Siliguri: Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) is not plagued with funds crisis and is ready to build an academy at the table tennis city here, TTFI general secretary M C Chowhan said here today.

The West Bengal government, he said, had assured them of the land in which the academy would be set up. Reacting to remarks of former Swedish coach Benbon that insufficient funds was the hurdle for Indian table tennis, Chowhan said the Union government was generous in providing funds to uplift the sport.

He said salaries of national coaches would be increased from existing Rs 15,000 per month to 50,000-60,000 per month. Chowhan said psychologist Dr Kakaunja had been nominated to motivate senior players to participate in national and international contests. Chowhan, who was also the vice-president of Indian Olympic Association, told reporters that selecting two teams from a particular state to help provide them better chances proved beneficial in case of West Bengal and Maharashtra.

In near future, the TTFI has plans to have two teams from Uttar Pradesh as well. Chowhan said that TT teams for Youth Commonwealth Games at Pune and for the international meet in China next month would be declared at the end of the 69th National and Inter-state Table Tennis Championship here on February 2.

Source : PTI