KARACHI, June 23 The Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) has formulated a policy for the selection of Pakistan teams for participation globally in future, which will come into effect forthwith.
The decision was taken at the Annual General Council meeting held in Lahore recently with President PTTF S. M. Sibtain in the chair.
According to details, four players from each affiliated units, other than top eight men and as many women, will be eligible to compete in the preliminary trials to be held well before the submission of entries for international events.
To be conducted by selection committee, the preliminary trials will be held on league drawn according to the ITTF rules. Players achieving top position in each group will advance for the final trials where they will be joined by top eight of the national ranking.
In case any player fails to play all the league matches for any reason whatsoever, he will be scratched. The selected players will undergo training in camp for reasonable period and those who fail shall forego the place in team unless condition is relaxed on the written request by member unit of the concerned player.
As far as the age limits were concerned, the meeting decided that 'B' form of players should be obtained when a player participates for the first time in any junior competition at any level.
The Council also urged the PTTF President to pursue vigorously with PSB budget proposal to provide, before next SA Games, 10 to 12 week intensive drill of challenging competition with competent coaching and training in China to promising under-20 players to enable them to perform better at international competitions.
It further asked member organisations to employ some of the China-bound trainees and to share at least 40% of the cost of training abroad for each of their player.
It was further decided that the elections of PTTF will be held in December. This will be preceded by a meeting of the Executive Committee in September which will appoint the Election Commissioner who may convene the electoral General Council meeting during the National Championships at Islamabad.
The Council also approved budget for the development programme of coaching and technical courses at district level on rotation.
Dr. Yasmeen Rashed, Sohail Hayat and Kamran Naseer were appointed full members of Nomination Committee for two years with the task to recommend five names out of the nominations for the Standing Committees on Development, Equipment, Media, Ranking, Rules, Selection, Technical and Umpires and Referees for appointment as full members by July 31.
The Council also reviewed the ranking formula being used by PTTF since 45th National Championships as a continuous process as done by ITTF to ensure optimum frequency and regularity of participation by players in all ranking events and approved the latest ranking List.
Dr Yasmeen Rashed, PTTF coordinator for Punjab, briefed the members about the affairs of game in the province.
The meeting, among other things, adopted annual and quarterly reports, approved the audited accounts for 2007-08, appointed auditors for 2008-09, approved budget estimates for 2009-10 and 2010-11 and reviewed calendar.