Ushering In A New Era
Sportstar|June 24, 2017

Ultimate Table Tennis’ mission to be a ‘world class league that inspires the youth, entertains and ENGAGES FANS, drives development at grassroots level and delivers value to all the stakeholders’ is certainly achievable.

Ushering In A New Era

Ultimate Table Tennis, India’s first professional table tennis league, is set to go on stage from July 13 to 30, and one hopes it to be a stepping stone to revolutionising the sport in India.

The league, promoted by Eleven Sports Private Limited, is expected to create a manifold impact on not only the Indian table tennis players but also the popularity of the sport in a cricket crazy country, which has recently opened its arms to other sports.

Adopting a six franchise based ownership model, the league will feature 24 foreign and a similar number of Indian players who were drafted on June 9. Each team will consist of four Indian and four foreign players, and an equal number of men and women players.

PLAYED IN A SPAN of three weeks, this unique model is committed to create conditions for the Indian paddlers to rub shoulders with the best of players in the world. All 24 foreign players are ranked in the top 60 in the world, and for Indians, sharing the same stage as these players for three weeks will be a great learning experience. They will get an opportunity to live, train and compete alongside these eminent players, thus learning the finer details of the game like strategies, tactics, match preparations and other best practices to be a world class player, which is mastered either by experience or highly skilled training.

This story is from the June 24, 2017 edition of Sportstar.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the June 24, 2017 edition of Sportstar.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SPORTSTARView All
Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears
Sportstar

Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears

Organisers in Japan cancelled the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.

time-read
1 min  |
March 21, 2020
Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT
Sportstar

Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT

What should the criteria be? What weight should be attached to each criterion? And what should not be considered as valid criteria?

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 8, 2020
The making of a batting behemoth
Sportstar

The making of a batting behemoth

If Steve Smith dominated the Ashes in England in a dramatic, blockbuster fashion then his like for like a replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, is the Next Big Thing after an exciting summer of run-glut.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 8, 2020
WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...
Sportstar

WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...

It was an evening of nostalgia and celebration when the Sportstar Aces awards were given away in Mumbai.

time-read
6 mins  |
February 8, 2020
A question of recognition
Sportstar

A question of recognition

After a week of awards, one wonders if it’s only a departed player that one will be named after.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 8, 2020
Thinking straight, thinking right!
Sportstar

Thinking straight, thinking right!

“A lot depends on when I am bowling and what is required from me. That’s something I do when I play for India and I try to follow the same thing in the domestic circuit,” says Yuzvendra Chahal.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 14, 2019
The Big Three and the Next Gen
Sportstar

The Big Three and the Next Gen

Though the Big Three are very unlikely to retire during the same year, Judy Murray, mother of Andy, echoed the sentiments of many fans worried about the impact of their departures.

time-read
9 mins  |
December 14, 2019
WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH
Sportstar

WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH

Sport at large and cricket specifically has taken an inordinately long time to address the elephant in the room — the dark abyss of depression.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 14, 2019
Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room
Sportstar

Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room

Bangladesh quick Abu Jayed Rahi is new in the red-ball arena, but his swing brings back old memories — of James Anderson on green tops.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 14, 2019
The league of the masses
Sportstar

The league of the masses

With traditional clubs locking horns with the hard-working nurseries of the game, the I-League will continue to keep the beating heart of Indian football alive despite official apathy.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 14, 2019