Thirty-two players called for selection ahead of Commonwealth TT Championships

Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) on Saturday named 32 top players for the preliminary national team selection trials for the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships 2026.

The championship is scheduled for 17–21 July in New Delhi, and the federation is moving swiftly to finalise the national squad.

The selection trials will run from 1–4 April at Shaheed Tajuddin Indoor Stadium in Dhaka. The top 16 players in the men’s and women’s categories will contest a four-day league-format competition.

Following the trials, the top six players from each category — 12 in total will join a specialised training camp lasting approximately two and a half months. From this camp, the final squad of five male and as many female players will be chosen to represent Bangladesh at the Commonwealth event.

To boost the quality of preparation, the federation is in talks with a renowned Indian coach. Once confirmed, the Commonwealth training programme is expected to begin in April.

BTTF General Secretary Captain AM Maksud Ahmed Sonet highlighted the importance of the league-based approach.

“Since the ad-hoc committee took charge, we have emphasised the ‘train and test’ system for forming the national team,” he said.

“We have already seen positive outcomes from this approach. To improve players’ match temperament and help them overcome performance anxiety, there is no alternative to a proper selection process.”

Meanwhile, the junior national team are preparing for the South Asian Regional Youth Table Tennis Championship 2026, set for 8–11 April in Shimla, India. Players are undergoing intensive training at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan, with only a brief three-day Eid break allowed.

For several juniors in Khoy Khoy Sai Marma, Reshmi Tanchangya, Oishi Rahman, Nafiz Iqbal and Joy Islam, Shimla will mark their final junior-level tournament.

Before departing for Shimla, four boys and four girls from the junior squad will also take part in the Commonwealth selection camp, gaining valuable exposure ahead of the senior national team trials.