Magiging punong-abala sa dalawang international table tennis tournaments sa Setyembre ang Puerto Princesa, kabisera ng magandang probinsya ng Palawan.
Mahigit 600 entries mula sa 20 bansa ang lalahok sa World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender Series sa Setyembre 3-6 at WTT Feeder Series sa Setyembre 8-12.
Gaganapin ang dalawang torneo sa Edward S. Hagedorn Coliseum.
Pilipinas ang may pinakamalaking bilang ng kalahok na 60 atleta. Pangungunahan ito ng national team member na si Kheith Rhynne Cruz, kasama ang isang koponan mula mismo sa Puerto Princesa.
“Hosting an international event here in our country is a huge help. First, because we can minimize costs and at the same time, we get to compete against world-class players,” ani Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc. (PTTF) president Ting Ledesma.
“They get to experience a world-class event and world-class players. That’s why, compared to the past, our players today aren’t fazed by their opponents or the massive venues anymore. They are already at ease,” dagdag niya.
Tampok sa Youth Series ang mga atletang edad 19 pababa, na may kabuuang 426 entries.
Ang Feeder Series ay open category na umakit ng 165 entries.
Nahati ang mga kategorya sa Under-11, U-13, U-15, U-17, at U-19 para sa kapwa babae at lalaki. Gaganapin din ang mixed doubles sa U-15 at U-19.
Kasali sa Youth Series ang Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, USA, Oman, Brunei at Slovakia.
Samantala, maglalaban sa Feeder Series ang Algeria, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Chinese Taipei, Oman, Brunei, Slovakia at Indonesia.
Isa ang Puerto Princesa sa mga nangungunang sports tourism hub sa bansa, matapos nitong idaos ang iba pang national at international competitions gaya ng Batang Pinoy, BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area) Friendship Games, Ironman 70.3 triathlon at World Dragon Boat Championships.
“We saw that these sports would bring life to our city. When international athletes visit us, we are recognized not only in the Philippines but throughout the world,” ayon kay Mayor Lucilo Bayron.