Bhubaneswar, Oct 10: Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj has expressed pride and optimism as the State prepares to host the 28th ITTF-ATTU Asian Table Tennis Team Championships 2025, set to begin on Saturday at the Kalinga Stadium.

Highlighting Odisha’s growing prominence as a sporting hub, the minister said, “We are simultaneously organising a national and an international event. The 40th Junior Nationals is already underway and will conclude on October 14. For the first time, Odisha is hosting the prestigious Asian Table Tennis Team Championships, which is a moment of immense pride for all of us.”

Alongside this, the 40th National Junior Athletics Championships are also being held at the same venue in collaboration with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Odisha Athletics Association, and the Sports and Youth Services Department. Around 2,000 athletes from across India are competing in the national event.

Suraj emphasized that hosting two major tournaments simultaneously reflects Odisha’s increasing competence in sports management. “This experience strengthens our team’s physical, mental, and administrative capabilities, enhancing our confidence to host more large-scale events,” he added.

The Asian Table Tennis Team Championships, to be held from October 11 to 15, will also serve as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships, with the top 13 teams in each category earning qualification spots.

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