The region that boasts the largest number of teams in Serie A, with 4 championships won, the Italian table tennis championships had never hosted them. Cagliari and Sardinia will fill this gap from Saturday 18 to Saturday 25 March, when the PalaPirastu (with the support of the two Coni gyms of Monte Mixi) will host the absolute, second and third category national championships.
An appointment presented to the Regional Tourism Department in the presence of those who can be considered the main players, waiting to see the players at work. There was Gianni Chessa, landlord as councilor for tourism who has allocated 250,000 euros as part of the program of major sporting events; there were the presidents of Federtennistavolo Renato di Napoli (national) and Simone Carrucciu (regional), there was the Sardinian numbers one of Coni (Bruno Perra) and Cip (Carrucciu himself is commissioner), there was the mayor of Cagliari , Paolo Truzzu, with the councilor for Sport, Fioremma Landucci. “Bringing a major event to Sardinia was an ancient desire,” recalled Di Napoli. “We first had the opportunity to contribute to the new building in Cagliari and then we crowned this dream. Coming here is a great satisfaction”.
Chessa recalled the Region's commitment to extend the season: “Our dream is always that of a Sardinia that lives twelve months a year also thanks to sporting events. Table tennis had a very long tradition but there were no big events". In a continuous thanking each other for having managed to set up an event that was only guaranteed funding at the end of January, Truzzu wanted to add those to Fitet for “having made the 4 million Pnrr available for the new building. A choice determined, I think, also by the history of our city and our island in table tennis".
Around 400 table tennis players will compete, starting with the third category, under the eyes of Sardinian enthusiasts, including the youngest, given that schools have been involved: "I hope there are many children to see the competitions, when sport has a educational effect we know that the investment was successful”, commented Landucci. The races will be streamed live on federal channels and the final stages will also be broadcast on unionesarda.it.