With the football World Cup looming over it, the CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) promoters would be hoping that at least their fraternity does not turn its back on the tournament’s second edition, which will commence on Thursday at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex.
Joao Monteiro, the Portuguese veteran who will be leading Maharashtra United, will be hoping to avenge last year’s semifinal loss to eventual champion Falcons TTC during the tournament-opener even as the 34-year-old veteran will also be keeping an eye on Friday night’s World Cup clash between Portugal and Spain.
After all, Cristiano Ronaldo used to be his sparring partner at times during Monteiro’s first stint with the Sporting academy in Lisbon. Monteiro recalls that Ronaldo, who also was at Sporting, would be a regular in the table tennis hall.
“Ronaldo enjoyed playing table tennis. Almost everyday before practice, he would come with a few friends and play with us. Even now he mentions table tennis as his hobby,” Monteiro told The Hindu after his team’s training on Wednesday.
- Teams: 6 (Dabang Smashers TTC, Empowerji Challengers, Falcons TTC, Maharashtra United, RP-SG Mavericks, Warriors TTC)
Having led Portuguese table tennis’ rise, thanks to the team’s fifth-place finish at the London Olympics in 2012 and the team gold at the European championship two years later, Monteiro is chuffed to be among the most sought-after sportspersons in Portugal besides footballers. But he still has a regret of sorts.
“I am a team match lover. I love playing for somebody than playing for myself,” Monteiro says. “This is my sport. Yes, it is primarily an individual sport but many competitions are team events. I love playing team matches. Many time when I speak with friends, I feel maybe I am not in the right sport because I love playing team sport. But I have learnt to deal with it.”
Maharashtra United would be hoping the veteran would help them get off the blocks by upsetting the defending champion come Thursday.