Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

The `tables' are a rage with budding players

Staff Reporter

Many table tennis camps are being held in the city for children. But once school reopens, the best of talents desert the game

TAP IT BACK: Youngsters get a feel of the `table' at a coaching camp at IGMC Stadium in Vijayawada. PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR

VIJAYAWADA: Come summer, the table tennis fraternity in the city gets into the thick of action, striving to promote the game among youngsters. The summer coaching camp comes in handy for the game's administrators to nurture budding talents. Krishna District Table Tennis Association hall at IGMC Stadium, Makineni Basavapunnaiah indoor stadium and Patamata stadium have become a beehive of activity, with over 100 children of various age groups learning the nuances of the game under the watchful eyes of coaches Mallikarjun, Rajesh, P. Srinivas and Ghausia.

The association is also organising a camp at VTPS Colony in Ibrahimpatnam, where veteran international paddler Balasubrahmanyam is supervising the coaching. Says KDTTA secretary Uday Kumar: "The morning session begins with fitness exercises and is followed by shadow practice. Some of the basics such as forehand and backhand push, counters and serves are taught in a phased manner."

Stress on power

With the game getting faster world over, emphasis is being placed on power-packed strokes and also on gaining control over the ball. "Anticipation is more important in table tennis. To enable the paddlers gain control over at the ball, we make them run around the table to meet the ball," says coach Mallikarjun.

The association is also contemplating organising a tournament among players practicing at various venues to give them the feel of a competition. "Tournaments will give them an opportunity to rectify their mistakes," Mr. Uday points out. Young paddlers from NSM Public School, VP Siddhartha Public School, Atkinson, and Navodhaya Public School (Hanuman Junction) are honing their skills at the camp.

"But once the camp ends, many children get back to academics deserting the game. All our efforts to nurture new talent often go waste as the best players identified in the camp disappear once schools and colleges open," says Uday Kumar.

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