Minister KG Kenye and others during the inaugural programme of UTT 28th Inter -District & State Table Tennis Championship 2025 in Kohima on September 30. (Morung Photo)
Government to explore ways to boost TT tournament to higher level: KG Kenye
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 30
A four day long UTT 28th Inter -District & State Table Tennis Championship 2025 under the aegis of the Nagaland Table Tennis Association (NTTA), kicked started today at Indoor TT Stadium, Kohima.
Nagaland Power & Parliamentary Affairs, Minister KG Kenye declared the tournament open.
Altogether, 143 players comprising 114 male and 29 women from 13 districts - Kohima, Mokokchung, Dimapur, Phek, Wokha, Shamator, Kiphire, Mon, Meluri, Niuland, Peren, Chümoukedima and Tuensang have registered for this tournament.
They will vie for coveted champion titles Under 15 Girls, Under 17 Girls, under 13 Boys, Under 15 Boys, Under 17 Boys, Men’s Singles, Men’s Double, 50+ Men’s, 40 + Men’s, Mixed Doubles and Team Event for both Men’s and Women’s.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Kenye lauded the efforts of the NTTA for promoting Table Tennis in the state. “We look forward to a time when 100% participation will be there from across our state,” he said. “This is an Olympic discipline. The other non-Olympic disciplines have gone far ahead. They get financial support, moral support, and their morals are boosted in every way,” he said.
Acknowledging the growing popularity of Table Tennis across the world, the minister however said “But the table tennis, which is an Olympic discipline, unfortunately has remained in the background until today.”
Kenye assured that the state government under Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio would explore ways and means to boost and encourage the table tennis tournament to a higher level.
He stressed on the need to produce excellent sports persons at the regional, national and even international level. “The Gold medal is ours. We will work towards it,” he said.
Stating that Nagas are naturally gifted in sports, Kenye said “Our ways of life for centuries, our grandfathers, our ancestors have been physically active, which was our way of life.”
Therefore, in anything which accounts for physical strength, vitality is always a prime area for us to exploit and manipulate, he said. “In the field of sports, unless you have a determination, a strong will, and so much self-confidence in yourself that I will win, you will not succeed,” the minister went on to state.
Supported by Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), led by Vita Dani and Niraj Bajaj, this Inter District & State Table Tennis championship aligns with UTT’s vision of securing an Olympic medal for India in table tennis by 2028.
UTT aims to build a world-class league that inspires youth, entertains fans, fosters grassroots development, and delivers value to all stakeholders.
Earlier, Ksh Mahendra Singh, a Blue Batch International Umpire from Imphal administered oath to the participating team. NTTA President Vitho Neikha delivered presidential address while programme was compered by Vincent Belho, publicity & information secretary NTTA.
The tournament will continue till October 3.
