Date:09/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/09/stories/2005110910072000.htm

Sport - Table Tennis

Jitendar, Naganalini get top billing

VISAKHAPATNAM: Holder G. Jitendar Kumar and last year's runner-up K. Naganalini received top billing in the men's and women's sections respectively in the 41st State table tennis championships commencing at the Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium here on Wednesday.

Nineteen districts are participating in the 29th inter-district championships for men, women and junior boys categories to be held simultaneously. The top five seeds in the individual events will not be allowed to participate in the team championships.

Players to watch out for

Among the players to be seen in action are some of AP's young internationals like the junior boys top seed, Subham Sarma, winner of silver medal in a competition in Russia. He also won bronze in the Asian meet held in China and another meet in Canada. Nikita Babu, the under-12 National girls champion, who was instrumental in India finishing third in the China meet, too will be seen in action, according to the treasurer of APTTA and chairman of selection committee, P. Prakash Raju.

The AP teams for the ensuing National championships in different categories will be selected from this meet.

Seedings: Men: 1. G. Jitendar Kumar, 2. Somnath Ghosh, 3. M. Krishna Kiriti, 4. T. Arundhar. Women: 1. K. Naganalini, 2. M. Revathy, 3. E. Prasanna, 4. P. Sri Lakshmi. Junior boys: 1. Shubham Sharma, 2. T. Vaibhav, 3. A.V. Anish, 4. Vishal K. Reddy. Junior girls: 1. B. Asritha, 2. S. Vilasika, 3. K. Videesha, 4. Aisha Afzal. — Special Correspondent