Doubles temptations bring Maria back home after five years

Maria Rony, the Kerala-born Karnataka table tennis champion, hopes to do well in the national doubles circuit with her old partner Seraha

When Maria Rony last played in Kerala table tennis circuit five years ago, there was a vibrant bunch of girls who gave a good fight to each other.

Maria, the Karnataka State women’s singles champion, is back in Kerala now but many familiar faces are missing.

“So much has changed. Seraha is the only name standing...almost all from my batch have stopped now. Now many kids, like Pranati (Nair), are there,” said Maria, in a chat with The Hindu, from Alappuzha, on Thursday evening.

The Kerala TT season opens on Friday with the John Philipose ranking tournament in Alappuzha and all eyes will be on Maria.

The 26-year-old, who ruled Kerala for nearly a decade and was in the Asian team that won the Global Cadet Challenge in Puerto Rico in 2012, will begin as an unseeded player on her return.

Maria has won the Karnataka title thrice in the last five years, so will Kerala be an easier world?

“I’m not thinking of anything like that. I’m also playing here after five years, maybe after two or three tournaments I’ll figure that out,” said Maria.