Inaugural Indian TT League hits Rio Olympics roadblock

The inaugural Indian Table Tennis League, originally scheduled to be held in May-June, has been deferred due to the Rio Olympics in August.

The Rs one crore prize money league, announced in August last year, will now be held post the Olympics. The event had managed to get a dedicated window on the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) calendar.

In August, it was announced that 11EVEN Sports will be the promoters of the league in collaboration with the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).

11EVEN Sports chief Vita Dani, who is also the co-owner of Indian Super League franchise Chennaiyin FC, said dates of the league will be announced post the Olympics.

“We had a possible window available in May-June this year but since it was just ahead of the Rio Olympics, we decided not to pursue as Olympic is a landmark event in any athletes career and we would not want anything to come in way of a players preparations for the world event,” said Dani.

“We have planned the world’s first professional franchise based Table Tennis League in India, dates of which will be announced post the Rio Olympics,” she added.