Inauguration of South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2026 in Shimla

South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship Kicks Off

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], April 8: The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, officially opened the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2026 at the Indira Gandhi State Sports Complex in Shimla on Wednesday.

This championship is set to run until April 11, 2026, and features over 100 athletes from five nations, including India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

During the inauguration, the Chief Minister expressed his excitement about hosting such an event for the first time in the state. He emphasized the government's commitment to enhancing sports infrastructure to inspire young people to pursue sports professionally.

Sukhu highlighted the importance of sports in guiding youth towards positive paths, fostering qualities like discipline, dedication, and leadership. He noted that engaging in sports can also help steer young individuals away from social issues such as drug abuse.

Present at the event were MLA Harish Janartha, Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan, Director of Youth Services and Sports Shivam Pratap Singh, Regional Vice Chairman of the Asia Table Tennis Union Shekhar Gautam, and other officials from the Himachal Pradesh Table Tennis Association.

Following the championship inauguration, a delegation from the Himachal Pradesh Computer Teachers’ Association, led by President Suman Thakur, met with the Chief Minister at his residence, Oak Over. They discussed the challenges faced by computer teachers in the state.

The delegation presented a memorandum detailing their requests, urging the Chief Minister to establish a permanent policy for computer teachers and to regularize their employment. The Chief Minister assured them that their concerns would be addressed with care.

Also present were Mandi District President Ramesh Thakur, Una District President Hardev Singh, and other representatives from the association.