Surat, June 20: Excelling on home turf, Surat’s Pawan Kumar posted easy wins in boys U-17 and U-19 qualifying rounds on the first day of the Tapti Valley International School 3rd Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2024 organized by Table Tennis Association of Surat District under the aegis of Gujarat State Table Tennis Association (GSTTA) at the Tapti Valley International School in Surat from June 20 to 23.
In the U-17 category, the local lad went past Chirag Dabhi of Bhavnagar 3-0 while in the boys U-19 qualifying round, he took care of Pavan Detroja of Rajkot in yet another straight games victory.
The opening ceremony of the 3rd Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament was attended by chief guest Shri Mukesh Dalal, Member of Parliament, Surat and the guest of honour Shri Purvesh Jariwala, vice-president, Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). Shri Pramod Chaudhary, president, Gujarat State Table Tennis Association and vice-president, TTFI, was also in attendance.
Hari Pillai is the Competition Manager while BS Vaghela is the Chief Referee of the tournament.
A total of 653 participants from all over Gujarat are taking part in 12 categories in the tournament which has Rs. 1,40,000 as prize money.
