Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 16 (EMN): The 23rd Inter-district cum Nagaland Open Table Tennis Championship organised by the Kohima District Table Tennis Association (KDTTA) in collaboration with Nagaland Table Tennis Association (NTTA) will commence from Wed. Oct. 17 at the Indoor Table Tennis Stadium, Raj Bhavan, in Kohima. Informing this in a press conference on Tuesday evening at the TT stadium, Kohima, Swelul Pucho, general secretary NTTA said that eight district has registered so far while they are expecting around 80-100 participants for the championship with Zale Neikha, advisor for youth resource and sports as the host. The inaugural programme will begin from 10 am at the stadium.
The organisers said that there will be different category (double and single) for juniors, youth, men and women. The championship will conclude on Oct. 19.
Nagaland in need of TT coach
Vikuo Metha, vice president NTTA said the state was in need of a coach. He mentioned that there has only been only one coach till date so far in the state.
Metha improvised that Nagaland need proper coaches for proper training to bring gold medal to the state.
General Secretary Pucho said TT has a prospect in Nagas but said they don't have a coach on being asked about the scenario of TT in the state. While in the state, Kohima stadium is the only TT stadium in Nagaland and also the oldest stadium.
“It high time the stadium gets renovated but questions if the renovation starts, where will the players practice’ he remarked.
“We are doing our best to keep up with the events happening around in the national level as well but in our state we don't even have a coach” said one of the members.
Metha who himself a veteran TT player suggested that Nagas need to be sincere and dedicated in this field. He lamented that the players become overconfident with their little fame they get and failed to emphasise on the game.
