The Table Tennis Federation has officially launched its inaugural Inter-University Table Tennis Fest, bringing together 30 leading public and private universities from across Bangladesh. The two-day tournament is set to begin tomorrow at the Shaheed Tajuddin Indoor Stadium, marking the first time the federation has organised an event exclusively for universities.
Table tennis has long enjoyed popularity in university halls, with students regularly taking part in local competitions. Yet, no previous federation-run tournament has united so many institutions under one roof. Mohammad Ali, a former player and current coach, highlighted the significance: “There has never been a tournament organised by the federation involving so many public and private universities. Universities have occasionally held competitions under federation supervision, but nothing on this scale.”
Men’s team and women’s singles competitions
The tournament will feature two main events: a men’s team competition and a women’s singles contest. So far, around 174 male players have registered for the team event, while the women’s singles has attracted 36 participants. Sujon Mahmud, an executive committee member of the federation, explained the limited categories: “The number of female participants is lower, which is why only a singles event has been organised for women. At the international university level, competitions are mainly team-based, so the men’s section will follow that format.”
The structure ensures competitive play while maintaining alignment with international standards. Each men’s team will battle through group stages and knockout rounds, while the women will face off in singles matches to determine the top university champion.
Strong university representation
Public universities competing include the University of Dhaka, University of Chittagong, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, BUET, KUET, Islamic University, BUP, MIST, and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Among private universities, top institutions such as North South University, BRAC University, IUB, AIUB, IUT, Daffodil International University, ULAB, East West University, and State University will take part.
Many national-level players will represent their respective universities, raising the standard of play. Dhaka University fields Hriday, Mou, and Tushi; IUB includes Ramhim and Sabbir; Northern University will be represented by Emon; and Daffodil International University has entries from Sajib, Pramit, Tuba, and Mahir. Their participation guarantees high-quality competition and provides younger players with an opportunity to learn from experienced athletes.
Support for out-of-town participants
Universities from outside Dhaka are also joining the event. To facilitate their participation, the federation has arranged accommodation in nearby hotels. “We have arranged lodging for participants from outside Dhaka at hotels near the stadium,” explained Sujon Mahmud. “The universities are very sincere about this tournament and are also providing transportation for their teams.”
The support ensures that players can focus entirely on their matches, while giving organisers the chance to maintain a smooth schedule across the two-day event.
