The 31st International (Under-18) Junior Tennis Tournament-2026 began in Rajshahi with a colorful ceremony. Today, Monday (October 05), at 9 am, the guests inaugurated this international tournament by releasing balloons and festoons and cutting a cake at the Rajshahi Tennis Complex. At the beginning of the opening ceremony, the guests got acquainted with the participating players. Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Riton spoke as a guest at the opening ceremony.
Speaking at the event, RASC Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton said, “This international tournament has created an opportunity for the country’s young tennis players to showcase their talents and skills at the international level. At the same time, the continuity of organizing international sports in Rajshahi has been further enriched. I wish the 31st International (Under-18) Junior Tennis Tournament success.”
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Md. Yusuf Ali presided over the inaugural ceremony.
The guests of honor at the event were DIG of Rajshahi Range of Bangladesh Police Md. Ashiq Sayeed, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Fayezul Kabir, Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam, Rajshahi District Council Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Adv. Ershad Isha, and Rajshahi Development Authority Chairman Abul Kalam Azad Sweet. Tournament Director Hasinur Rahman Tinku delivered the welcome speech.
Bangladesh Tennis Federation General Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Tariq, Rajshahi Tennis Complex Ad Hoc Committee Convener and Additional Divisional Commissioner Habibur Rahman also spoke at the event.
The organizers said that this international tournament will be held at the Rajshahi Tennis Complex from October 5 to 10. More than a hundred players from ten countries, including host Bangladesh, are participating in it. Apart from Bangladesh, players from India, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Nepal, Japan, China, South Korea and the United States have participated in this year’s competition. Thailand’s Likul Patcharaphul is at the top of the boys’ ranking. Her ITF World Junior Ranking is 1,059. On the other hand, the top-ranked player among girls is India’s Sheikh Shazfa. Her ITF World Junior Ranking is 2,045.
There will be a draw of 32 players each in boys’ and girls’ singles. Out of these, eight players will get a place in the main round through the qualifying round and four players will get a place in the main round through wild cards. A total of 5 players from Rajshahi will play in this tournament. Among them, Rakin Rahman and Bakul Ali will play in the main draw. Apart from this, there will be 16 draws each in boys’ and girls’ doubles events. Joy Mukherjee of India, an authorized white badge referee of the International Tennis Federation, is serving as the tournament referee.