The 28th Inter-District and State Table Tennis Championship began in Kohima with 13 districts competing for top honours.
KOHIMA — The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 28th Inter-District and State Table Tennis Championship got underway at the Indoor TT Stadium, Kohima, on Tuesday, with Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye attending the opening ceremony as the special guest.
In his address, he expressed delight that the Nagaland Table Tennis Association (NTTA) had grown in leaps and bounds. He recalled that table tennis began as an entertainment activity for the English society during the Victorian age.
He shared that the game originated from a dining table among the higher class in 1880, and soon became popular. It was patented in 1885, while the first formal tournament was organised in London on May 2, 1902. He added that the championship was instituted in 1922 in London, which soon became international.
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Kenye stated that in 1977 table tennis was admitted as an Olympic discipline, while in Nagaland, parents and seniors had already started the NTTA in 1972, five years ahead of its Olympic recognition. He urged athletes to appreciate and thank the pioneers and elders who introduced the game, which has now spanned more than four decades in the state.
He expressed happiness that while earlier there were only five or six participating teams, this year 13 districts out of 17 are represented. He noted that although table tennis is an Olympic discipline, it has remained in the background compared to other non-Olympic disciplines, which receive more financial and moral support.
On behalf of the state government, Kenye pledged to explore ways and means to boost and encourage the table tennis tournament to a higher level, producing sportspersons who could participate in regional, national, and international competitions.
He asserted that Nagas are naturally gifted in sports due to their active way of life, which accounts for their physical strength and vitality. He urged athletes to believe in themselves and cultivate determination, strong will, and self-confidence to achieve victory.
Earlier, NTTA President Vitho Neikha delivered the presidential address and said the association had been endeavouring to promote table tennis in Nagaland. Unlike in previous years, this edition will award two bronze medals to both semi-finalists in addition to gold and silver.
Neikha highlighted that 13 districts are participating in this year’s edition and expressed hope for exponential growth across all districts. He acknowledged the government for providing three Khelo India Coaching Centres for table tennis in Chümoukedima, Tseminyu, and Tuensang. He added that children from these districts are performing well, with some taking part in the championship.
He also informed that the incumbent NTTA team would complete its tenure by May 2026 and called upon affiliated districts to take part in the election when it is announced.
The championship will conclude on October 3.