Asteri Table Tennis Championship concludes

The 1st Asteri Table Tennis Championship 2025, organised under the aegis of the Kohima Table Tennis Association, concluded at the Indoor TT Stadium, Kohima on June 14, following two days of intense and spirited competition.
The championship saw participation from top talents across Nagaland and neighbouring states, with players coming together to celebrate the sport in an atmosphere of unity, skill, and sportsmanship.
The event featured a Team Event comprising 10 teams, each made up of five players. A unique lottery-based tier system was introduced to form teams, with players from Tier 1 to Tier 4 and a designated captain assigned to each team. This format ensured balanced competition and evenly matched contests. Matches were conducted using the UTT format, inspired by India’s top-tier table tennis league.
In the Open Doubles category, 18 pairs competed in a high-energy knockout format, while the 50+ Doubles event welcomed five veteran pairs, highlighting the inclusive spirit of the tournament and the enduring love for the sport across generations.
The closing ceremony was graced by Development Officer (NKVIB), Dziesengulie Rio and Extension Officer (Department of Sericulture), Shilurenem Longkumer, who attended the event not in their official capacities, but as supporters and enthusiasts of the sport. Both expressed appreciation for the growing table tennis culture in Nagaland and commended the organisers for bringing players together through an inclusive and well-organised championship.
The tournament was made possible through the support of PIPI Traders and Asian Traders, whose sponsorship was crucial in staging the event. Organisers expressed hope that the championship would become an annual fixture in the state’s sporting calendar.
In a statement, representatives of the Asteri Table Tennis Circle, a community-led initiative dedicated to promoting the sport in the state, described the tournament as the start of a broader movement. “This was not just a tournament—it was the lighting of a spark,” they said. “Now let’s come together to build a blazing fire.”
Results:
Team Event Champions
Circle of Champions
Captain: James Liezietsu
Tier 1: N. Imomcha Singh (Manipur)
Tier 2: Theja
Tier 3: Kenietheja
Tier 4: Kekuoselie
Runners-Up
Ping Pong Legends
Captain: Bendang
Tier 1: Alberto LR Ruata (Mizoram)
Tier 2: Achamo
Tier 3: Zelhouneinuo Rame
Tier 4: Er. Vikheto
Open Doubles Winners
Lipoktoshi Longkumer & Victor Joy Ezung
Runners-Up
N. Imomcha Singh & Thejavinuo Rio
50+ Doubles Winners
Dr. Jutsutho Phoji & Victor Joy Ezung
Runners-Up
James Liezietsu & Vincent Belho