TT a national hobby with vested interests playing ping pong
View(s):Doyen of local Table Tennis (TT), Lalith Priyantha himself laments the woes that beset TT in Sri Lanka (SL). Seven decades down the line, TT still remains nothing more than a national pastime, in the eyes of the sports fraternity. There are hundreds of children taking to this sport at various levels and there are scores of TT playing schools and clubs islandwide. But thus far and no further – let us find out.
Lalith Priyantha
(Former National Player; Former President TTASL)
Though it is nearly 70 years since the sport was inaugurated in SL, yet we do not have an Asian or World Ranking. We are currently ranked No.2 in the South Asian region (hardly an achievement). India won 7 Gold and 5 Silver at the 2016 South Asian Games (SAG), while SL managed to win only 1 Silver and 10 Bronze. TT was introduced to the SAG in 1989, and I captained the SL team on that occasion. We managed to secure 4th place in the overall rankings. As a National player, National Captain, National level coach, former President and a Selection Committee Chairman, TT in SL enjoyed the best period under the Presidency of Lasantha Alagiyawanna. There were no shortcomings during this period, as the players received every support including equipment, overseas tours and funds.
I believe this is the worst period for TT in SL. The best example of this is what occurred last month when the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) could not send a team for the Indian Open Junior TT Championships. The 17-member team could not make the tour as the TTASL failed to appoint a suitable manager to accompany the players. There is no future for a TT player in SL. But a Cricketer can become a millionaire if he continues playing in the SL Team. The ultimate goal for a TT player is to become a coach. One of the reasons for the drop in standard is because we find TT players are involved in coaching as well. The consequences could be disastrous as players become coaches and coaches turn into players. Except for financial benefits, there is nothing else a player could achieve by becoming a TT coach. But for a Cricketer, there are plenty of job opportunities available. Even a Cricket coach can earn a lot of money.
There is no long term or short term plan for TT in SL. The National Pools and its training begins at the last moment, although the TTASL is well informed about the event almost one year in advance. The TTASL does not have a future plan for the sport in schools. TT exists in schools mainly due to schoolboy interest. The TTASL should get down a foreign coach. But we do not have players attending training sessions. The TTASL office bearers are ignorant of the game. The TTASL has removed veteran players from administration by changing the sports law. This is a big mistake by former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. The current TTASL President has also quit his post. The TTASL does not have an official training venue, official location. All correspondence are addressed to the the Secretary’s private residence. It is disappointing that no Sports Minister has supported the development of TT in SL.
Chandana Perera
(Former President TTASL; Secretary WPTTA)
TT is going through a very unfortunate period at the moment in SL. Thirty-years ago the sport was confined to areas such as Colombo, Kandy and Ambalangoda. When I was President in 1995-97, the sport developed in areas such as Badulla, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, Kegalle and Gampaha. In fact, there were 59 District Associations and Clubs when I was President, but now, it has come down to 29, while 30 clubs are inactive at the moment. The main reason for this drawback is because the current administration is not keen to develop the sport in the country. We had hope and the game looked promising when the association was headed by former President Lasantha Alagiyawanna. He made every effort to promote the sport, and distributed 13 TT tables in Jaffna. In addition, there were several tournaments conducted in the North and East.
Many provincial associations were also established. The sport was introduced to several schools as well. The present administration is yet to organise a tournament for the current year. They have displayed their incapability in this way. The provincial associations are more active than the national associations. In fact, the Western Province Association has already conducted two national level tournaments for this year, namely, the Colombo Mayors Cup and the Western Province Chief Ministers Cup. We do not have officers in the TTASL who are keen to develop the sport. The main target of the current administration is to make more foreign tours. The officers are completely ignorant of the sport.
They cannot even organise a foreign tour properly. This is well exhibited in the manner in which they prepared for the Asian Junior Cadet Championships in Thailand. The SL Team had to concede 4 walkovers as they arrived late in Thailand, due to delay in the Visas. The entire system has collapsed with no proper plan. In fact, the entire sports structure in the country has collapsed, and former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage should take the blame for introducing a new sports law. He made a huge blunder by removing the veterans from the TT administration, which even surprised the World Body. I think this sports law should be immediately removed if the sport is to prosper in this country.
Samantha Jayadeva
(Former National Champ; 1991 SAF Bronze Medallist)
Undoubtedly, the standard of TT has dropped, compared with our playing days. The main reason for this is because the TTASL has no national game-plan and lacks funds. It is clear that sponsors play a major role in the development of a sport. The TTASL is currently struggling to uplift the sport without good sponsors. We cannot achieve any rankings at Asian or international level with this standard. We are even finding it difficult to win Gold at South Asian level. which remains a dream for the players. India is currently dominating the SAG, like China at Asian level. Our main target should be Gold at South Asian level. This is not a daunting task if our players could work hard.
At the 1991 SAF Games, we were able to challenge India in all sports, because we had a long term plan at that time. Likewise, if we can make a long term plan, we can win a SAG Gold Medal. The coaching level too has gone down in the recent past. The reason for this is because players have become coaches. The main reason is no doubt for financial benefits but our TT cannot make any progress in that way. Our coaches need to be trained by a good professional. The current coaches have very little knowledge of the sport. There is no National Pool maintained at the moment. The election of politicians into top posts of the TTASL has not helped the sport at all. All those who came into power were only interested in their personal agendas.
We see many sports teams going overseas for tournaments. The idea is clear, that the administration is only interested in foreign tours. They are keen to make every foreign trip. I have no objections to them participating in these foreign tournaments, but they should develop their standard and then try to compete at international level. My wish as a former player is that our paddlers will be able to win a SAG Gold Medal. I think we can achieve that goal if everyone can work together as a team.
Niranjan Abeysena
(Acting President TTASL)
We are really disappointed as SL is not even ranked among the top 100 at Asian or International level. Even in the South Asian region we are ranked way behind India. This shows that we have not made any progress in the sport. This is very clear, considering SL’s performances during the past 40 years. The services of a foreign coach is mandatory, if we are to improve in the sport. We are in the process of getting down coaches from China and South Korea, and currently negotiating with the respective local embassies. This can be a reality very soon. Former players, coaches and umpires are currently applying pressure on the present administration from outside, as they cannot contest for any post. With their interference in the sport, the present administration is finding it difficult to take decisions for the benefit of the sport.
The main culprits are the veterans who have been involved with the District Associations for many years. They are currently acting like a mafia to destroy the sport in the country. The coaches, umpires, veteran players, present players and the parents are responsible for this setback. We have seen new clubs established by powerful family members. Later on they come and harass the TTASL Executive Committee. They are called ‘paper clubs’. Earlier, we had several politicians at the helm of the association. But those who brought the politicians into power later acted for their own benefits, without developing the sport. It was clear that their main goal was see to their wellbeing, not to develop the sport. They are involved in the sport purely for the purpose of financial benefits through the marketing of TT tables and other equipment, and through coaching.
The former TTASL President resigned recently because he could not work with these corrupt officials. The TTASL even cannot find their members to have an Executive Committee Meeting. Although there were 8 elected vice presidents initially, now we have only 2, as 6 of them have resigned. I have been the Acting President for the past 3-4 months. As the Acting President, I have made several attempts to develop the sport, but this mafia group has obstructed all efforts. Some people are already plotting to throw me out. The Executive Committee has the power to appoint me as the President of the TTASL. But there is a sudden decision to have an AGM and appoint a new set of office bearers. So, I have this tough task of working with this mafia group.
