DESPITE the odds, the organisers of the Bendigo & District Table Tennis Association\u2019s 2021 Junior\/Senior Open are determined to get the annual tournament across the line on the weekend of Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 22 August.<\/p>\n
Association president Gary Warnest said, \u201cIt’s all go at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to cancel our tournament last year, so this is one that we’ve really wanted to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve actually had some more entries coming in as a result of two other tournaments being postponed, Yarrawonga and Shepparton,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
With extra demand for entries coming because the Bendigo competition is part of the state circuit, Mr Warnest said many players are keen to work towards selection for the Victorian team by competing.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlayers accrue state ranking points for their particular age group, and that goes into whether or not they get selected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s why when some of the other tournaments have been postponed, people have jumped onto Bendigo because they want to come and earn those points.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bendigo\u2019s Table Tennis Complex on Victoria Street, Eaglehawk is primed to welcome all and sundry after an impressive recent renovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve upgraded the whole stadium,\u201d Mr Warnest said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the lighting has been upgraded to LED, and the council has come in and replaced the toilets. There\u2019s new chairs, all new carpets, and everything\u2019s been repainted.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we’ve got the stadium looking really schmick.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be planning on going ahead right up until the last minute, but it can still get knocked on the head.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re not going to preempt anything like that, at this stage, and we’ll be as positive about it as we possibly can.\u201d<\/p>\n