Table tennis Federation of India insists trip to the neighbouring country will give paddlers enough exposure and help them perform better in the CWG
Table tennis Federation of India insists trip to the neighbouring country will give paddlers enough exposure and help them perform better in the CWG
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The Indian table tennis contingent, it seems, is all set to have its Commonwealth Wealth Games gold medal made in China.
As the 27-member contingent heads to the neighbouring nation to participate in the China Open, the Table Tennis Federation of India believes its motive, of the men defending its CWG team gold and the women bettering their bronze, is already as good as achieved.
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Former India paddler Kamlesh Mehta could not agree more. "The China Open is quite a competitive affair and the team will need to play well if they are to succeed here. Regardless of that though, it will be a very good preparation for the forthcoming CWG," said Mehta.
However, the contingent spearheaded by World No 39 Sharath Kamal - the first Indian to break into the Top 50 and also the first from the country to win an IITF Pro Tour title - will return to India on September 11 and begin training at the CWG venue only from September 13. This leaves them with just about a fortnight or so to get used to the conditions at the new Yamuna Sports Complex facility here. But even that will not be an impediment to India's table tennis glory at the CWG, insists Mehta. "I think before the 1987 World Cup in Delhi, even I trained at the venue only about 10 days in advance. So the 15 days or so the Indian team will have in New Delhi before the Games are more than enough," he said.
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