Sharath Kamal.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
The WTT Star Contender table tennis event will be held at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai for the first time from March 25 to 30. The previous two editions (2023 & 2024) were held in Goa.
The qualifying rounds will be held on March 25 and 26 while the main draw has been scheduled from March 27 to 30. In 2023, Liang Jingkun and Wang Yidi won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively and in the next year, Felix Lebrun and Cheng-I-Ching emerged the men’s and women’s singles champions.
Speaking to The Hindu here on Monday, J. Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, said: “We have been in talks with the license holder (Stupa Sports Analytics) for a while. Indian star Sharath Kamal played a critical role in the event coming to Chennai. We are very happy that Chennai is hosting it. It is a big step-up for us and the sport as lots of top paddlers from around the world will be participating. We are also in talks with Stupa for talent development.”
Earlier, in a release, Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, said: “Hosting the WTT Star Contender in Chennai is a proud moment for TN and reaffirms our dedication to positioning the state as India’s premier sports destination. This event not only showcases our world-class infrastructure but also inspires our youth to embrace sports as a way of life. We welcome players from around the globe and are committed to making this event a grand success.”
Sharath said it’s great to see world-class competition in his city: “As someone who grew up in this city, it’s incredibly special to see Chennai take centre stage in the global table tennis arena. The Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium has been a cherished venue for sports in the city, and I’m thrilled that fans here will witness world-class competition once again. I’m confident this event will inspire the next generation of Indian players.”
Published – January 21, 2025 05:20 pm IST
