KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 29

The All Nepal Table Tennis Association is organising the regional qualifying tournament for the World Table Tennis Championship.

A total of 60 players from six countries of South Asia will take part in the South Asian Regional Qualifying Championship to be held at the National Table Tennis Training Centre in Lainchaur from December 8-11, informed ANTTA President Chatura Nanda Rajvaidhya at a press meet today.

'This is the biggest international event we are hosting in Nepal and we are thankful to the Asian Table Tennis Union for providing us with this opportunity,' said Rajvaidhya.

'Ten players each from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives will join Nepali players in the championship,' he added. Bhutan are not taking part in the championship.

Rubin Maharjan, Pradeep Rokka, Samyog Kapali, Binesh Khaniya and Shiva Sundar Gothe will represent Nepal in the men's section, while Nabita Shrestha, Elina Maharja, Rubina Maharjan, Sikka Suwal and Evana Thapa Magar will compete in women's section. The players are preparing for the championship under chief coach Sanjiv Dhungel and coaches Sanjay Aryal and Sandhya Shakya. Sixteen players each in men's and women's sections will earn berth in the World Championship from the leaguecum-knockout tournament.

The ANTTA has appointed its general secretary Shankar Gautam as Tournament Director, while Treasurer Tejendra Singh Mahara is Competition Manager. Senior Vice-president Dharma Man Bajracharya is the head of Management Committee. Ncell Axiata Limited, Nepali Ghar, Broadlink and Nebico are the sponsors of the championship.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 24, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.