31st Int'l Junior Tennis Tournament begins in Rajshahi

Rajshahi,  5 Oct- The 31st International Under-18 Junior Tennis Tournament-2026 began at the Rajshahi Tennis Complex today with players from 10 countries taking part.

The tournament was inaugurated at 9am through balloon and festoon releases and cake cutting. The guests were also introduced to the participating players.

Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton said the tournament would provide young Bangladeshi players an opportunity to display their talent at the international level and further strengthen Rajshahi's tradition of hosting international sporting events.

Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Yusuf Ali presided over the inaugural ceremony.

DIG of Rajshahi Range Ashik Sayeed, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Faizul Kabir, Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam, Rajshahi Zila Parishad Administrator Advocate Ershad Isha and Rajshahi Development Authority Chairman Abul Kalam Azad Sweet were, among others, present at the event.

Tournament Director Hasinur Rahman Tinku delivered the welcome speech, while Bangladesh Tennis Federation General Secretary Ishtiaque Ahmed Tariq and Rajshahi Tennis Complex Ad-hoc Committee Convener and Additional Divisional Commissioner Habibur Rahman also spoke.

The tournament is being held from October 5 to 10, with more than 100 players from Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Nepal, Japan, China, South Korea and the United States participating.

Thailand's Likul Patcharaphul, ranked 1,059 in the ITF World Junior Rankings, is the highest-ranked boy, while India's Sheikh Shazfa, ranked 2,045, is the highest-ranked girl.

The boys' and girls' singles events will have 32-player draws, with eight players qualifying for the main draw and four receiving wild cards in each event. The doubles events will feature 16-team draws.

Five players from Rajshahi are competing in the tournament, with Rakin Rahman and Bokul Ali featuring in the main draw.

Indian ITF White Badge referee Joy Mukherjee is serving as the tournament referee.BSS