MARTY LOGAN

Two Tables: Naxal's Youth CLub players use their imaginations to set a game in.

A little money and long-term investment in players could return table tennis in Nepal to its heydays of the 1970s when our players competed with mid-level Asian teams. Says Chaturananda Rajvaidya, the first elected president of the All Nepal Table Tennis Association (ANTTA): "We're not far behind. It's just a matter of time, technique and investment."

His strategy? Attract player interest with prize-money tournaments and identify young prospects batting away at those cement tables found in schoolyards and vacant lots across Nepal. "We are concentrating initially on schools," adds the former number one doubles player at his personal office in Tripureswor, which also doubles as the ANTTA headquarter. "In nine months we've held more than 16 inter-school tournaments. For a school they're very easy to organise and table tennis is very popular."

Netting young players is one thing, holding on to them is another. "They play for two or three months but then their exams come and they stay home because of family pressure. We're trying to put together a stipend that would keep them coming."

Six months ago, ANTTA hosted its first cash tournament, with Rs 100,000 up for grabs. Rajvaidya is hoping to organise another one within a couple of months, followed by the South Asian Junior Championships, which ANTTA will host in midyear. Last year, Nepal's boys grabbed a bronze medal at the same event.

Nepal's No. 1 for two sraight years-Rabindra Shakya

The organisation also hopes to convince the Nepal Sports Council to fund a team to travel to the world team championships in Bremen, Germany in April. But its president says everyone's main goal is the SAF Games in Sri Lanka, recently postponed till August.

India is the region's best, followed by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. "We're only a bit behind them," Rajvaidya says. "Sri Lanka is coming up quickly, they're investing a lot in sports there." He adds, "In sports you have to look at the long-term. It's not just a matter of one year. You have to start with schoolboys and work with them for at least 15 years."

Just down the road from the Naxal Bhagawati Temple, kids from the local youth club taking turns at the outdoor table say they would like to be on the national team one day. But most of them seem more focused on immediate results. "We can make our arms strong by playing," says one 15-year-old.

An overseas smash

Table tennis appears to be a hit with Nepalis overseas. The first North America Nepalese Open tournament was held at the 2005 ANA convention in Texas. The overwhelming champion was former national player Sangeeta Shrestha, the only woman among 25 participants, who won both the singles and doubles titles (with Suraj Neupane). Sangeeta was also Minnesota State's 2005 champion.
This Saturday, the Nepal Seattle Society is hosting its first NSS Open Table Tennis Championship Tournament. It will include women's and men's draws and momos and chiya will be available.
(www.nepalseattle.org/1sttabletennis.htm)