LAHORE - The first outdoor table-tennis tables were inaugurated here at the Bagh-e-Jinnah Park in collaboration with Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) and Punjab Table Tennis Association (PTTA).
The notables present at the inauguration ceremony were PHA Chairman Yasir Gillani, Director General Jawad Ahmad Qureshi, PTTA President Irfan Ullah Khan, Maryam Mahmood, Asma Chishti, Masood, AsimQureshi, Shabnam Bilal, Bilal Yasin, Kashif Razzaq, Sana Nousheen, Sana Ch, young players and table tennis lovers.
Speaking on the occasion, PTTA President IrfanUllah said: “The purpose of establishing the first outdoor table-tennis tables at this historical place – Bagh-e-Jinnah – in the name of founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is that we want to motivate our youth towards sports under the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“These outdoor tables will help us find fresh talent of table tennis, which will be trained and groomed under our able and qualified coaches. We will also try to conduct good number of events so that our players may remain busy in healthy activities and win laurels for their province as well as for their country at higher level,” he added.
Former table tennis player Maryam Mahmood thanked the PHA and private sponsors for making this dream project come true. “I am very glad that we have planned well for our youth and we remained successful in completing this project. Hopefully, these outdoor tables will be protected and well-used by the young players under the supervision of PHA and Sports Board Punjab, who will take good care of these tables. We want this game flourish and with more such projects, future of table tennis in Pakistan will be quite bright.”