Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy (SLSA) dominated the proceedings of the 1st edition of Kalikho Pul Memorial State Level Table Tennis Championship right from the start to the end as its players grabbed a total of 30 medals from 10 events that were played out in the three-day long competition.
Organized by the Table Tennis Arunachal (TTA), the Championship came to a successful end here at the MLA cottage badminton stadium at Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday.
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The first final of the championship was played in the sub-junior girls singles category in which Neelam Dilli of SLSA got the better of her otherwise teammate Eme Mili with a score of 4-3 to win gold. The bronze in this category went to Nungki Siboh of SLSA and Haril Rahi of Capital Complex.
Neelam later also went on to defeat Eme to win the senior women’s singles crown.
The sub-junior boy’s singles saw Getit Nopi of SLSA defeat Tarak Maph of SLSA 4-2 to claim gold while Tarak had to settle for the silver medal. Nalo Komut and Bralo Miso, both from SLSA won bronze in this category.
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With gold already in his kitty, Getit then paired with Nalo to face Bralo Miso and Tarak Maph in sub-junior boy’s doubles. Though Bralo and Tarak put up a tough fight in the third and fourth set of the game, it was however, not enough to hold Getit and Nalo as they won the game as well as the gold medal with a score of 3-2.
SLSA continued its dominance in the junior girls and boys’ singles as well with Nungki Siboh and Getit Nopi again winning gold respectively. While Nungki defeated Haril Rahi of Capital Complex 4-2 to win the girls singles title, Getit defeated his doubles partner Nalo to win the boys’ singles crown.
Tarak settled for bronze here along with Joseph Perme who represented East Siang.
The women’s doubles (senior category) saw the pair of Eme Milli and Neelam (SLSA) win gold defeating Nungki Siboh and Abjime Mihu (SLSA). The Capital Complex pairs of Karpu Chisi and Haril Rahi and Wishmi Mito and Tamo Rilla bagged bronze.
SLSA dominated the men’s doubles final in the senior category as well with Nalo Kamut and Getit Nopi once again winning gold and Tarak Maph and Brali Miso winning silver.
The pair of Pawan Rana and Puman Taham from Changlang and the West Siang pair of Mojum Kamki and Nyadar Angu won bronze for their respective teams.
Getit who had been dominating the tournament repeated his feat once again in the senior men’s singles final as he convincingly went on to defeat a more senior and experienced opponent, Pawan Rana 4-2 in what could be termed as the match of the day.
Earlier, while addressing the valedictory function of the tournament as chief guest, Sports and Youth Affairs minister, Dr Mohesh Chai said that Arunachal has huge potential in every field of sport and games and all that they need is exposure, proper training and support.
Chai assured that the State government is ready to provide all required support to the deserving sportspersons, provided they come through the right sources.
The minister further called upon all the 39 organizations of the State associated with games and sports to pull up their socks and start working for the welfare of the deserving sportspersons.
Echoing the minister, Sports Authority of Arunachal (SAA) chairman, Bamang Tago also assured all out support of the SAA.
TTA senior vice president, Penya Bagra in his welcome address informed that the championship was the first major table tennis tournament of State which was organized with an aim to promote the sports, particularly among the youths of Arunachal Pradesh.
Among others, wife of Late Kalikho Pul and Hayuliang MLA Dasanglu Pul, Arunachal Pradesh Football Association President president Takam Sanjoy, Director Sports Tadar Appa, Sports Association of Arunachal director Gumnya Karbak and the family members of Late Pul witnessed the finals.
A total of 90 participants from 13 districts, including players of SLSA participated in the competition which was conducted under the supervision of International Blue Badge umpire Ksh Mahendra Singh, national umpires, Y Amos Singh and N Rupadharti Devi and a technical team from Manipur.