Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday inaugurated the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2026 at the Indira Gandhi State Sports Complex in Shimla. The championship will continue until April 11, 2026.
More than 100 players from five South Asian countries — India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal — are participating in the prestigious tournament.
Extending his best wishes to all participants, the Chief Minister said that hosting such an international sporting event in Himachal Pradesh for the first time marks a significant achievement for the state. He emphasized that the government is strengthening sports infrastructure to encourage greater youth participation in sports activities.
He added that sports help develop discipline, dedication, and leadership qualities among young people while guiding them towards a positive lifestyle. The Chief Minister also highlighted that sports play an important role in keeping youth away from social evils such as drug abuse.
MLA Harish Janartha, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Director of Youth Services and Sports Shivam Pratap Singh, Regional Vice President of the Asian Table Tennis Union Shekhar Gautam, Himachal Pradesh Table Tennis Association President T.P. Chopra, General Secretary Adheesh Rana, and other officials were present at the inauguration ceremony.
