A RECORD 300 teams from 73 schools, involving 701 players, will compete for honours at the 6th Penang Chief Minister’s Cup Interschool Table Tennis Championships 2026, to be held on Oct 17 and 18 at the MSN/PTTA Training Centre in Macallum Street Ghaut.
Organised by the Penang Table Tennis Association (PTTA), with the support of the Penang State Sports Council and Penang Education Department, and sponsored by the Penang Chief Minister’s Office, the championships feature six categories: Under-10 Boys’ Team, Under-10 Girls’ Team, Under-12 Boys’ Team, Under-12 Girls’ Team, Under-15 Boys’ Team and Under-15 Girls’ Team.
Each tie consists of three matches: singles, doubles and singles.
The prizes for the top three teams in each category are RM300, RM200 and RM100, respectively, along with trophies, medals and certificates of achievement. The fourth-placed team will receive RM80 and trophies and medals, while teams placing fifth to eighth will receive RM50 and trophies each. Teams placing ninth to 12th will receive RM30 each.
PTTA deputy president and organising chairman Datuk Ang Aing Thye said three tables would be set up on the ground floor of the building to accommodate the overwhelming response this year, in addition to the seven tables on the first floor and 10 on the second floor.
“In all, we will have 20 tables for the matches to run simultaneously. This year’s tournament has attracted a record number of entries, surpassing the more than 280 teams last year. Due to limited space, we have to cap the number of entries,” he said at a press conference at the association’s premises on Macallum Street today.
Ang added that the school with the best overall performance would be awarded the Penang Chief Minister Challenge Trophy. To date, no school has won the trophy three consecutive times to claim it outright.
Also present were Chief Minister’s political secretary Lau Keng Ee, PTTA president Datuk Michael Tiah, PTTA technical chairman Loke Boon Leong, and Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency and Padang Kota state constituency service centre director Ewe Chee Way.
Meanwhile, Tiah said the championships aimed to promote table tennis in schools, encourage healthy competition and nurture young talents who could one day represent Penang at national and international levels.
“This year marks significant growth since the inaugural event in 2019, which attracted only 147 teams from 51 schools, involving 347 players. We have organised the tournament every year, except for a two-year break due to Covid-19. Each year, the tournament has grown bigger and better,” he said.
He added that participation would also be recognised under the Education Ministry’s Physical Activity, Sports and Co-Curriculum Assessment (PAJSK) system.
Tiah noted that Penang’s young table tennis players had performed well in recent years. At the 2026 Sukma, they won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals, while at the Malaysian Youth Under-19 and Under-15 Championships, they captured five of the 12 gold medals on offer.
Lau said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had pledged RM50,000 towards organising the tournament, as in previous years.
“The tournament provides valuable exposure for our young players. Besides the CM Challenge Trophy, several other tournaments support the state’s sports development programme. This is why we have seen Penang achieve good results at youth level,” he said.
With about 1,000 players, teachers, coaches, parents and supporters expected to attend, the organisers have arranged additional parking at Li Tek Primary School, opposite the MSN/PTTA Training Centre.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Lau Suun Ting