TP REPORT
PESHAWAR: The 61st National Table Tennis Championship officially commenced at Qayyum Sports Complex, Peshawar, with a dignified opening ceremony, attracting over 200 male and female players from across the country.
The championship was formally inaugurated by former Provincial Minister for Sports, Syed Aqil Shah, along with Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tashfeen Haider and President of the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation Ahmer Malik.
The opening ceremony was attended by Secretary Pakistan Table Tennis Federation Ijaz Ali, Secretary Provincial Olympic Association Zulfiqar Butt, Regional Coordinator OGDCL Wali Muhammad Afridi, Tournament Director Kifayatullah Khan, Chief Coach Shafqatullah, Assistant Director Finance Shah Faisal, and other distinguished guests.
Organized by the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the championship is being held at the PSB Gymnasium Hall, Peshawar Sports Complex. Teams from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and merged tribal districts, along with departmental teams including Pakistan Police, WAPDA, and OGDCL, are participating. The matches will continue until April 10.
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Aqil Shah said that sports grounds are becoming active again in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that joint efforts by the government and institutions are encouraging youth towards positive activities. He urged players to maintain discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship to bring pride to the country and province. He also termed hosting the national championship in KP after 14 years a major achievement.
Director General Sports KP Tashfeen Haider stated that the Directorate is providing all possible facilities to ensure players perform in a professional environment. He added that hosting such a major event in Peshawar reflects the province’s growing role in promoting sports and assured that similar events will continue in the future.
President Pakistan Table Tennis Federation Ahmer Malik said Pakistan has immense talent in table tennis but stressed the need for better opportunities and consistent events. He noted that national-level championships provide an excellent platform for young players to showcase their abilities, reaffirming the federation’s commitment to the development and promotion of the sport.
