6 countries, 14 regions of Russia: an international table tennis tournament has opened in Sabah.

      Minnihanov, Levitin, and World-Class Tennis in Rich Sabas

      State Scale and the "Wooden Cup" for Masters

      The opening ceremony gathered the political and sports elite of Tatarstan, as well as distinguished guests from Moscow, in Rich Sabas. Starting the games, the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnihanov and the advisor to the President of Russia, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Table Tennis Federation Igor Levitin emphasized that these competitions have long surpassed regional boundaries. The international table tennis tournament appeared in what seemed to be a little-known spot on the sports map three years ago; however, this sport has been well-known and practiced here for a long time – simultaneously, the 24th Republican individual and team table tennis competitions are taking place on the floor of the modern "Saba-Arena" complex. "24 years ago, we could not even imagine that such an international tournament would take place in Sabas. And I want to tell you that the representatives of the federation [of table tennis of Russia] brought a cup made of wood here. Since you are people who know how to work with wood," said Igor Levitin at the tournament's opening ceremony, hinting, obviously, at the rich traditions of forestry management in the Sabinsky district. Indeed, in the "Saba-Arena," which other million-plus cities would envy, representatives not only from Russian regions but also from countries traditionally strong in table tennis gathered. Rustam Minnihanov, opening the competitions, was brief and also noted the scale of the event: "This year, the tournament features 6 countries, 14 regions of Russia, 40 districts and cities of Tatarstan. A total of more than 260 of the strongest athletes are participating in the competitions. A very serious tournament. We are systematically developing sports infrastructure and wish all participants bright victories, worthy and fair competition."

      Chinese Students and Russian Leaders. Why Do Foreigners Only Fear Russians?

      When the first matches began, it became clear that the prize places would not be given away easily. The tournament attracted leaders of the Russian ranking: Maria Tylakova, Vlada Voronina, Maxim Grebnev. And if someone thought that the arrival of Chinese tennis players automatically settled the question of the winners, they were greatly mistaken. The foreign participants quickly realized that an easy stroll awaited them in Sabas. Nadima Nurbekova from the Tajikistan team, who lives and trains in Moscow, did not hide her surprise at the level of competition. For her, this tournament was a revelation: "The level is very strong. Very strong! Although we knew that top players would be here, we did not expect it to be this strong. It turned out that there are very good, very powerful athletes here. The Chinese? I wouldn't say they are the most serious here. The strongest athletes in this competition, as it turned out, are the Russian athletes." Belarusian Ulyana Meshchanskaya came to Sabas for the third time. She noted that the tournament constantly improves in quality: "We are here for the third time. These competitions are very strong; strong athletes from the Russian Federation have come. I think the tournament is at a good high level. Perhaps with each year, even stronger athletes are added, so yes, it is progressing."

      Special interest was aroused by the guys from China – Tian Tian and Wu Junxin. They represent Kazan Federal University, and their uniforms displayed the university's logo. The guys are seriously engaged in tennis: Tian Tian has seven years of professional training behind him. Both athletes noted that the organization in Rich Sabas is "excellent," and the participant lineup is dense and even. When Chinese athletes acknowledge the strength of their opponents, it is always the best marker of the quality of the competition.

      "Kaef," or Tatar Hospitality

      It is clear that a comfortable arena is just part of the success of any good-level competition; it is equally important to organize the living conditions for guests. Not every Olympics has managed this – just think of Paris and Tokyo with their cardboard beds. Nadima Nurbekova compared the reception in Tatarstan with her experiences in the capital – and the comparison was not in favor of Moscow: "Hospitality is at the highest level. Not like everywhere else. We are from Tajikistan but live in Moscow. If we compare Moscow and Kazan, the people here are very hospitable." Ulyana Meshchanskaya was also satisfied with the conditions, which are critically important for the mood to play: "Rich Sabas is a very hospitable settlement. We were accommodated very well, and the conditions for the competitions are also very good." For the tournament guests, not only a sports program was organized but also a cultural one. Rustam Minnihanov and Igor Levitin visited new venues – the youth center "Kaef" and the children's creativity center "Osta." These are modern recreational and educational spaces where children and teenagers engage in everything from carpentry to choreography.

      In the first venue, there are provisions for a play area, skate and air parks, a climbing wall, a choreography hall, and a computer zone. In "Osta," work is being done in 16 areas: woodworking and metalworking, pottery and sewing, mosaics, painting, physics, chemistry, biology classrooms, and more. Young Sabas residents engage in computer classes, work in a student television studio, and learn technical modeling. It is evident that the district lives not only by reports but also by real projects. Chinese students, accustomed to the scales of their native Shanghai and Chongqing, appreciated the local coziness. Tian Tian simply and succinctly said, "This is a good place; I love being here." Finals are ahead. And Rich Sabas has already begun preparing for the next anniversary year. They promise to raise the bar even higher.

      Photos: Press Service of the President of Tatarstan

      Video: Erik Dobrolyubov / "Tatar-inform"