Shillong, Oct 4: The 3rd Meghalaya Open Table Tennis Cash Prize Tournament 2024 commenced on Friday at the historic Laban Sports Club, one of the oldest clubs in Meghalaya, founded in 1906. This event aims to provide a platform for local talent to showcase their skills. Over 100 participants are competing in this tournament, coming from Assam, West Bengal, Delhi, Tripura and Meghalaya.
The two-day event will be held on October 4th and 5th, showcasing the club’s ongoing commitment to sports development in the region.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Jitendra Gareri, Head Coach at Laban Sports Club Table Tennis Academy, emphasized the event’s dual purpose. “The purpose of this tournament is to give our homegrown table tennis players exposure as they compete against players from other states, especially from Assam, which has a strong table tennis culture. This event also promotes sports tourism in Meghalaya, as participants from other states stay in local hotels and explore the area, providing a boost to state tourism,” Gareri said.
Sammy Myrthong, President of Laban Sports Club, expressed optimism about the growth of table tennis in the state. “I hope table tennis will become a prominent sport in Meghalaya. We want to encourage children to take up this sport.