Busy days for Academy players

Last month saw a myriad of activities in the local table tennis scene with members of the Table Tennis Academy (TTA) being at the forefront with a healthy participation.

The main event was the Junior World Circuit of the International Table Tennis Federation which was hosted in Malta for the first time.

Elite cadet and junior players from all over Europe, including Malta, took part in singles and doubles tournaments over four days. This was preceded by a training camp for Academy players.

The Maltese contingent was largely made up of players from the TTA, including the likes of Daniel Vella Fondacaro, Steve Bugeja, Andrew Gambina, James Dawson and Andrea Portelli.

Last Saturday, the Civil Service Sports Club (CSSC) in Valletta hosted the fourth ranking tournament for TTA players.

Events were held in all categories (one to five star).

The five-star category saw Vella Fondacaro pipping Bugeja to first place, with brothers Daniel and Marcus Portelli taking third and fourth places respectively.

Record entry

The popular Davis Cup at the Academy, with a record entry of 12 teams, will soon get under way.

Teams are composed of two players each, playing singles and doubles over a period of two months.

All matches will be played at the CSSC under the watchful eyes of head coaches Mario Genovese and Edward Baldacchino.