Kolkata:
The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has decided to extend foreign coach Massimo Costantini's contract, and is going to submit its Long-Term Development Programme (LTDP) proposal to the government on Monday.
TTFI General Dhanraj Chowdhury told PTI that it has given the proposal for the Italian coach's contract renewal, as he had a successful stint having helped India win five medals at the Commonwealth Games.
The 52-year-old's contract expired after the Guangzhou Asian Games, but if it's renewed, he will resume charge by March first week.
"We are really satisfied with him. We are looking forward to his second stint," Chowdhury said.
The LTDP is a four-year blueprint which every national federation presents to the sports ministry detailing its plans, programme and requirements.
It has also confirmed that top paddlers from Asia will be seen in action when India host the Asian Junior and South Asian Junior Championships next year.
"Top Asian junior players will be seen in action in the Asian Junior to be held in July. In the month of September, South Asian Junior will be held in Lucknow," Chowdhury said.
In another development, Bihar, Pondicherry and Uttar Pradesh are competing to host next year's senior nationals and inter-state championship.
A final decision will be taken at the TTFI's annual general meeting, to be held in New Delhi in the first week of March.
The TTFI said it has an infrastructure ready in Indore for the National Table Tennis Centre, built at an approximate budget of Rs 30 lakh.
"It is ready and will be inaugurated on April 1. There will be 64 trainees in the sub-junior and junior age groups. We have also asked for a foreign coach for the age-group players. Besides imparting training to the players, the coach will be in charge of the aspiring coaches."
It has proposed to get another foreign coach --preferably a Chinese -- for the academy in Indore.