CM Naveen seeks support from ITTF to host International TT events in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said the Odisha government has decided to set up table tennis academies in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

The chief minister informed this during a meeting with delegates from International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and International Table Tennis Federation Foundation in Bhubaneswar.

Stating that table tennis training centres will be set up across all indoor halls in the state, he sought the help of ITTF in coaches training programmes and hosting international TT events in Odisha.

The delegation included Petra Sorling, president, ITTF and ITTF Foundation; Leandro Olvech, Director, ITTF Foundation; Saurabh Mishra, programme manager, ITTF Foundation and Julia Tappendorf, programme coordinator, ITTF Foundation.

President, ITTF, Petra Sörling presented “Table Tennis for Development”, a handbook to the chief minister. The book on using table tennis for social change has been developed in partnership with GIZ and Pro Sport Development India, who are running the community table tennis project in Bhubaneswar, supported by the ITTF Foundation’s Dream Building Fund.

The delegation expressed their happiness and keenness to work closely with the Odisha government and support the state’s endeavour for growth of table tennis. They said they would organise competitive events, plan social legacy of table tennis events, and provide coach education in Table Tennis.

“ITTF Foundation strongly supports the Chief Minister’s vision of using sport to empower and develop the youth of Odisha and ensure a stronger and sustainable future,” they said. The delegation also appreciated the Commonwealth TT championship organised in Cuttack in 2019 and assured support to bring more such events to Odisha.