Karaganda, Kazakhstan, November 24, 2020: The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, opened an international-standard table tennis centre in Karaganda, the fourth most populous city in Kazakhstan, on Monday, November 23.
The Saryarka Table Tennis Centre has a total floor area of 4,500 square metres and can host national and international tournaments to the standards set by the International Table Tennis Federation. It will also cater to the community with 400 people being able to play every day.
Young athletes Alan Kurmangaliev, 13, recognised by the ITTF as a future star, and Zhanerka Koshhumbayeva thanked the Head of State for support in the development of table tennis and presented him with a souvenir.
“This is a good facility with all the necessary conditions in place. I would like to express my gratitude to the President of the Table Tennis Federation of Kazakhstan, Daniyar Abulgazin, the Governor of the Karaganda Region, Zhenis Kasymbek, and the head coach of the Kazakhstan national team, Elmira Aliyeva,” President Tokayev said.
Tokayev noted the importance of developing mass sports and getting the population involved in sports, and expressed confidence the centre would promote a healthy lifestyle and popularise table tennis in Karaganda, 230 km from the capital Nur-Sultan.
Addressing the young athletes, Tokayev added: “I wish the children new victories and I believe that you will achieve success in the future. The more you train, the more achievements you will achieve.”
The centre meets the highest international standards and features a competition hall with 18 tables, a training room with nine tables, a gym, a medical office, a conference room, showers and top-quality flooring and lighting. It was financed by the Table Tennis Federation of Kazakhstan.
Source: Olympic.Kz
