Thaindian News

Lucknow, Jan 22 (IANS) Top Indian paddlers, including defending champion Sharath Kamal, will headline the senior National and Inter-State Table Tennis Championships which get underway at the Sports Authority of India sub-centre here Monday.

Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) start the favourites to win the team and individual crowns. India’ Polish Leszek Kucharski will be present here for the first time since taking charge in December to see country’s best players competing against each other.

“I see all players are keyed up for the tournament and I am looking forward to see the talent on offer,” Kucharski told IANS.

The formidable trio of Sharath, Soumyajit Ghosh and Anthony Amalraj will lead PSPB’s challenge in the men’s team event while the women’s line-up comprise the experienced Poulomi Ghatak, Mouma Das and Shamini Kumaresan.

Though PSPB is expected to run away with maximum titles, teams like Maharashtra A and B, Railways, Airport Authority of India, the two Bengals — West and North — and Tamil Nadu, are capable of challenging them.

Thirty-four teams have confirmed participation in the premier domestic event and have been divided into eight groups. Top two teams in each group make it to the knock-out round.

Six-time champion Sharath is most likely to repeat the feat in the individual event with main challenge coming from Amalraj, Soumyadeep Roy and Subhajit Saha.

Shamini is in good form and looks set to defend her title.

“Shamini is right now the fittest player in the women’s team. I am confident she will perform well,” said Kucharski.