The Table Tennis Surge in Odisha aided by Two Academies

Add as a preferred source on Google

Odisha has welcomed a new era in Table Tennis with the introduction of two well-equipped academies in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Since their inception, these academies have been drawing in raw talent and enthusiasm from across the region.

Additionally, the multipurpose indoor stadiums across municipalities in the state have also become a favoured space for the young and aspiring paddlers.

Located in the Laxmisagar area of Bhubaneswar, the Odisha Table Tennis Academy has a total of 76 young players turn up for coaching between the U11 to U19 age categories. There are around 20 master players and four para-players as well who hone their skills at the academy, signifying the spirit of inclusivity.
Meanwhile, the Cuttack Table Tennis Academy at CDA has a total of 150 players across both youth and masters categories.

Both academies recently produced significant results at the UTT 85th Inter-State Sub Junior and Cadet National Table Tennis Championships held in January 2024. The Odisha team consisting of Jigyansu Sahoo (Cuttack), Takmil Mohammed (Cuttack), Jigyanshu Sai Kiran Pradhan (Puri) and Aninday Anupam Das (Bhubaneswar) clinched a historic Bronze medal in the competition.

The Odisha Table Tennis Academy, Bhubaneswar will look to build on the recent success as the players will compete in the upcoming UTT Para Table Tennis National Championship (20-22 March) and the National Masters Table Tennis Championship in April.

Furthermore, to identify and nurture more talent from the state, both academies have started their school outreach program for full-fledged camps in the summer.

Speaking about the vision, Cuttack Table Tennis Academy Coach, Raj S Subramaniam said, "Cuttack is the hub of Table Tennis and the academy has been providing that platform to both youth and masters. We are also training the U8 age group kids as well so that they gain the knowledge of the sport right from their initial days."
"Our current cohort is very talented, they won Bronze and I want them to get selected at the National camp," he added.

By establishing training centres and academies, Odisha is providing aspiring paddlers with access to world-class coaching, facilities, and infrastructure. This initiative not only nurtures the existing talent pool but also encourages more youngsters to take up the sport seriously. The presence of such academies creates a conducive environment for talent identification, grooming, and eventual representation at national and international levels. The structured training programs at the academies not only focus on skill development but also emphasize physical fitness and mental agility, essential aspects of competitive table tennis.