Table Tennis: Junior mixed doubles to make debut

MUMBAI: A junior mixed-doubles event will be the highlight of the 20th Reliance Asian Junior & Cadet Table Tennis Championship to be held at the Sardar Vallbhbhai Patel Stadium (NSCI) from Friday.

It will be for the first time in the history of this event that a junior mixed doubles category has been introduced. This will be a much anticipated segment as an introduction to mixed doubles enhances the possibility of more participation. Normally, there are events for boys’ and girls’ doubles. India is the first country to propose such an event.

In a match like this, the team that serves first gets the advantage. For example, if there are five games, it’s important to see who will play the last game.

The championship, to be held under the auspices of the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU), Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and Maharashtra State Table Tennis Association (MSTTA) and organized by the Mumbai City District Table Tennis Association (MCDTTA), will see World No.1 Fan Zhendong (China) and Hoikem Doo (Hong Kong) lead the pack of participants.

“Hosting the 20th edition of the championship, an event that will see the world’s top players, is very prestigious for us. This is the first time such a major event is coming to Mumbai,” said Kamlesh Mehta, India’s most celebrated table tennis player and the organizing secretary of the tournament.

There will be 14 nations that will be competing in the junior boys event and 12, after some withdrawals, in the girls category.

The participating nations are China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, DPR Korea, Turkmenistan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Qatar, besides India.