The 22nd Senior National Soft Tennis Championship 2025 was inaugurated here on Sunday with an impressive opening ceremony at the Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex.

The championship, organized by the J&K Amateur Soft Tennis Association in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council, features participation from players and coaches representing more than 25 states and union territories.
Advocate Saif-ud-Din Bhat, MLA Khansahib, attended the ceremony as the chief guest, while Raju Parmar, former Member of Parliament and Advisor to the Amateur Soft Tennis Federation of India (ASTFI), was the guest of honour.
The event commenced with a March Past by the participating teams and a performance by the J&K Police Band, followed by a cultural programme showcasing the rich heritage of Jammu & Kashmir.
In his address, Bhat commended the J&K Amateur Soft Tennis Association for hosting the prestigious national event in a professional manner and urged the players to uphold the true spirit of sportsmanship.
Guest of Honour Raju Parmar expressed gratitude to the association and the J&K Sports Council for their commitment to promoting soft tennis.
Other dignitaries present included Shakuntala J. Khodadhra, Secretary General, ASTFI; Raja Ghulam Nabi Wani, Chairman, J&K Amateur Soft Tennis Association; and Shakir Ashraf, General Secretary of the association.
During the ceremony, mementoes were presented to the medal winners and participants of the recent 9th Asian Soft Tennis Championship for their outstanding performances.
Narinder Pal Singh, Joint Secretary, ASTFI, delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating the efforts of all officials and volunteers.