KARACHI, Dec 14: The ITTF/ATTU sponsored basic table tennis umpires course kicked-off at a local hotel on Friday with 24 participants, including women, from across the country set to acquire latest knowledge of umpiring.

The opening introductory session was followed by questions and answers.

President, Pakistan Table Tennis federation (PTTF) S.M. Sibtain, in his speech dwelt on the importance of umpiring besides outlining the aims and objectives of the course.

The formal opening of the course will be held on Saturday when ITTF qualified Indian umpire Neela Kanta Ganesh Iyer takes the chair. He is due to reach Friday night from Mumbai.

According to PTTF official, the course is a compensation by the world and regional bodies of the game of a three-day elite camp which was to run by a Swedish coach alongside a Pakistan Open ITTF Juniors and Cadet circuit slated at Islamabad from Sept 4 to 10.

The PTTF, he said, was compelled to cancel the event due to security concerns in the backdrop of preceding events that took place in the capital.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) are jointly extending annual sponsorship to the PTTF since the last three years.

First the two bodies funded a coaching course in 2005 and then provided free-of-cost equipment last year.—Sports Correspondent