Sports tournaments and October. The two seem to go hand in hand with various sporting events kicking off this month across Nagaland. Along with football and volleyball tournaments, another popular sport in Nagaland – table tennis – takes prominence this month with the 25th Inter District & State Table Tennis Championship 2022.
The championship is particularly significant this year as it commemorates 50 years of the Nagaland Table Tennis Association (NTTA).
The 25th edition of the championship began on Tuesday with an opening ceremony at the Indoor TT Stadium, Kohima.
Swelül Pucho, president of NTTA, gave the welcome address while Vitho Neikha, Convenor, Souvenir Committee gave a brief synopsis of 50 years of NTTA. Er Zale Neikha, Advisor Youth Resources & Sports, was the special guest of the event.
Following the programme, the 25th Inter District & State Table Tennis Championship 2022 was declared open.
Nagaland Tribune spoke to Vitho Neikha to learn more about the 2022 championship and the NTTA.
How did the opening ceremony go? “We really had a great time today like never in the history of NTTA,” exclaimed Neikha.
He said the programme was attended by executives and former members of NTTA: those in attendance included Dr Neikiesalie Kire, the advisor of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs and the vice president of NOA; Ziebu Kire (IPS), retired vice president of NOA and former player; Zhovi Kire, former champion; Abao Kire, former MLA.
One of the founding members of NTTA – Zaputuo Khezhie – the retired director of School Education and the first general secretary of NTTA was also present to witness the event.
Current NTTA office bearers with guests (former members and executives) at the opening ceremony of the 25th table tennis championship.
According to Neikha, more than 200 participants will be playing in different categories at the four-day tournament taking place from 4 to 7 October.
The 25th table tennis championship features an impressive number of players in the different categories:
- Men’s Singles – 73
- Men’s Doubles – 43 pairs
- Women’s Singles – 12
- Women’s Doubles – 7 pairs
- Under 17 boys Singles – 21
- Under 17 boys Doubles – 8 pairs
- Under 17 Girls Singles – 10 pairs
- Under 17 Girls Doubles – 4 pairs
- Under 13 Boys Singles – 11
- Under 13 Girls Singles – 4
- Veteran 40+ Men’s Singles – 18
- Veteran 40+ Men’s Doubles – 11
- Veteran 50+ Men’s Singles – 11
- Mixed Doubles – 22 pairs
The women players will be representing five districts: Kohima, Niuland, Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Zunheboto.
The men players will be representing 12 districts: Kohima, Chümoukedima, Niuland, Dimapur, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, Mon, Tsemiinyu, Wokha, Phek, Peren and Tuensang.
The participants of the 25th table tennis championship on the inaugural day.
The finals are set to take place on 7 October. The winners of all the different categories will be awarded cash prices along with mementos and certificates. The top five participants would also be most likely selected for national level games, informed Neikha.
The NTTA had earlier planned for the championship to take place in 2020 but they had to postpone it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is perhaps befitting that the 25th edition of the table tennis championship should be held this year when NTTA also celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The Nagaland Table Tennis Association was first formed in 1972, inspired by the Kohima Table Tennis Association, a district entity. The association got registered in 1974.
There were six founding members of the NTTA, said Niekha. The present NTTA office bearers have been able to meet with three of them; two other founding members have passed away while one member could not be contacted.
The first president and general secretary of NTTA. (Photo credit: Vitho Neikha)
The first president of NTTA was Khyomo Lotha, ex Rajya Sabha MP, while the first general secretary Zaputou Khezhie, retired director of School Education.
Since its founding, the NTTA has had six presidents including the present one, Swelül Pucho.
(top photos) The inauguration of the All Nagaland TT Championship by NTTA president Khyomo Lotha, MP. “It must be 1975, after school final exams,” said Neikha. (bottom photos) Wife of late Hokishe Sema, the third chief minister of Nagaland, handing out trophies. (Photo credit: Vitho Neikha)
An independent association, the NTTA is affiliated with the Nagaland Olympic Association and Table Tennis Federation of India. In addition, the Kohima Table Tennis Association is also now affiliated with the NTTA.
Neikha said the association does not receive any financial help from the state government besides the grant in aid from the youth resources and sports department.
“But we are very encouraged from the response of the communities. All the executives, members and former champions have all come to support and cheer us this time round.”
Present NTTA office bearers with Khyomo Lotha.
Present NTTA office bearers with Zaputuo Khezhie.
Table tennis is not officially listed as a sports discipline in the Department of Youth Resources and Sports. However, Neikha said: “it’s part of an activity in the calendar of Nagaland Table Tennis Association. So, yearly we submit our reports regarding documents of participation to national levels.”
While players from Nagaland have yet to make a mark in the frontline national level games, Neikha informs that they have been participating and even earning sub titles in the north east level games.
Earlier this year in April, the women’s table tennis team from Nagaland won bronze in the team event at the Northeast Regional Sports Week in Imphal, Manipur.
Congrats to the Nagaland Women’s Table Tennis team for winning bronze at the North East Sports Week. Keep Winning. pic.twitter.com/EE9FBvQKUg
— Nagaland Olympic Association (@NagalandOlympic) April 30, 2022
Regarding the table tennis scenario in the state, Neikha presents an optimistic view: “It’s improving every year and we are hoping that we will have more players in future that can represent not only [the] state but our country. With the support of state government, we can excel in this discipline.”
At the opening ceremony, Neikha spoke on continuing onwards despite the difficulties of life, encouraging those in attendance to strive for the best by challenging oneself and being open to new learning. He drew a parallel between these words of motivation and the journey of table tennis in Nagaland: “with no technical coach for the past two decades, it is through the guidance from the senior players and self-practice that players are keeping in tune with the game.”
Keeping in line with the theme of the 2002 championship – Moving On –the efforts of the NTTA, despite setbacks, have helped the sport of table tennis to carry on in Nagaland.
As the first day of the championship drew to a close, Neikha told NT that a total of 130 matches, inclusive of both men’s and women’s teams, had been played that day.
The second day of the championship took place today at the TT Stadium.
