Pauri: Under the guidance of District Magistrate Swati S. Bhadauria, the 2nd State Table Tennis Ranking Tournament-2026 was inaugurated through the collaborative efforts of the district administration, the Sports Department, and the District Table Tennis Association. Approximately 200 players from across the state are participating in the event. Six high-quality tables have been provided for the tournament by the District Magistrate. While inaugurating the event, the District Magistrate met the players, encouraged them, and wished them success in their performance. She also boosted their morale by playing a few rallies with them.
The District Magistrate emphasized that participation in sports and other activities alongside academics is essential for the holistic personality development of children. Sports foster discipline, self-confidence, leadership qualities, and team spirit among children. She noted that there is no shortage of sporting talent in schools; the need is simply to identify it and provide a better platform and opportunities. State-level competitions offer players a chance to hone their skills and learn from experienced competitors. Appreciating the parents, she remarked that recognizing and encouraging children’s talent from a young age is commendable. She stated that in sports, no one truly loses; one either learns or wins. The lessons and experiences gained through sports inspire players to excel in the future. She added that Pauri offers a conducive environment for sports, and hosting state-level competitions provides local players with exposure to high-level rivalry.
Congratulating the Sports Department and the District Table Tennis Association on organizing the event, she spoke of the need to continuously promote sports activities in the district. The tournament is being held from September 6 to 9, featuring players in the Under-11, Under-13, Under-17, Under-19, and Open categories. Matches for the Open and Under-19 categories were conducted on the first day. Chetan Gurung, President of the Uttarakhand Table Tennis Association, stated that efforts are underway to promote table tennis in the hill districts. This marks the first time that a state-ranking table tennis tournament and state championship are being organized in Pauri, outside of Dehradun. He stated that sports facilities in Pauri are excellent and that the district administration is extending its full support. In the future, similar competitions will be organized in other hill districts as well, providing local players with opportunities to hone their talent. Rajesh Dangwal, President of the District Table Tennis Association, expressed his gratitude to the District Magistrate and the district administration for their support in organizing the event. He noted that the administration’s cooperation is creating better opportunities to promote table tennis in the district. State Table Tennis Association Secretary Prince Vipin, District Sports Officer Pradeep Kumar, Dehradun District Sports Officer Shefali Gurung, District Table Tennis Association Secretary Bharat Bisht, along with Sports Department officials, coaches, players, and parents, were present on the occasion.
