Bhubaneswar hosts Asian TT teams

The 28th IITF–ATTU Asian Table Tennis Team Championships are set to kick off at the Athletics Centre of Kalinga Stadium from October 11 to 15, bringing top international table tennis talent to Odisha for the first time.

Organised jointly by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU), Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), Odisha Table Tennis Association, and the state government’s sports department, the championship marks India’s return to the event after a 16-year gap.

Nearly 500 participants, including players and support staff, from 22 countries including China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Iran, Thailand, and India are set to compete in men’s and women’s team events.

Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj highlighted at a press conference that the top-performing teams will qualify for the ITTF World Table Tennis Team Championships 2026 in London. “Several top-ranked international players will showcase their skills in Bhubaneswar,” he added.

Representing India are Sreeja Akula, Manika Batra, Diya Chitale, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Swastika Ghosh in the women’s category, and Ankur Bhattacharya, Payas Jain, Manush Shah, Snehit Suravajjula, and Manav Thakkar in the men’s category.

Teams from various nations have already arrived in Bhubaneswar and begun practice sessions, building anticipation for what promises to be a thrilling championship. Fans and sports enthusiasts in Odisha can expect high-octane matches and world-class table tennis action over five days.