India, July 22 -- We arrived at the indoor stadium at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar for the All India Dental Sports Summit, 2026, with a quiet sense of anticipation. Dentists from across the country had stepped away from clinics and routines to remind themselves that their identities extended beyond their profession.

At 56 years, my own event was table tennis, and like many others, I arrived with that familiar mix of competitive excitement and simple joy that sport brings.

The first impression, however, was jarring.

The playing surface lacked proper matting, raising concerns about slips and injuries. Last-minute entries were allowed, rendering earlier draws meaningless. For participants who had tr...