A S Chautala re-elected as the president of TTFI

Chandigarh, June 3 (UNI) Ajay Singh Chautala president of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), was uanimously re-elected president of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) in Jaipur.

M C Chowhan was also re-elected as secretary- general of the CTTF. Next election of CTTF will be held after the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

In a statement issued here today, Chautala said TTFI would press International Table Tennis Federation for raising the minimum time limit for players to play for the parent country before allowing other country to induct their player into its national team.

The TTFI would ask for increasing the time limit to six years from the existing three years. Taking benefit of this lacuna the players of countries like China are playing for many other countries these days.

He said,''TTFI will also seek the support of other countries on this issue as this rule is in opposition to upgrading level of table tennis''. Pressing for immediate action, he said the time limit was too low and was discouraging the local talents of other countries.

Chautala added that the sports organizations and federations should adopt player friendly approach and proper care of their interests should be taken. He called for due respect and honour for the sports talents. He said, "TTFI has always attempted for better guidance and training for the players and good results are there for everyone to see". He asked the Government of India to be more considerate and pro-active towards the sports cause.

Chautala has thanked the members for reposing faith in his leadership. He assured the members that he would continue to work for more interaction among the Commonwealth countries and improvement of the intensity of the game in the member countries.

Chautala has been associated with social, political and sports activities. He is the only Indian to hold the post. He has been elected to the post of CTTF president for the third consecutive time. In 2001, he has succeeded Mr. Alan Kansome of England.

During his tenure as TTFI president, Indian table tennis has achieved many notable achievements at the different commonwealth and other international events. Indian men team won title for the first time in the history of Indian sports at the 18 th Melbourne commonwealth games, 2006.

In these games, A. Sharath Kamal also gave India its first ever Commonwealth singles gold medal; women team won the bronze medal.

In 2004 commonwealth table tennis championships, Indian men had won team won gold. Indian players in that championship also won individual gold and silver. The Indian men and women table tennis team finished silver and bronze medallists in the Commonwealth Championship concluded yesterday at Jaipur.

Chautala has also been continuing as the president of the Haryana Table Tennis Association, since 1987.

UNI