The acting president of Fiji Table Tennis Association, Narendra Lal, is happy that competitions are back after receiving its return-to-sports certificate from the Fiji National Sports Commission recently.
Lal said the FTTA was keen to resume competitions.
“We’ve been dreaming almost every day for the past several months of returning to the courts and playing competitive matches again,” he said.
“Initially, we thought the suspension of the sport would be for probably a couple of months when the second wave started. It is exciting news that table tennis has been revived in the country. We’re happy to become one of the many sports to return to action post-second wave of COVID-19.”
Lal said the safety and health of their members remained the top priority, hence stringent COVID-19 prevention and control measures were implemented based on the directives of relevant authorities.
“The ‘No Jab No Play’ policy applies to every player, official, coach, development officer including any executive at all level. There is no substitute for vaccination. Bluetooth must be activated to be in place and check-in and check-out to be done by using the CareFiji App.
“Masking up is mandatory for those players not competing and so is avoiding gathering in groups.
“The athletes will greet each other by nodding instead of shaking hands and maintaining a safe distance between the players and coaches including the non-sharing of sports equipment’s.”
He said awareness programs for athletes, coaches, administration, technical officials, volunteers, affiliates and various clubs pertaining to the safe return to sports protocols were ongoing.
