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Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Power game, ‘recovery' – Yashaswini Ghorpade's learnings from foreign Table Tennis players
Indian upcoming TT player Yashaswini Ghorpade lost 13-11, 11-9, 11-3 to Japanese Miwa Harimoto over the weekend at the US Smash, a top tier tournament internationally. Though she has managed to re-enter the Top 100 this week, and is at World No 99 currently, her title-winning turn at UTT, India's franchise league in June alerted her to challenges of the whole wide world, beyond the domestic bragging rights. U Mumba beat Jaipur Patriots 8-4 in the UTT finals, after Ghorpade had helped yank the team, holding her nerve in the semis. But beyond the euphoria was a stack of lessons learnt, some that got drilled down at the Smash (like a Grand Slam). Ghorpade led the World No 6 Japanese 11-10 and 9-8 in the first two games, and lost her advantage from there, before a drubbing in the third. The 20-year-old youngster had delved into what possibly stops Indians from pressing home their advantage and frittering their leads – something that was seen even with Indian No 64 Sreeja Akula at the Olympics. 'Maybe at that moment, the top players take the opportunity and the lesson is to not play it safe at that juncture,' she had said last month. 'They pounce at the chance.' Ahead of flying out for the circuit, the youngster had also noted another takeaway from watching foreign stars turn out at UTT. 'They tend to have good serves which gives them the upperhand,' Ghoroade said. At the Orleans Arena where the Smash was hosted, the Bangalorean youngster frittered her service opportunities twice when leading on the cusp of taking the games. Though she might be the first of Indians to lean onto an attacking style despite playing with a pimple rubber, the power differential often shows up. 'Top players just have a better technique on their power game,' she would say. The maddening schedule in TT where they will play in Americas, Europe, China and other parts of Asia in quick succession means hard-core training blocks are few and far in between. 'We don't get to train a lot, but I do my strength training, lifting weights, twice a week,' she would add. The UTT triumph though was especially satisfying. 'It's very different from the international circuit. You realise how top paddlers prepare, there's shoots and interviews, and contribute to team as against taking all pressure on yourself,' she said. Matches might be shorter, but they demand focus and afford no breathers. 'In UTT pressure is different. You are not supposed to lose concentration even for a second or momentum changes in 3 sets as against five,' Ghorpade added. 4-7 down in her semis against a higher ranked opponent, she had turned the tables, but there was plenty of catching up to do with the top players. 'What I learnt was that foreign players are very quick. But I also got to see their routine and how they keep focus on match days, as well as recovery sessions. I've realized recovery is most important,' she says, hoping to carry forward these learnings when she is in the cauldron of the circuit. The Bangalorean stumbled into TT at age 7 or 8. 'I used to watch TV and be very lazy. Parents decided they had to do something because I was falling sick often too. We had TT coaching at school so it was easily accessible,' Ghorpade recalls. The pimples carry the usual jeopardy though they can offer surprise value up front. 'I use a pimple rubber on the backhand but it's not easy,' she says. 'It's tough to get control and opponent gets used to the momentum. Then you have to mix things up,' she explains, adding her strengths are patience in rallies and general control on the back hand, even if it takes a lot out of her. How does she unwind? 'Bollywood music,' she ends.
Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Table tennis World Cup winner Hugo Calderano to miss Las Vegas event over visa issues
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Brazil's Hugo Calderano reacts after a point in his loss to China's Wang Chuqin in the men's singles final at the World Table Tennis Championships in Doha on May 25, 2025. BERLIN – Brazilian Hugo Calderano, who won the gold medal in the 2025 table tennis World Cup, said he will miss the WTT US Smash event in Las Vegas this month following delays in getting a visa to the United States. Calderano, a 2025 world championships silver medallist who also holds a Portuguese passport, said he had been informed by the US authorities that he was no longer eligible for visa waiver for European Union countries, due to a trip to Cuba in 2023 to compete in international competitions and qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 29-year-old said he then tried to get an emergency visa but ran out of time with the event already under way on July 3. 'I followed the same protocol as all my previous trips to the United States using my Portuguese passport,' Calderano said in a statement on his website late on July 3. 'When I was informed of the situation, I mobilised my entire team to obtain an emergency visa, but unfortunately, there was not enough time.' 'It is frustrating to be left out of one of the most important competitions of the season for reasons beyond my control, especially coming off such positive results,' he added. The US Smash event is one of the highlights of the year for the WTT, a body created by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) to stage commercial competitions to broaden the appeal of the sport, with higher prize money. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in a more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on best friend for strength and support Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi The US will also play host to the 2026 soccer World Cup, while Los Angeles will stage the 2028 Summer Olympics with athletes from more than 200 countries and territories set to take part. Reuters has contacted the US State Department for a comment. The ITTF could not immediately be reached for a comment. REUTERS
India Gazette
18-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
WTT launches Indian entity to drive local talent, global integration
New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): In a landmark move for the development of table tennis in India, World Table Tennis (WTT) on Wednesday announced launch of WTT Event Management India Private Limited ('WTT India'), a new local entity aimed at delivering top-tier international events, strengthening pathways for Indian athletes, and deepening fan and commercial engagement across the country. The new entity marks a significant step in WTT's mission to expand the sport globally while building strong local ecosystems. WTT India will serve as the anchor for high-performance elite and junior-level events and player development, bringing the world of professional table tennis closer to Indian athletes and audiences than ever before, as per a press release from WTT. The move comes as Indian sport sees strong institutional backing and grassroots momentum, with table tennis gaining traction and a new generation of Indian players rising on the international stage. Since its launch, WTT has rapidly evolved into a dynamic global sporting property, staging world-class events across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. With a presence in over 180 broadcast territories, WTT has transformed table tennis into a year-round, premium sports spectacle, backed by elite venues, immersive production, and digital-first storytelling. At the helm of this transformation is Steve Dainton, WTT Chief Executive Officer and one of the sport's most influential global figures. Since becoming CEO of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in 2017, Dainton has played a pivotal role in transforming the sport's global growth, most notably as the driving force behind the conceptualisation of WTT since 2019 and its launch in 2021. His leadership continues to drive WTT's expansion into new markets, with India now firmly part of that global trajectory. As the WTT Series continues to scale with marquee events like the Grand Smashes in Asia, Champions events in Europe, and the debuts of US Smash and Europe Smash in Sweden, the launch of WTT India comes at an opportune moment, positioning India at the heart of WTT's next phase of strategic global expansion. 'India represents one of the most exciting frontiers for table tennis globally,' said Dainton. 'The passion is there. The infrastructure is coming. The player base is growing. With WTT India, we're now fully invested in building a long-term ecosystem that's good for India, and good for the game. It's about establishing a presence, creating new opportunities, and integrating India into the very fabric of our global calendar and community.' WTT's presence in India began with the WTT Star Contender Goa in 2023, followed by a successful return in 2024. In 2025, the event took a bold step forward with WTT Star Contender Chennai, elevating the event further in a city steeped in the sport's heritage. Also joining the Board is Vita Dani, one of India's leading sports entrepreneurs and Chairperson of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT). A long-time advocate for athlete development and grassroots investment, Dani also serves on the governing board of the ITTF Foundation and co-founded Dani Sports Foundation, a non-profit advancing physical literacy and sports education across India. 'This is a passion project as much as it is a strategic one,' said Dani. 'WTT India gives us the platform to channel international energy into a local movement. We have the talent, the ambition, and now the structure to dream bigger and deliver. More Indian players will now have the chance to compete in world-class events on home soil, by experiencing the WTT stage up close, and using it as a springboard to the global circuit. That kind of exposure can be game-changing.' Supporting this next chapter is Sharath Kamal Achanta, India's most celebrated table tennis player, who has been appointed as WTT India's official ambassador. A multiple-time Commonwealth Games champion and Olympic veteran, Achanta brings with him decades of experience on the international circuit and an enduring presence in the Indian sporting landscape. 'This moment feels like the turning of a page,' said Achanta. 'The sport has come so far in India, and now, with WTT officially here, we have the chance to elevate it like never before. I'm proud to represent this next phase--not just as a player, but as someone who truly believes in the potential of Indian table tennis.' As WTT accelerates its global expansion, India emerges as a key pillar in shaping the future of modern table tennis. The launch of WTT India marks a defining chapter in this journey that's driven by purpose, powered by passion, and strengthened through strategic partnerships. (ANI)
