National Glory Fuels International Ambitions for Table Tennis Aces Ridoy and Khoi Khoi Marma

 

BKSP’s rising table tennis star Khoi Khoi Sai Marma announced her arrival at the very top of Bangladesh table tennis in emphatic fashion. Showing dominance across both junior and senior levels, the BKSP paddler delivered one of the most memorable performances in recent national championship history.

Coming from the remote hills of Rangamati, Khai Khai Marma has written a golden chapter in Bangladesh’s table tennis history. The teenage sensation created a rare record by winning medals in all eight events at the recently concluded 40th National Table Tennis Championship held at the Shaheed Taj Uddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium, 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 Marma’s Six Golds Light Up National TT

At the latest National Table Tennis Championship, Khoi Khoi captured six gold medals—women’s singles, girls’ singles, girls’ doubles, girls’ team, junior mixed doubles and senior mixed doubles.

Her most eye-catching performance came in the senior women’s singles final. Facing last year’s champion Sadia Rahman Mou, Khoi Khoi left no room for doubt, sealing a commanding 3–0 victory. The ease and authority of that win have sparked widespread discussion: has the Khoi Khoi era officially begun in Bangladesh table tennis?

The question is not without merit. Khoi Khoi has been in outstanding form not only domestically, but also on the international stage.

Women's table tennis has been synonymous with Sonam Sultana Soma or Sadia Rahman Mou for the past decade. Overtaking these two, Khoi Khoi Marma has won medals in the recently concluded 6th Islamic Solidarity Games held at Saudi Arabia.

Last November, she won a silver medal in mixed doubles at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, partnering with Javed Ahmed. That achievement is being hailed as one of the greatest successes in the history of Bangladesh table tennis. In the same month, she also claimed the Federation Cup title, defeating Sonam Sultana Soma in the women’s singles final.

Khoi Khoi has now firmly inserted herself into that elite space—and with authority. Yet despite reaching the summit, she remains grounded.

“Winning a championship is difficult, but retaining it is even harder,” she told Asian Age after her maiden national singles title. “I will try to maintain my game, but I know I have to work even harder. My goal is to defend my title in every tournament.”

"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." She said.

This tournament marked a special milestone for Marma, who became a national champion for the first time. “I feel very happy with this success because I have never been able to become a national champion before. The goal was to become a national champion, so I am very happy to achieve it,” she said.

Khoi Khoi’s rise was shaped by hardship. She was born into an extremely poor farming family in Chushak Para, a remote hill village. Financial struggles made it difficult for her parents to continue the education of their two daughters. In 2015, Khoi Khoi was admitted to Lamar Quantum Cosmo School in Bandarban, where she received education, accommodation, and food free of cost. It was there that her teachers first noticed her exceptional talent in table tennis, changing the course of her life.

She credits Khandakar Hasan Munir, who is no longer part of the Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) leadership, as a key figure in her development. At the end of 2021, Khoi Khoi was admitted to BKSP, allowing her to balance both education and professional sport.
Now representing BKSP at the national level, Khoi Khoi has already set a new benchmark. With confidence, discipline and hunger for improvement, she is determined to sustain her rise.

Over the past few years, her rise has been relentless. Khoi Khoi became national under-19 champion, reached the quarter-finals in the senior national category, won the Federation Cup, and claimed two titles in national ranking tournaments—both under-19 and senior singles.

Her international silver medal has now placed her firmly on the global map. But beyond medals and rankings, Khoi Khoi’s success carries a deeper meaning. Coming from a remote hill village, she has become a beacon of hope for thousands of teenage girls living far from facilities, coaches, and opportunities. 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.”

Today, Khoi Khoi Marma stands as a source of inspiration for an entire generation. The people of Chushak Para now share a single dream—that their daughter will go even further, step onto the Olympic stage, and make Bangladesh’s name shine brighter than ever before.

Muhtasin Ahmed Ridoy’s Unstoppable Run Continues

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.

Representing Bangladesh alongside Ramhim Lian Bawm and Nasif Iqbal, Ridoy played a crucial role as the team marched to the final after defeating Pakistan, Maldives, and Nepal. In a thrilling final, Bangladesh stunned Sri Lanka with a dramatic 3–2 victory, creating history on the South Asian stage.

Ridoy continued his dominance in Bangladesh table tennis by winning his third national men’s singles title.

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

Earlier, Rdoy 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.

Ridoy is the only son of Farhad Ahmed, a contractor from New Engineerpara, Rangpur, and Masuda Begum, a housewife. His journey began humbly while he was a third-grade student, when he started visiting a nearby table tennis club.

Poverty could have ended that dream early. His family could not afford sports equipment. But Hridoy’s father refused to let his son’s passion fade. With help from friends, he managed to buy a bat and ball, personally taking his son to practice sessions. Encouragement from senior players in the neighborhood further strengthened Hridoy’s resolve.

Yet Ridoy practiced relentlessly, often playing on the open field. His hard work paid off in 2016, when he earned a spot on the Rangpur district junior team and competed at the national level in Dinajpur, though he exited in the second round. A year later in 2017, at a national tournament in Dhaka, Ridoy reached the final, finishing runner-up, while Rangpur became team champions—a turning point in his career.

Ridoy’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,” said Hridoy to 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.”

Table Tennis Stars Fears for Future Despite Historic Triumph

November 2025 brought several proud moments for Bangladesh in international sports, and one of the most significant came from the table tennis arena. Md. Javed Ahmed and Khoi Khoi Sai Marma won a historic silver medal in the mixed doubles event at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—marking one of Bangladesh’s biggest international achievements in table tennis.

The Javed–Khoi Khoi duo delivered a memorable campaign in Riyadh. Bangladesh reached the quarterfinals by defeating Guyana, and then overcame Maldives to move into the semifinals—securing at least a bronze medal. In the semifinals, the pair defeated Bahrain 3–1 to advance to the final. Although they lost to a strong Turkish pair in the title match, the silver medal itself made history for Bangladesh table tennis.

Medalist Md. Javed Ahmed emphasized the long struggle behind the success. “This medal did not come overnight. It is the result of years of hard work and mental strength. Unfortunately, national team players still do not have guaranteed monthly salaries or minimum financial security. Worries about family and expenses make it very difficult to maintain consistent progress at the international level.” He told Asian Age,

For Javed, the pressure extends beyond the table. He is the primary earner in his family and worries about balancing financial responsibilities with his ambitions. Tournament prizes are irregular, coaching jobs hard to come by, and training abroad—essential for competitive growth—remains a distant dream.

“I want to make my country proud,” he said. “But I also need a future I can rely on.”

Javed Rahman’s championship win reveals harsh reality for Table Tennis Players. Yet behind his triumphant smile, Javed carried a quiet worry that overshadowed the moment of glory.

Last year’s championship finally validated all those years of struggle. His swift footwork, fearless backhand counters, and unwavering focus stunned senior competitors and won the hearts of fans. Coaches called it a “turning point for Bangladeshi table tennis.” Sports journalists hailed him as “the face of a new generation.”

But Javed remains uncertain about what comes next.

""If we get more opportunities, we can regularly bring such success at the international level. Those who play in the national team should at least have a guarantee of monthly salary or financial income. If you have to worry about family or expenses, then it is difficult to play." Khoi Khoi Marma said.

Javed’s win brought temporary excitement, but real progress requires investment: better facilities, international exposure, and stable financial assistance. “A victory like Javed’s could inspire hundreds,” said one coach, “but inspiration alone cannot build a career.”

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


Adnan Hadi is a senior journalist mainly
writing on archeological sites and sports.
He can be reached at [email protected]