Team Assam and Team Mizoram with the special guest ahead of the team event final of the NIAPA Northeast Open Table Tennis Tournament at NIAPA Mini Stadium, Chümoukedima on December 19.
CHÜMOUKEDIMA, DECEMBER 19 (MExN): Assam retained the team event title for the second consecutive time at the 5th NIAPA Northeast Open Table Tennis Tournament 2025 at the NIAPA Mini Stadium here on Friday evening.
Organised by the Northeast India Academy of Performing Arts (NIAPA), the team event saw Assam overcome Mizoram in the final to defend their crown.
Mizoram got off to a strong start with Jeho Himnakulpuingheta winning the men’s singles, but Assam bounced back in the women’s singles through defending champion Trisha Gogoi to level the contest.
Led by National Games bronze medallist Shankab Gautam Baruah and Agniv Bhaskar Gohain, Assam then dominated the doubles segment to seal the title and confirm their status as defending champions in the fifth edition of the tournament.
For their efforts, Assam received a cash prize of Rs 90,000, while runners-up Mizoram were awarded Rs 50,000.
The team event featured singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches, with six teams—Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and the NIAPA team—taking part.
On the second day of the tournament, Vikheho Swu, managing director of Okusa Toyota Nagaland, attended the evening session as the special guest. Addressing the gathering, Swu said the NIAPA Northeast Open Table Tennis Tournament has emerged as a significant platform for showcasing sporting talent from across the region.
He noted that Nagaland is increasingly establishing itself as a sports hub in addition to being known for its festivals. Recalling his college days, Swu highlighted the role of sports, including table tennis, in building discipline, character, leadership, speed and agility.
Swu said that with proper guidance and exposure, players from the Northeast can excel at national and international levels, adding that the participation of national and international players helps raise competition standards and provides valuable learning opportunities for young athletes. He urged players to uphold sportsmanship, remain grounded and manage success responsibly.
The tournament will continue on Saturday with individual events, including men’s singles, women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
