National success sparks bigger dreams for Bangladesh Table Tennis aces

Muhtasin Ahmed Hridoy continued his dominance in Bangladesh table tennis by winning his third successive national men's singles title, while BKSP's rising table tennis star Khoi Khoi Sai Marma enjoyed a dream run at the 40th National Table Tennis Championship, clinching a remarkable double crown and a total of six gold medals as the recently concluded eight-day meet held at the Shaheed Taj Uddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium.

#Ridoy Eyes SAFF, Asian Games gold medal after third straight National TT Title

Hailing from Rangpur, top seed Muhtasin Ahmed Hridoy once again proved why he is the benchmark of men's table tennis in the country. In the final, Hridoy defeated Ramhim Lian Bawm by 3-1 set, denying the 2023 champion any chance of a comeback.

Earlier, Hridoy delivered a commanding performance in the semifinals, beating Javed Ahmed in straight sets (3-0). Even Ramhim, who had lifted the title in 2023, could not stand in his way this time.

Hridoy's journey at the top began in 2018, when he became national champion by defeating Manas Chowdhury. He later added another major achievement by winning the Bangladesh Games in 2021, and this latest title further cements his legacy.

Bangladesh's men's table tennis singles champion Muhtasin Ahmed Ridoy expressed his satisfaction after clinching his third consecutive national title, calling the achievement a major boost ahead of upcoming international competitions.

"I have won three medals in total. With this, I have become the national champion for the third time in a row. I feel very good," Ridoy told Asian Age after his victory. Reflecting on recent international exposure, he added, "We played well in the Islamic Solidarity Games and brought medals. The goal ahead is to do well in the SAFF Games and win medals in the Asian Games."

Ridoy believes preparation will be key going forward. "For that purpose, the camp may start soon. I will take Bangladesh further forward through good practice there," he said, adding that his personal ambition is clear: "If I can win gold in the SAFF Games, that will be my biggest success."

Muhtasin Ahmed Ridoy first etched his name into Bangladesh table tennis history in 2022 by winning his first international gold medal. The achievement came at the South Asian Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship in the Boys' Under-19 Team Event, held in Maldives on May 10. Since then there has been no looking back for Ridoy.

# Khoi Khoi Marma: The New Queen of Bangladesh Table Tennis

Meanwhile, coming from the remote hills of Rangamati, The teenage sensation Khoi Khoi Marma created a rare record by winning medals in all eight events at the recently concluded 40th National Table Tennis Championship, announcing herself as the new queen of the sport.

A Class 12 student of BKSP, Khai Khai hails from a remote village in Rajasthali upazila of Rangamati. At just 18, she dominated the national championship, winning an astonishing eight medals-six gold, one silver, and one bronze. Her extraordinary feat placed her above all competitors and marked one of the most dominant performances in the tournament's history.

Khoi Khoi clinched the women's singles crown for the first time. Her most eye-catching performance came in the senior women's singles final.

After the era of Sonam Sultana, Sadia Rahman (Mou) had emerged as a shining force in women's table tennis. Representing Bangladesh Ansar, Sadia defeated BKSP's Khoi Khoi in the team event final and also eliminated her teammate Sonam in the singles semifinals.

However, in the most important match-the singles final-it was Khoi Khoi who had the last laugh. She also went on to win the mixed doubles title, underlining her all-round brilliance in the championship.

"I'm really very happy. Because last time too, the target was to become the champion in both the senior and junior categories in 2023, but I failed. I lost to her (Mou) in the quarterfinals. So this time, since I lost to her in the team competition, I was a little skeptical whether I would be able to win the singles or not. I also tried to keep her under pressure by playing aggressively." Khoi Khoi told Asian Age. 

Her journey into table tennis began during childhood, shaped by adversity. Due to financial hardship, her mother admitted her to Quantum Cosmo School and College in Lamay, Bandarban, where Khoi Khoi started studying from the second grade. It was there, in a simple school hall that she first picked up a table tennis racket. That ordinary table became the foundation of an extraordinary career.

Looking ahead, Marma has set his sights on regional and global stages. "I will try to do something good in the upcoming SA Games," he noted. Acknowledging the challenge of Olympic qualification, he added, "The Olympic event is very difficult. We have not been able to qualify so far. So my first goal is to qualify. Then I will try to do something good in the Olympics."

However, Marma also pointed out structural shortcomings in domestic competitions. "There was no prize money in this tournament. If there had been a league, maybe the players would have benefited a little," he remarked, highlighting the need for stronger support systems for athletes.

With consistent performances and clear ambitions, both Hridoy and Marma have signaled Bangladesh's growing potential in table tennis as they look ahead to tougher international challenges.