HEAD: All eyes on Radhapriya, Namna
Jamnagar 10, August : When the state table tennis caravan reaches Jamnagar for the sixth leg of State Ranking tournament commencing on August 11, all eyes will be on Radhapriya Goel and Namna Jayswal. The three-day event will be held at JMC Sports complex from August 11-13.
The competition is organised by Jamnagar District Table Tennis Association under the aegis of Gujarat State Table Tennis Association.
Gandhinagar-based Radhapriya and Bhavnagar’s Namna missed the Baroda leg as they were away representing India at University Games in China. Radhapriya with two titles under her belt will certainly bring her China experience into play. Also raring to go will be Namna.
The Bhavnagar paddler had donned India colours at the Chengdu FISU World University Games. Title-less this season she will be eager to prove a point in Jamnagar in absence of two Surtis, Baroda-leg winner Frenaz Chhipia and Krittwika Sinha Roy along with Oishiki. Frenaz is away in Kolkata preparing for CAG Institute Games.
Young Tanisha Katarmal will lead the local brigade. Tanisha too will fancy her chances in front of the home crowd as she will be competing in U-17, U-19 and Women’s category.
Meanwhile, the Men’s section will be wide open in absence of three players from the top-five. Surat’s Burhanuddin Malubhaiwala and Akshit Savla of Ahmedabad will fancy their chances in absence of Soham Bhattacharya, Dhairya Parmar and Chitrax Bhatt.
Dhairya along with Soham, who like Frenaz opened his title account for the season in Baroda, will join her for the Institute games. Moreover, Chitrax Bhatt down with infection has withdrawn from the event.
“We have received more than 475 entries and it is a really good number. Everyone is excited to have witnessed top state paddlers in action. I am confident that the Jamnagar leg is going to be memorable to all participants,” said Vikram Jadeja, president of Jamnagar District Table Tennis Association.
“There are few prominent players missing from the entry-list, but we are excited. Players like Radhapriya, Namna and Jayneel (Mehta) have returned with rich experience. I am sure they will turn heads with their powerful play,” said Prakash Nanda, secretary of JDTTA.