The 15th Kohima District Table Tennis Championship-cum-4th Inter-School Championship 2026 got underway on Thursday at the Kohima Indoor Table Tennis Stadium, with more than 80 athletes competing in 13 categories. The two-day championship will conclude on August 15.
The tournament has brought together players from across Kohima district, including school students, emerging players, experienced competitors and veterans. Organised by the Kohima District Table Tennis Association (KDTTA), the championship aims to provide competitive exposure, encourage participation among school-going children and revive table tennis in the district.
The tournament holds added significance as it may be among the last major events at the existing indoor stadium before its proposed demolition for the construction of a new facility. The old stadium has served generations of players for more than five decades and remains an important part of Kohima’s sporting history.
The KDTTA said table tennis had enjoyed considerable popularity and success in Kohima in the past but experienced a prolonged period of stagnation, particularly due to the absence of a regular coach for more than a decade. Recent efforts by the association, senior players, veterans and parents, with support from the government and the wider sports fraternity, have brought renewed interest in the sport.
The association has sought to revive the discipline through tournaments, regular practice sessions and coaching classes for young players. It said the growing participation of children had provided fresh optimism for the sport.
While welcoming the government’s plan for a modern stadium, the KDTTA has expressed concern over the availability of an alternative venue during the transition. It said a prolonged interruption in training could affect players’ timing, footwork, technique and competitive development.
The association has appealed to the government to identify a suitable indoor facility for year-round practice and coaching until the new stadium is completed.
The championship features five schools, G. Rio School, Azedon School, Vineyard School, Northfield School and Living Tree School, competing for the 4th Inter-School Championship title. The KDTTA has invited parents, teachers, sports enthusiasts and well-wishers to attend the event and encourage the young participants.
The association also expressed gratitude to the family of late Zunthungo Ovung for sponsoring the Inter-School Championship trophies and the Men’s and Women’s Singles prize money.
The KDTTA said the championship is an opportunity to celebrate the sport’s legacy in Kohima while looking ahead to a new chapter with the proposed stadium.