KARACHI, April 3: The Sindh Table Tennis Association (STTA) on Tuesday named a 12-member men and women team for the 30th National Games which begins in the city from April 9.

The team was picked after trials held at the Islamia Club, which also serves as a venue for the games ping pong event.

Twelve teams are to vie for honours in seven events namely men and women team events, men and women singles and doubles and mixed doubles. The teams include Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, NWFP, Wapda, Railways, Army, HEC, Islamabad, AJ & K, Fata and Northern areas. The last four teams were granted special permission by the PSB.

Though the competition begins on April 9, the formal opening will take place the following day at 6pm, secretary STTA Saleem Ahmad told Dawn.

The Sindh women team boast of seasoned players including two-time national champion, Ghalia Khursheed, international Sadia Yasin and reigning national junior champion, Ayesha Khan and may pull off a surprise in individual and team event.

The men team seems to be weak in the absence of international Hassan Haider and quarter-finalist of the last nationals, Asim Aziz, who stayed away from trials for unknown reason.

Team:

Men: Nadir Sohail (captain), Ata Abbas, Mohsin Raza, Asif Razzak, Naved Nazar and Asif Aziz. Officials: Irshad Syed (manager), Arif Khan (coach).

Women: Ghalia Khursheed (captain), Sadia Yasin, Ayesha Khan, Shahida Yousuf, Najia Khan and Noureen Tehseen. Officials: Seema Kalim (manager), Nazo Tahir (coach).