Sri Lanka targets South Asian gold medal in table tennis
Table tennis stalwart Manzil Muthalib
A South Asian gold medal in table tennis is within reach of Sri Lanka having closed the gap considerably over the years to be second only to India, says a former national table tennis star Manzil Muthalib.
Our mission is to win a South Asian gold medal in the sport. We were next to India all these years. Earlier we were losing to Pakistan and Nepal but we are number two now and giving a good fight to India,” said Manzil, a vice-president of the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL).
A table tennis prodigy from St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota having represented Sri Lanka at the age of 16, Manzil was instrumental in promoting the sport in the North and East when he headed the Coaching and Development committee of TTASL during the decade 2005 to 2015.
“We did not have table tennis in the North and East then. Now table tennis is played in Jaffna and Trincomalee. There are more than 1,000 players playing table tennis. They give a good competition to Colombo and Kandy players,” said Manzil whose biggest accomplishment was seeing reigning national champion Udaya Ranasinghe winning the South Asian junior gold medal in 2014.
The youngest to win the coveted Fr. Rosati Memorial Award in 1989 for bringing credit to the school through studies and sports after representing Sri Lanka at the Asian Table Tennis Championship in Japan, Manzil also served as manager, selector and was a top administrator of the sport for several years. Although he was selected to go to University, he joined the Mercantile sector being Senior Brand Manager at Darley Butler at the age of 20.
He got immersed in table tennis administration being appointed a selector in 1997 and chief selector in 2003 before being elected as a vice-president of TTASL in 2005. A fine all-around sportsman having played junior cricket for the Antonians, he fell in love with table tennis from the age of six playing at his home town community centre in Mawilmada, Kandy.
“My father and elder brother both played cricket. Only I switched to table tennis,” said Manzil who displayed talent to become Junior National Under-12 champion. His father H.M. Muthalib was St. Anthony’s cricket captain in 1961 while his brother Zamique played for school and Colts CC.
Manzil’s four children, all Trinitians, are following in his footsteps and continuing their family pedigree of being outstanding sportsmen. The eldest Anan and his sibling Abdullah have won All-Island Junior titles in table tennis. Attaab is a gifted allrounder emerging Under-10 All-Island champion, being a member of Trinity’s first XV rugby pool at the age of 15, is a Stubbs Shield boxing champion and the first Trinity boxer to win a medal in an international boxing meet held in Sweden last year. Manzil’s youngest son Ammaar won the 100 metre zonal athletics meet.
A former President of the Central Province TT Association, he took a hiatus from the sport during the last five years before making a comeback recently.
“They wanted me to take over as president this time. I was nominated but since Kanaka Herath was there, I did not want to contest,” said Manzil who has his hands full as Chairman of the Sports Committee in the Kandy Municipal Council.
“I have been given the responsibility to bring sports up in Kandy. Sports has been neglected in the community centres. We have more than 30 municipality grounds but it was in a derelict state. I hired workers to bring it back into condition. I want to make Kandy the best municipality once again,” said Manzil, wwho is making arrangements to conduct the Mayor’s Cup All-Island Tournament in Kandy.
Kandy can boast of one of the best indoor stadiums in Sudugampola but Manzil, who is a product of the community and recreation centres, wants to provide opportunities for low income groups to engage in sports.
“We have good resources and facilities to build up sports in Kandy. However, there are no grounds for top schools in Kandy. Those are areas we have to develop,” said Manzil also thanking the backing received from the Mayor of Kandy Kesara Senananayake and Kandy Municipal Commissioner Chandana Tennekoon to promote sports in the hill capital.