Will try to repeat last edition’s performance: Jennifer after being picked in Indian TT team

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR’S table tennis sensation Jennifer Varghese has been selected in the Indian team that will participate in the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship.

The championship will be organised by Table Tennis Arunachal under auspices and authority of the Asian Table Tennis Union and Table Tennis Federation of India from May 14 to 17 at Dorjee Khandu Badminton Hall, Rajbhawan, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.

At the last edition of the championship Jennifer had won three gold medals for the country. This year, too, the 14-year-old is hoping to repeat her performance.

“I am very happy about the selection and am looking forward to the championship,” Jennifer told ‘The Hitavada’ over phone from Delhi on Thursday.

Last year, Jennifer had won three gold medals in team, doubles and individuals event in the South Asian Championship which was held in Maldives. “I am hoping to repeat my performance this time too,” Jennifer, who trains under R Rajesh at Chennai, said.

This year, matches will be held in U-19 Boys’ and Girls’ Teams, U-15 Boys’ and Girls’ Teams, U-19 Boys’ and Girls’ Singles, U-15 Boys’ and Girls’ Singles, U-19 Boys’ and Girls’ Doubles, U-15 Boys’ and Girls’ Doubles and U-19 and U-15 Mixed Doubles.

In all probability, Jennifer will be participating in Under-15 events as she is ranked second in India. In U-19, she is at the third position.

Recently, Jennifer won the U-15 National Championship held in Alleppey, Kerala.

Earlier this year, Jennifer had won the Under-19 women’s singles title in the National Ranking Table Tennis Championship in Surat, Gujarat.

In an all-Maharashtra ‘B’ final, Jennifer rallied from a game down to beat Sayali Wani 4-1. 

The teenage prodigy of Nagpur, who trains at Chennai, has been excelling in the international arena since the last couple of years including a couple of WTT Youth Contender medals.