New Delhi to host 2009 Asian Table Tennis Championship

New Delhi, Sep 19 (UNI) Another feather was added in New Delhi's cap after it won the bid to host the the 2009 Asian Table Tennis Championship after 15 years, amid an angry walk-out by rival Qatar from a meeting held today in Yangzhou, China.

The Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) gave the nod in favour of New Delhi after 22 out of 24 member nations voted in favour of the Indian capital ahead of Doha.

Interestingly, seeing the majority vote in favour of New Delhi the Qatar representatives stormed out of the meeting, only to return back later.

''New Delhi has won the bid to host the 2009 Asian Table Tennis Championsip defeating Doha Qatar,'' Table Tennis Federation of India, secretary Moolchand Chouhan told UNI from Yangzhou, China.

''It will provide us the opportunity to test our facilities before the 2010 Commonwealth Games,'' he added.

India last hosted the championship way back in 1992.

Meanwhile, though ATTU president Li Furong admitted that most of voters were on New Delhi's side, but he did not disclose the result of the voting.

He also admitted that it came as a right decision in favour of India as Qatar has hosted a number of major sports event in the last couple of years.

''Qatar has held a lot of major sports events including the 2004 World Table Tennis Championships and the 2006 Asian Games, while India has been away from major table tennis events for 15 years,'' he said.

Meanwhile, TTFI secretary Mr Chouhan said that India won the bid by a majority as 22 out of 24 member nations were in New Delhi's side.

''22 member nations voted for New Delhi (India). Only two Arab countries voted in Doha's favour,'' he informed.

''We are definitely delighted to host the 2009 Asian Championship.

''World's top players will be participating in the championship which will also provide us the opportunity to test our players as well as our facilities prior to the Commonwealth Games,'' he added.

UNI