Nagaland: Jeho’s reign continues, Bhavna makes winning debut at NIAPA NE

Mizoram’s ace paddler Jeho Himnakulhpuingheta reaffirmed his dominance in Northeast table tennis by clinching his fourth men’s singles crown at the 5th Toyota NIAPA Northeast Open Table Tennis Tournament, held at the NIAPA Mini Stadium, Chümoukedima, on Sunday.
On the final day of the four-day tournament, Jeho overcame Assam’s Agniv Bhaskar Gohain 4–2 in a hard-fought men’s singles final, displaying composure and experience in crucial moments. The defeat marked Agniv’s third consecutive loss in the championship final. Manipur’s Khelendrajit Yengkhom and Mizoram’s Alberto LR Ruata finished as losing semifinalists. The men’s singles carried prize money of Rs. 25,000 for the winner, Rs. 15,000 for the runner-up, and Rs. 5,000 each for the semifinalists.
In the women’s singles, Assam’s rising star Bhavna Kashyap made a memorable debut, dethroning defending champion Trisha Gogoi 4–3 in a closely contested final. Bhavna’s victory marked her maiden title in Nagaland. Mizoram’s Moumita Saha and Assam’s Anushna Das were the semifinalists. The women’s singles offered prize money of Rs. 20,000, Rs. 12,000, and Rs. 4,000 respectively.
In Men’s Doubles, Jeho partnered with Alberto LR Ruata to retain the title, defeating Assam’s Agniv Bhaskar Gohain and Shankab Gautam Baruah in the final. The category carried prize money of Rs. 30,000, Rs. 20,000, and Rs. 5,000.
In Mixed Doubles, Assam’s Shankab and Trisha clinched the title, while Agniv and Bhavna finished runners-up. Vivek and Anushna Das (Assam) and Jeho with Malsawmtluangi (Mizoram) were semifinalists. Prize money stood at Rs. 30,000, Rs. 20,000, and Rs. 5,000.
Best Duo of Nagaland: Kanishk Jain and Hekito Sema secured first place, followed by Visasier Kevichusa and L. David. Yangro Imchen with Achamo Ngullie, and Moa Lemtur with Juthsutho Phoji were semifinalists. The category offered Rs. 15,000, Rs. 12,000, and Rs. 4,000.
Under-21 Girls’ Singles: Bhavna Kashyap added another feather to her cap by winning the title, defeating Anushna Das in the final. Manipur’s Angkita Sanjenbam and Tripura’s Sreyashi Chakraborty were semifinalists. Prize money was Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,000, and Rs. 3,000.
Under-21 Boys’ Singles: Manipur’s Khelendrajit Yengkhom emerged champion, with Ning Thoujam Colman Singh finishing second. Tripura’s Abhijit Deb and Mizoram’s Lalruatfela Rate shared third place. The category carried Rs. 15,000, Rs. 10,000, and Rs. 4,000.
The closing ceremony was graced by Deputy Commissioner and District Sports Council, Chümoukedima, Polan John, who attended as the special guest and distributed the awards.
Organised by NIAPA, the tournament once again served as a major platform for table tennis players from across the Northeast, showcasing emerging talent and reaffirming the region’s growing stature in the sport.