On the backdrop of players bringing glory to Mumbai city and suburban districts during the year, Mrs Vita Dani, Chairperson of Reliance 20th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships -2014 and President of the MCDTTA, felicitated the players here on Saturday night. In appreciation Mrs Dani presented the players with cash prizes and certificates.
Ms.Vita Dani, President of MCDTTA and 8 times national champion Kamlesh Mehta .
“It was proud moments of us that our players brought 54 medals in international, national and state events during the year. It augurs well that table tennis is fast growing and our players are performing very well, said Mrs Dani, adding that “we hope to hold at least one national and international event every year.’’
Topping the list of achievers, was Sanil Shetty, who was crown national champion last season. “It was after 19 years that Mumbai has produced a national champion,’’ said Kamlesh Mehta, 8-times national champion. Adding that bringing overall 19 golds, 14 silver and 21 bronze medals is certainly an achievement and for this our players, coaches and of course, parents deserve to be congratulated. Incidentally Kamlesh himself was the last national champion from Mumbai.
“The prominent among individual gold medal winners who were honoured were: Sanil Shetty (National champion), Aman Balgu (State champion and national mixed doubles champion), Mudit Dani (El Savador International Open jr boys champion), Payal Bohra (State jr champion), Shrusthi Haleangadi (State sub-jr champion), Srikant TK (State cadet champion), Sampada Bhiwandkar (Midget girls) and Tia D’souza (Midget girls). Apart from the individual performers, our teams won golds in the senior men and women, youth, junior, sub-junior and cadet categories brought team medals aplenty,’ Kamlesh proudly added.
Along with the players, the organizers also honoured the coaches as well as the officials involved in the conduct of the Reliance 20th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships -2014, held at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium (NSCI) last year.