practice to the players from all over the State. The tournament will be played in a round robin league basis and top six teams will be provided prize money of Rs 30,000; Rs 25,000; Rs 20,000; Rs 18,000; Rs 15,000 and Rs 12,000 respectively. Chief coach of the foundation Ravi Acharya said that the Northeastern region is full of potential but due to lack of sufficient match practice players of this region have not been able to excel. Former international and one of the NHTTF founders Madalasha Hazarika Baruah said that players must practice in two sessions and for that the school authorities have to allow the students to have their training sessions.
The theme song of the tournament, sang by Prabin Borah was also released during the press meet. The tournament will be formally inaugurated tomorrow at 4 pm by Santanu Bharali, Legal Adviser to the Chief Minister.
The teams are: Giant Whales, Hopping Kangaroos, Scary Sharks, Silent Polar Bears, Gliding Eagles, Howling Wolves, Fearless Lions, Dominating Elephants, Lazy Pandas, Black Panthers, Lightening Cheetahs, Growling Gorillas, Illusive Leopards, Clever Dolphins, Ferocious Tigers, Humble Rhinos.
