ISLAMABAD: Pakistan started their campaign at the South Asian Cadet & Junior Table Tennis Championship with disappointing performance as they lost all their six matches on Wednesday.

The championship, which will be concluded on Friday, is being played at the Rodham Hall of Pakistan Sports Complex here.

On the other hand, Indian and Sri Lankan players displayed sterling performance and won all their matches.

India played six matches while Sri Lankan overcame their opponents in seven matches.

In junior boys category, India’s Utkarsh Gupta, Lalrinvia and Sabhya Virmani outclassed Pakistan’s Rameez Khan, Salman Virk and Ahil Shah.

Pakistani girls Farwa Asif, Maha Laraib and Ayesha Salman also failed to counter their Indian counterparts.

Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC), which oversees sports, Riaz Hussain Pirzada inaugurated the opening ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, he termed the event a big success for the revival of international events.

“It’s a first step towards revival of sports in the country,” he said.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh are participating in the mega event, organised by the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation.

“We are very happy. Pakistan is a wonderful country and we are enjoying every moment here,” said Akash Nath, an Indian player.

Similar views were expressed by other visiting players and officials.

“We are enjoying the mega event. We are very much satisfied with the arrangements,” said Manwra Fernando, manager of the Sri Lankan team.

Like Fernando, Sukriti Shrestha, who is representing Nepal said: “I’m really happy, we are enjoying the best food, security and playing environment,” she said.

Results:

Junior boys:

India beat Bangladesh 3-0, Sri Lanka beat Maldives 3-0, Sri Lanka beat Nepal 3-0, India beat Pakistan 3-0.

Junior girls team events:

India beat Pakistan 3-0, Sri Lanka beat Nepal 3-0, Sri Lanka beat Nepal 3-0, India beat Nepal 3-0.

Cadet boys and girls:

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan 3-0, Bangladesh beat Nepal 3-1, India beat Pakistan 3-0, Sri Lanka beat Nepal 3-1.

Girls:

Sri Lanka beat Nepal 3-0, India beat Pakistan 3-0, Sri Lanka beat Pakistan 3-0, India beat Nepal 3-0.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2014