Odisha to host TT natl’s after 12 years

Odisha will host the 80th senior national table tennis championships after a gap of 12 years, holding it in 2001 and in 2006. It will be played in Cuttack in all probability.

The decision to allot the event to Odisha was taken during the 81st AGM of the Table Tennis Federation of India, held at Gurgaon on Monday.

Another decision the house approved was the national calendar for all five zonals, interinstitutional championships, cadet and sub- junior nationals as well as junior and youth nationals, taking into consideration India’s participation in various international events including the Asian Games in August.

The AGM also decided to continue with the existing ranking system for all categories sans men and women. It was decided that at any given point of time, seven tournaments will form the basis for finalising the ranking points in the two sections.

On players’ transfer policy, the house unanimously approved the decision of the technical committee which recommended that all transfers would take place before the beginning of the season either from states to institutions or vice- versa.

Players have been advised to opt for any one of the two — to play for state or institution — before the season- opener. In other words, once a player chooses to play for one of the two, he or she would not be allowed to shift until the end of the season.