The Malagasy Table Tennis Federation has published the new list of table tennis players who will defend the national colors in Accra. Three expatriates are called in as reinforcements by the team for the African Games in Ghana from March 8 to 24.
Reshuffled squad. A few days before the African Games in Ghana, a modification was made to the list of table tennis players. It was planned to field eight players at the beginning but following the government’s decision, the Malagasy Table Tennis Federation was obliged to reduce the list to four. However, according to the explanations of the national technical director, Tahiry Rakotoarisoa, the body negotiated with the Weightlifting Federation to have two other places so that the Malagasy table tennis players can play in the team event. The request was approved, three men and three women, following the list established by the federation, finally constituted the national table tennis team. Among the men, Mamy Setra Rakotoarisoa tops the list. He is a local player, three times champion of Madagascar before becoming an expatriate. The choice is logical for the Federation because Fetra is likely to bring home a medal. The other expatriate, Fabio Rakotoarimanana, is the second player. African champion, he has just represented the Big Island at the World Championship in Busan, South Korea. The reigning Madagascar champion, Mamy Riva Rakotoarisoa, completes the list. A big disappointment for Lino Razafindralambo who will ultimately not be able to participate in this meeting, even though he was first during the selection test match which was held recently. “After so much effort, after the gold medal obtained at the Island Games, after qualifying in first place during the national selection to participate in these games, after having prepared all the necessary paperwork and vaccinations, just a few days before departure, I was told that I would not be leaving,” he laments. For the ladies, Hanitra expatriate Karen Raharimanana, East African champion is on the list. The title holder, Océane Rakotondrazaka, and Fitia Rakotonirainy, first in the last ranking of the quarter-finalists complete the national team. “So far the federation is trying to negotiate with partners and colleagues to get places so that other players can leave,” added the DTN.
Manjata Razafy