Kohima: After more than a decade, the Kohima District Table Tennis Association (KDTTA) has launched a 10-day coaching camp for school children, with over 100 students registering on the very first day. The camp, running from June 24 to July 5, aims to revive interest in table tennis across Kohima district.
The youngest participant is a six year old, while the oldest is 15. Students from more than 10 schools have joined the camp, which is being conducted at the Kohima Table Tennis Stadium.
Speaking to EastMojo on Tuesday, KDTTA president Lhoulievi Belho highlighted the gap in formal training, stating that Nagaland has not had a state table tennis coach for over 25 years. “A whole generation has grown up without structured training. Most of our players are self-taught, with senior players mentoring juniors,” he said. He stressed the growing divide between junior and sub-junior levels and the urgent need for proper coaching.
The last coaching camp in the district was held in 2009. The current coaching camp is led by a two-time Northeast champion from Assam, and members of the KDTTA. “We have seen a greater than expected turnout this time. It is encouraging to see children taking interest, and so from the second day onwards, we will be conducting the coaching in two batches daily,” said Belho.
Belho informed that children from the Kohima Orphanage and Destitute Home are also participating in the coaching. “When we visited them, we assured them of coaching support. We are funding their participation,” he added.
The association, managed by 13 office bearers, along with its registered members, maintains the Kohima TT Stadium, operating on a self-funded model. He informed that the district membership is open to all interested individuals.
Looking ahead, he said that a special coaching session is planned for standout performers from the current camp. A series of tournaments has also been lined up to sustain the momentum, including the Kohima District Inter-School TT Tournament in August, the Kohima District Open TT Championship in September, and an Inter-Ward TT Tournament in November which could be the first of its kind since the formation of the Kohima Municipal Council.
Selected players from the district tournament will go on to represent Kohima in higher-level competitions. Player rankings will also be introduced through the Kohima Open Tournament, which will follow the district-level events.
“Table tennis used to be a well-known sport in the state, and I was part of the first batch to learn the game. But the sport lost popularity over the years due to a lack of tournaments and exposure. Now, with this renewed interest, we hope to revive it,” Belho shared.
The senior players also established a Veteran TT Association for players aged 40 and above, recognising the health benefits and growing participation among elders. However, he said that the lack of younger players prompted the current initiative.
“Table tennis is one of the fastest games in the world. It is a sport that challenges the brain, reflexes, and eyes. It’s technical and mentally demanding. In India, the sport is gaining traction again, and we want Kohima to be part of that wave,” said Belho. “It is also especially heartening to see a large number of girls participating in this camp.”
KDTTA now plans to make the coaching camp an annual event and continue its focus on nurturing young talent, including those from underprivileged backgrounds.
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