Surreal feeling to be playing tournaments again: Paddler Mudit

Paddler Mudit Dani is all set to take on Finland's Olah Benedek in the men's singles qualifying round one as the international table tennis tournaments kick-off for the 2021 season with the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Doha later today.

Paddler Mudit D is all set to take on Finland's Olah Benedek in the men's singles qualifying round one as the international table tennis tournaments kick-off for the 2021 season with the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Doha later today.

While a long lay off away from the sport due to pandemic, the Doha tournament will be a different experience for all the players as they resume playing on the international circuit.

"It's an unbelievable feeling to restart over here. I feel the same butterflies in my stomach when I played my first ever senior tournament. Though this time I'm more prepared. And it's a surreal feeling to be back here where I played the tournament [Qatar Open] just before the pandemic hit the world," Mudit said in an official release.

Mudit revealed that during the Covid-19 induced lockdown, the 20-year-old worked on his technique and fitness.

"The break gave me an opportunity to work a lot on strength training, technique, body movements, and physical aspects. I also worked on my third-ball technique and service receive. That is something I look forward to seeing how it works out in the game," Mudit, who clinched his first senior international media in US Open last year, said.

The third-ball attack is a trick players use to gain points while serving through utilising the return ball. Achanta Sharath Kamal, Gnanasekaran Sathiyan, Mka Batra and Sutirtha Mukherjee are among the 13 Indians who will be seen in action at the WTT Contender Doha.

( With inputs from ANI )