The Korean Table Tennis Association has confirmed to Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association that seven players will participate in the annual event.
MATTA tournament coordinator Budhi Gurung said this will be the first time that a ping pong team from Korea will compete with teams from Saipan, Tinian and Guam.
Gurung noted that the goodwill tournament “is getting very popular.” Last time, he recalled, a Japanese group of 11 players participated.
Each association, Gurung said will have to form one or two teams with three to four players each to play against the other organizations’ pair of teams. The two teams under the same association will not compete against each other.
The format of the tournament will be- team competition, singles and doubles.
Since Tinian will be the host, the island’s team will decide whether to play best of seven or best of five in team competition.
Then, singles and doubles will be played on a knock-out basis.
The last tournament was held in Gilbert C. Ada Gym between Saipan and Tinian in October 2009.
Tinian took the championship after beating Saipan Team by 34 to 30.
MATTA is inviting all members of the community to watch the game.
Gurung added that since many local players from Saipan have already left the island, some Korean players who are also members of the Korean Ping pong Association will combine with local players to form Saipan Team.
He said this is the third time that Korean Ping Pong Association players blend with Saipan to compete against the other teams.
This time, the Saipan Team will be competing against Korea, Tinian and Guam.
Saipan Team is composed of Gurung, MATTA president Steve Lim, Jean Shi and Edward who trained in China and played for the past seven years in Australia.
Since he has been here for just three months, Edward who is still a student will play with Saipan Team for the first time.
The Saipan Team also include Mrs. Roh, Korean Ping Pong Association president, Mr. Park and Mr. Kim.
Junior Kim, 32, who has been on Saipan for the past four months only, is a bronze medalist in All-Korean School Table Tennis Championship.
The Tinian Team is composed of playing coach Ma, Luke, Charlie, Sudong, Robin, Bright, Mr. Alfred and Mr. Liyang.
