The South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2026 was officially inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at the Indira Gandhi State Sports Complex in Shimla on Wednesday. This championship is set to run until April 11, 2026, and features participation from over 100 athletes from five nations: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

During the inauguration, the Chief Minister expressed his congratulations to all participants, highlighting that this is the first time such an event is being hosted in the state. He emphasized the government's commitment to enhancing sports infrastructure to motivate young people to pursue sports as a career.

Sukhu pointed out that engaging in sports not only provides a constructive outlet for youth but also fosters essential qualities such as discipline, dedication, and leadership. He noted that active involvement in sports can help steer young individuals away from negative influences like drug abuse.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including MLA Harish Janartha, Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan, Director of Youth Services and Sports Shivam Pratap Singh, Regional Vice Chairman of the Asia Table Tennis Union Shekhar Gautam, and Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Table Tennis Association T.P. Chopra, among others.

Following the championship inauguration, a delegation from the Himachal Pradesh Computer Teachers' Association, led by President Suman Thakur, met with the Chief Minister at his official residence, Oak Over. They discussed various issues faced by computer teachers in the state and presented a memorandum detailing their requests.

The association members urged the Chief Minister to establish a permanent policy for computer teachers and to regularize their employment status.

The Chief Minister listened attentively to their concerns and assured the delegation that their demands would be taken into serious consideration.