World Table Tennis Day celebrated with fanfare in Gujarat

India successfully hosted the global flagship celebration of World Table Tennis Day 2026 in Kapadwanj, Gujarat, marking a historic first for the country and commemorating 100 years of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Centred around the theme “Health & Well-Being” and the slogan “Table Tennis Moves You,” the event showcased how table tennis can serve as a simple, accessible tool to promote physical activity, mental wellness, and social inclusion.

The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The celebration was held in the presence of ITTF President Petra Sörling; Vita Dani, Governing Board Member of ITTF Foundation; ITTF Foundation Director Leandro Olvech; Sharath Kamal, five-time Olympian and ITTF Foundation ambassador, commentator Adam Bobrow, and representatives from ESN Spinsight.

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Sörling said: ”India’s hosting of World Table Tennis Day 2026 is a proud moment for our global table tennis family. The message of this day is as simple as the sport itself: everyone is welcome at the table. Whether you play for fun, for fitness, for friendship, or with the ambition to reach the very top, this day is yours.”

“As the ITTF marks its centenary, this is the vision we carry forward: a sport that welcomes everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. Today, in Kapadwanj, we see the real, positive impact table tennis can have in connecting communities. That is what our sport has offered the world for 100 years, and what it will continue to offer for the next hundred.”

Kapadwanj’s selection as host city reflected more than three years of sustained grassroots work through the Smash Barriers programme, implemented locally by Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal in partnership with Dani Sports Foundation. The initiative has been using table tennis as a tool for inclusion, health, and community development, engaging children, youth, families, and persons with disabilities.

World Table Tennis Day 2026 served as a culmination of this ongoing effort, offering a live, on-ground showcase of how sport can create lasting, community-led impact.

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. The event was designed as an interactive and inclusive experience.

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.

Key highlights included inclusive table tennis activities across age groups and abilities, exhibition matches, cultural performances rooted in the local context, and a special “100 Years of ITTF” showcase celebrating the sport’s global legacy.

Reflecting on the occasion, Vita Dani said, “The health benefits of table tennis are truly unmatched, and it remains one of the most accessible sports in the world. To celebrate a sport so close to my heart, in a place that means so much to me, makes this moment incredibly special. What adds to the significance is marking 100 years of the federation, and for India to have the honour of hosting and celebrating this milestone makes it even more meaningful.”

Published on Apr 23, 2026