Karnataka's Table Tennis Crisis: Once-Thriving Sport Faces Uncertain Future

Once a popular sport in Karnataka, table tennis is now facing a significant decline. With a fall in the frequency of tournaments and no concrete plan for revival, the game is slowly losing whatever popularity it may have still had. The Karnataka Table Tennis Association (KTTA) admits its ignorance regarding the decay of the sport, which, while still keeping its numbers steady regarding participation, is nevertheless rock-bottom. Expert opinions point towards reasons such as negligible career incentives, players quitting by mid-20s, and no proper coaching structures in place. Former national champion Vasanth Bharadwaj proposes that talent should be identified and nurtured, academy-type structures put in place, and a number of team championships organized to revive the game. The decline of especially worrying since table tennis requires such little infrastructure and lends itself greatly towards participation. 

 

Source: Deccan Herald