Imphal: Manipur Table Tennis Association added two more international umpires - Aribam Bamdev Sharma and Pebam Tomtom - to its rank.

The duo recently cleared the International Table Tennis Umpires Examinations held in Bangalore on April 1. Altogether 170 umpires from India appeared for the examination and only 41 cracked it.

The Manipur Table Tennis Association feted Sharma and Tomtom at its office at Indoor Stadium on DM College Campus here along with Ksh. Mahendra Singh, who is an International Blue Badge umpire, increasing the number of international umpires from the state to three.

Indian Revenue Services assistant commissioner (central GST) Rk. Devendra Singh said with the addition of the two international umpires, the table tennis scene in Manipur would fare much better in its conduct, including settling of crucial decisions during a match.

He also said, "It is very heartening to note that apart from excelling in sport, it is also imperative that we make inroads into the technical aspects of sports, including producing umpires and referees. The induction of the two umpires in international ranking needs to be lauded to push the sporting spirit forward in the right direction."

Rk. Devendra appealed to Manipur Table Tennis Association to come out with more development programmes for the players in the state. Later, he feted Sharma and Tomtom with Rs 5,000 each and Mahendra Singh with Rs 10,000.

Sharma hails from Thoubal district while Tomtom hails from Heirangoithong Maibam Leikai, Imphal West.