KUALA LUMPUR, 17 AUGUST, 2011: The Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) announced that the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Beirut from Sept 12-18 has been cancelled due to safety reasons.

 

The cancellation was in relation to the threat to the safety in Lebanon purportedly due to the ongoing violence in neighboring country – Syria.

 

 

The Union which expressed their deepest apologies, however, did not announce the new date or venue for the competition.

 

Following the cancellation, the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) can also reviewed its plan to send Muhd Shakirin Ibrahim, Chai Kian Beng, Muhamad Ashraf Haiqal Muhamad Riza, Beh Lee Wei, Ng Sock Khim, Chiu Soo Jiin and Lee Rou You.

 

TTAM executive director Soong Poh Wah when contacted confirmed the status of the tournament.

 

"TTAM was hoping to use the tournament as the final preparation for the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia," he told Bernama here today.

 

Soong said following the cancellation, the players would continue training at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil before leaving to Indonesia for the SEA Games from Nov 11-25.

 

Among countries that were expected to participate in the tournament were Malaysia, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, India, Japan, South Korea and China.

 

 

 

- Bernama

 

 

 

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