Table Tennis is a sport on the rise in India and as with any developing sport, grassroots and domestic avenues are very important for its continued growth.
Prime Table Tennis (PTT) is one such domestic league that has made news.
After a successful first season, PTT is back for its second edition, which includes many new changes to make the game more exciting for both players and fans.
PTT CEO Abhishek Jain spoke with Read in an exclusive interview about the company’s objectives and the changes introduced in season two.
“As a passionate sports enthusiast, I have always believed in the power of sports to unite people,” he said.
“Table tennis, in particular, has the potential to grow in India, where talent is abundant but opportunities for professional leagues have been relatively scarce,” he added.
This is where his inspiration behind starting PTT comes from, to launch a professional league that serves as a platform for paddlers.
“Our vision is to position table tennis as a premier professional sport in India, bringing it on par with other well-established leagues. Our mission is to identify, nurture, and promote the best table tennis talent across the country,” he said.
Changes in PTT Season 2
Abhishek emphasized the expansion of the league into other states outside of Maharastra and also taking the game to 2nd and 3rd tier cities.
“Another significant change is the affiliation of our promotional leagues like “Prime Masters League,” which will add another layer of competition and bring in senior players with experience and strategy,” Abhishek said.
One of the innovations the inaugural edition brought was the concept of ‘Golden Singles,’ a new format that increases the stakes and excitement and it has now become the hallmark of the league following its positive feedback.
“The Entire idea of creating a new format Golden Singles is the masterstroke and is loved all across. We are looking to make it the key USP of our league. This is a major attraction to GenZ crowd and we are already in conversation with some fantasy games company to bring it live for users,” he said.
Expansion into Madhya Pradesh
For season two, one of the biggest changes is the expansion of the league into Madhya Pradesh, and Abhishek talks about its significance, stating the untapped potential in the state.
“Having Madhya Pradesh as our 2nd State is like winning even before playing. Mr. Jayesh Acharya who is also one of the advisories of PTT is the sole inspiration to expand from Madhya Pradesh and with a stadium like Abhay Prashal there is no stopping the growth of the league,” Abhishek remarked.
“These States have immense untapped potential for talent and fan engagement. These regions are often overlooked by mainstream leagues, but they have passionate sports communities that deserve to be included,” he said.
“Additionally, bringing the league to these states/cities gives local players a chance to shine on a bigger stage,” he added.
He also spoke about the Prime Masters League, a promotional league that runs as a subsidiary to the main event.
Speaking on that, Abhishek said “It is designed to bring in experienced and senior players who have a wealth of knowledge and expertise. These players will act as mentors and leaders, contributing both on and off the table. It will also draw attention from fans who follow these veterans, thus expanding our audience base and promoting the sport more holistically.”
PTT’s vision
Abhishek’s primary aim is to ensure PTT expands across multiple cities and states, making it the premier table tennis league in the country.
With the fast growth of the sport in India, he feels such an initiative will be a major pull factor, which in turn can contribute further, to its development.
“Indian table tennis is on a promising growth trajectory with current performances of Indian Star players at Olympics and Asian level, though it has not received as much attention as hockey and football. However, with initiatives like Prime Table Tennis, we are seeing increased recognition of the sport,” he said.
“We aim to establish Prime Table Tennis as the leading table tennis league in India by continuously improving the player experience and enhancing fan engagement. In the long term, we want to develop PTT into a world-class league that not only nurtures national talent but also attracts international players,” he concluded.
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