SWAT’S table tennis prodigy Ummam Khowaja is a star in the making. He has been in the news for the last couple of months because of his performances. Recently, he scaled new heights by finishing among the top eight, 7th to be precise, in the ITTF World Hopes Week and Challenge held at Doha earlier this month which heralds a new dawn for the game in the country.

Ummam’s success in the South Asian contest held at Karachi in Dec-Jan and East Asia’s staying away from the ITTF event paved the way for his participation in the world contest.

He came to fore when he accounted for Sri Lanka’s Hemaka Chamuka 3-1 in the final to win the South Asia title for boys alongside Sri Lankan Kavishka Kavindi who captured the girls crown. She defeated her fellow countrywoman Sanduri Prabhudika 3-0.

Making his first international appearance outside Pakistan and second overall, the 12-year-old Ummam made it up to the quarter-finals where he went down fighting to Egypt’s Mohammad Sameh 2-3. In the play-off matches for 5th to 8th positions, Ummam lost to Indian Deenadayalan Vishwa 0-3 and then carved out 3-2 victory over Fernandez Carlos to seize seventh spot among the 16 contestants. Iran’s Navid Shams won the top honours by getting the better of US Len Yang straight 3-0.

Earlier in the round robin, Ummam managed to beat top seed Erik Huszvar of Hungary and also higher seeded Thailand’s Master Nuchchart before losing to Singapore’s Daniel Ng, who finished last in the group.

“Generally Pakistan team has impressed. I know that it is not only my opinion but also of all involved coaches and ITTF officials. Ummam’s level and specially his performance at the Challenge were much higher than we have anticipated,” commented ITTF Education and Training Coordinator, Dejan Papic in a communication to the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) chief, S.M. Sibtain.

The ITTF expert also termed Ummam’s coach Azhar Ahmad as knowledgeable with strong coaching philosophy and good multi-balls feeding skills.

“After seeing some video clips with other Pakistani young players, I believe that you (Pakistan) are on a good path to make a strong boys team in future,” he remarked.

The world governing body of the game had launched Hopes to groom talent between nine to 12 years some five years back. It is in its line that the PTTF had organised two national Hopes Week and Challenge so far and it has now become part of domestic calendar.

It would be wise if other international sports federations should follow in the footsteps of the ITTF by introducing similar programme in latter and spirit. If given opportunities, some of these young table tennis players will excel at the regional, world and Olympics level in the days to come.

A word of praise for Azhar who has constructed a hall in Swat having a capacity of four tables with his own resources. We need people like him. It is time that Olympians and internationals instead of giving statements every now and then should at least produce one player of their caliber to help raise the standard of sports in the country.

A number of Pakistan table tennis players have proved their credentials globally in the past. Pakistan’s men’s team was rated among top six in Asia in 80s. Ummam’s remarkable showing is an indicator that there’s light at the end of tunnel.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016