NIAPA will organise the first Hornbill Smash table tennis championship in Chümoukedima from December 3 to 5.
KOHIMA — The Northeast India Academy of Performing Arts (NIAPA) Khelo India Centre (KIC) announced on Tuesday that it will organise the inaugural edition of the NIAPA Hornbill Smash, a table tennis championship, from December 3 to the 5th at its Table Tennis Indoor Stadium, 4th Mile, Agri Expo site, Chümoukedima.
The three-day championship will be organised under the aegis of the state government, in collaboration with the Department of Youth Resources and Sports (DYRS) and the Department of Tourism, as part of the 27th edition of the Hornbill Festival.
According to the organisers, the championship aims to bring together table tennis players from different states and regions, providing a platform for sporting competition, interaction, and cultural exchange during the annual festival.
The inaugural edition will feature 10 categories: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Under-17 Boys' Singles, Under-17 Girls' Singles, Under-15 Boys' Singles, Under-15 Girls' Singles, and Doubles 75+ (Combined Age).
The championship will also be open to table tennis enthusiasts, tourists, and visitors travelling to Nagaland during the Hornbill Festival.
NIAPA, a registered society established on July 31, 2003, was recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, in 2022, with its Table Tennis Centre designated as a Khelo India Centre under Chümoukedima district.
The academy has organised five editions of the annual NIAPA Northeast Open Table Tennis Championship since 2021, providing competitive exposure to players and contributing to the promotion of the sport in the Northeast.
Officials from NIAPA said the introduction of Hornbill Smash was aimed at expanding sporting opportunities during the festival while combining competitive sports with Nagaland's cultural and tourism experience. The academy has also extended invitations to table tennis associations across the country to encourage their players to participate in the championship.
Interested participants can contact the organisers on 9856446674 or 9233722116, or via email at neperformingarts11@gmail.com for registration and further details. Participants residing in Nagaland have been requested to complete their registration by November 26.