VIJAYAWADA: Big time table tennis arrives at Vijayawada after a gap of six years, when the five-day National ranking TT championship kicks off on Wednesday at Dandamudi Rajagopalarao municipal corporation indoor stadium. As the Vijayawada tourney is the first of the four major tourneys conducted by Table Tennis Federation of India's itinerary, all the top players, barring Commonwealth champion A. Sarath Kamal, Somyadeep Roy and Subhajit Saha (who are in Spain on national duty), will be seen in action, vying for the honours.

More than 500 paddlers from all over India, including teams from institutions such as Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB), Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), Banks Sports Promotion Board (BSPB), National TT Academy (Ajmer) and Centre for Excellence (Kolkata) are taking part in the event. The event carries total prize money of Rs. 3. 30 lakhs, which will be distributed among winners, runners-up, losing semi-finalists and losing quarterfinalists. "State Bank of India is sponsoring the total prize money. The event is also co-sponsored by Sheela Group of Companies," said TTFI joint secretary S.M. Sultan. Raman said that eight Stag International tables and Nittaku balls would be used for the tourney, which would be conducted in knockout basis. "There will be no position matches, The final of the sun-junior and youth events will be conducted on October 7 and finals of junior and senior events will be conducted on October 8," said Mr. Raman.

Meanwhile, Krishna District Table Tennis Association has made all arrangements for board and lodging for all technical officials and players in city hotels and guesthouses.

Comprehensive website

A comprehensive website of the Andhra Pradesh Table Tennis Association (APTTA) - www.aptabletennis.org will also be launched on the inaugural day.

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