There is a spring in the AP paddlers’ steps. After the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced the decision to hand over the hosting rights of the 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championship to Hyderabad, in the light of South Africa expressing their inability to do so, the State paddlers are using all the weapons in their arsenal to make the cut for the big event.
Among the contenders, it is K. Spoorthy of Vijayawada who has the best chance to qualify for the Under-18 tournament. Spoorthy is currently ranked India No.2 in the junior category, which, if things stand the same, will make her eligible for the Indian team for the Worlds. In the last edition of the Junior Worlds, held at Bahrain, India had fielded the then Top four players — Manika Batra (Delhi), Mallika Bhandarkar (Maharashtra), Reeth Rishya (TN) and Ankita Das (WB) — in the girls category of the event.
Though there is still time for the final list to be decided, with the Junior Worlds likely to be held in December, Spoorthy is already looking to make her mark. “I am sure I will make it to the team. This will be my first Worlds so I am quite nervous too,” said Spoorthy.
“Playing the maiden Worlds at Hyderabad makes it very special. I will try all I can to be there,” added Spoorthy, who practices for three hours daily under her coach Jayaram.
Spoorthy, who will turn 15 in June, has had a relatively good outing on the international circuit last season, finishing runner-up in the US Open and making it to the pre-quarters of the Spanish and French Opens. She also claimed the bronze medal in the Indian Open last year. “The Chinese, South Koreans and Japanese players will be ones to look out for at the Worlds,” says Spoorthy.
Another paddler who is eyeing a spot at the Worlds is Hyderabad’s Naina, who is India No.16 in the junior category according to the last published rankings by the Table Tennis Federation of India. “I am sure I can improve the rankings in the upcoming tournaments,” says Naina. “There are five national ranking championships this year and I am confident of excelling in those. I have to reach at least the semifinals to get into the Top 4,” she added.
The singles event of the Junior World Championship has traditionally featured players in the Top-100 bracket, with the Top-16 getting direct entry in to the Main Draw while others slug it out in the Qualification Rounds. Though only Manika features in the Top-100 in the girls category, India have been able to field a team courtesy their team rankings — No.5 in the boys and No. 10 in the girls.
This year, being the host, India will get a direct entry into the Group Stages. The hosting rights will also empower India to filed one or two ‘promising young players’ as wild-card entries, giving hope to other State players like Hyderabad’s A. Sreeja, currently ranked India No.36 in junior category.