Bangladesh table tennis teams are scheduled to leave for Kathmandu on Monday to take part in South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships, which will be held from April 24-27, with the hope of securing medals.

The regional championships will also serve as qualification platform for upcoming Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships, with the champions in both men's U-19 and women's U-19 team events advancing to the 24th edition of continental championships.

Bangladesh, who became champions in men's U-19 team event in 2022 and finished behind champions Sri Lanka in 2024, are hoping to fight for the final in absence of India.

"We have a good team this time around. Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka are of similar strength. So we believe we can play the final and win a medal," head coach Mostafa Billah told the reporters at a press conference at BOA Auditorium on Sunday.

BTTF general secretary captain AM Maksud Ahmed Sonnet said, "The preparation started on March 12, about a month after we took responsibility in the federation. There was flexibility in the camp due to Ramadan and Eid but we hope the players will produce good results as we also emphasised on fitness by appointing a fitness trainer."

Sonnet informed that they will simultaneously train the players and test them through different tournaments in a bid to sharpen their skills and that they would also consider appointing a Chinese and a Japanese coach to groom players from the grassroots level.

He also claimed that they started the activities of federation with a Tk 4.5 lakh debt but they are optimistic about continuing all activities soundly in coming days, adding that they have requested the National Sports Council to have the federation's accounts audited to find out whether they have been any irregularities.