Nepal
Nepal will play host to the South Asian Table Tennis Championship 2022 in Kathmandu from December 8-11.
More than 60 players from six countries will participate in the competition, to be played in the league-cum-knockout format, at the Lainchaur Table Tennis Hall, the All Nepal Table Tennis Association (ANTTA) said at a press meet on Tuesday.
ANTTA President Chaturananda Raj Vaidya said that final preparations were on for the four-day event. "We’ve started preparations as soon as we were entrusted to host the competition," said Vaidya, adding that six countries have confirmed their participation. “We’re holding discussions with Bhutan.”
Five male and as many female players will be selected from the competition to represent Nepali team at the upcoming Asian Championship qualifiers, said Shankar Gautam, tournament director. “Those making grades at the Asian qualifiers will be drafted in for the World Championship selection.”
Rubin Maharjan, Pradeep Roka, Sanyog Kapali, Vinesh Khania and Shivasunder Gothe will represent Nepal men’s team at the Kathmandu event, which serves as the regional qualifiers for the World Table Tennis Championship.
Nepali women’s team include Nabita Shrestha, Elina Maharjan, Rabina Maharjan, Shikha Suwal and Ivana Thapamagar.
Nepal team head coach Sanjeev Dhungel said Nepal would be without their main player Santu Shrestha. “We’ll be under some pressure in the absence of Santu. But other players are also capable,” said Dhungel, who has been assisted by Sanjay Aryal and Sandhya Shakya.
