JEDDAH, 22 February 2004 — The Third LG Table Tennis Tournament will have a new look and will be played during April this year. The popular table tennis event will not have the team event this year, but will be restricted to singles and doubles contests.
Announcing the start of registration for the event, LG Electronic Saudi Arabia General Manager H. K. Seo said that he expected the new format to increase the popularity of the sport. “With precision and perfection being the common denominator between LG and the game we hope to extend this philosophy with a marathon event in the Eastern Province,” Seo said at a press conference here yesterday.
“The tourney will start in the third or fourth week of April and run till May, with the prize distribution ceremony being held immediately after the contests,” he added.
“After the tremendous feedback we received following the first two events, we have decided to hold a marathon Table Tennis fest over a weekend in the Eastern Province. Then we may also go to the Central Region,” Seo said while stating that this move was in line with the LG creed to be a trend setter.
Highlighting the new format and work done in setting the marathon event in the Eastern Province, S. M. Arshad, deputy general manager of LG Electronics, said: “We are in talks with the Al Nahda Club in the region and they, in principle, are in accord to host the event. The club has eight tables and the proposed matches are likely to start on a Thursday morning and run through to Friday evening.”
“Though we will be using the resources of the club for the event, we may well take the help of the Jeddah Table Tennis League (JTTL) officials, if need be,” Arshad added.
The JTTL are organizing the event once again here and the matches are likely to be played at the Sofitel Hotel. JTTL President Asadullah Ghalib, while elaborating on the format, said that the matches would be played according to the international rules — 11 points.
“But the key change this year is that the team event has been canceled and the members can display their individual flair (as team members or as individual entries) while also increase their chances in the doubles by pairing off with the best,” he added.
Seo emphasized that LG has been in the forefront of organizing social and sporting events and this tournament is one such activity. This was echoed by Arshad, who said that the event is a social activity rather than a competition. “There will be fun with the amateurs and the more skilled players mixing it in the tournament,” he added.
Last date for entries is March 31. Entry forms can be availed at the LG office or JTTL. Those seeking to participate, contact Nadeem Khan of LG at 2566367 or 2561581.
