KARACHI: A short duration table tennis coaching camp for cadet boys and girls concluded at the Islamia Club on Thursday.

Five U-15 boys and as many girls attended the camp that was sponsored by Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) and organised by Sindh Table Tennis Association (STTA).

The participants learnt finer points of the game from International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) expert Arif Khan in two sessions daily in the camp that commenced on Aug 25.

This was the second phase of camp — Aim for the Stars — launched by the ATTU. The first phase was held at Peshawar some time back.

The Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) president Tauqeer Muhajir visited the camp the other day and advised the budding youngsters to work hard.

“The players have the spark and can make the mark if they continue their training with the same interest,” said Arif, who has won double glory — men’s singles and mixed doubles with Nazo Tahir — at the 1989 Islamabad SAF Games besides several other honours.

It may be mentioned that Arif had earlier won his first men’s singles gold at the 1987 Dhaka SAF Games. In both the finals (1987, 1989) he defeated Indian player Kamlesh Mehta.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2021