Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: At a press conference held on Thursday at Clube Tennis De Gaspar Dias, Miramar, the Goa Table Tennis Association (GTTA) and TTFI officially announced the details of the upcoming UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships 2024, set to take place from October 18 to 25 at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, Navelim, Salcete, Goa. The event will feature 12 competitive categories, including Youth Boys & Girls Singles in U11, U13, U15, U17, U19, Men’s Singles, and Women’s Singles.
N. Ganeshan, Technical Committee Chairman of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), shared key details of the tournament. This is the second-ranking tournament of the year, out of a total of five National Ranking Tournaments held annually. Goa has been on the international sporting map, successfully hosting the WTT Star Contender over the past two seasons. With this championship, Goa aims to reaffirm its place on the national stage.
Ganeshan highlighted the tournament’s competitive edge, noting a 15% increase in prize money, which now totals ₹10 lakhs. This significant boost in rewards for winners across all categories is expected to enhance the competitiveness and excitement of the event. The tournament will see participation from some of the best players in the country, including athletes ranked in the world’s top 100. Over 60 to 70 officials, including Blue Badge umpires and international referees, will ensure high-level officiating across 20 to 24 tables. TTFI has a long-term tie-up with UTT and Stag Global who are the main sponsors for the event, he added.
Sudin Verenkar, President of the Goa Table Tennis Association, emphasized the importance of the tournament for local sports development. “This championship provides our talented Goan players with the opportunity to compete on a national stage, gain valuable experience, and inspire future generations. It’s also vital for generating funds that will support grassroots activities like training camps and local tournaments throughout the year,” he stated.
He further added that the event aims to raise the profile of table tennis in Goa, encouraging youth to take up the sport and aspire to compete at the national level. The involvement of top-ranked players will undoubtedly boost the motivation and aspirations of young talent.
Shrinivas Dempo, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, spoke about his personal connection to the sport and the potential for Goa to produce top-level players. “Table tennis has been very close to my heart—it’s the only sport I ever attempted. Although we’ve had a football team for the last five decades, I was always very enthusiastic about table tennis and participated in state tournaments during my growing-up years.
Goa Challengers has fortunately done very well—we won two finals in a row and were semi-finalists before that. However, I am often asked why isn’t there a single Goan player in the team yet. It is my dream to see Goan faces in the UTT League in the future. I believe everyone in the Goa Table Tennis Association will support this vision. The purpose of hosting such championships is to develop table tennis on a professional basis, starting at the grassroots level. We all need to come together for this effort, and this is a golden opportunity for our young boys and girls. Beyond the obvious benefit to the Goan economy through tourism, this initiative will also inspire local talent to rise to the national stage,” Dempo remarked.
“The Dempo Group has been fortunate to have Tanisi Kirtani as part of our Goodwill Ambassador Program. However, the pressures of academics often tend to dampen the passion and progress of many young athletes. It is crucial that we identify and nurture potential talents, especially from our villages, to ensure they receive the support they need to excel,” added Dempo.
The organizing committee members include Chief Patron Dr. Pramod Sawant, Patron Shri Govind Gaude, Shri Shrinivas Dempo (Chairman), Shri Arvind Khutkar (Director, DSYA), Dr. Geeta Nagvenker (Executive Director, SAG), Sudin Verenkar (President), Christopher Menezes (Secretary), and Aishwarya Nunes (Treasurer). Other key committee heads include: Mayur Sawkar (Finance), Alvito D’ Silva (Logistics), Kabir Pinto Makhija (Ceremonial), Amey Lawande (Venue), Edwin Menezes (Media & Publicity), Ajit Ghantker (Technical), Nilesh Kirtani (Public Relations), Vikram Verlekar (Hospitality), and Santosh Verenkar (Coordinator).
The tournament will officially be inaugurated on October 18 by Dr. Pramod Sawant and Shri Govind Gaude, along with senior TTFI officials.
Christopher Menezes, Secretary of GTTA, concluded the press conference with a vote of thanks, inviting all players, fans, and spectators to come and witness the best Indian players in action.
