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The Hindu
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
After winning the Asians, I am more confident of doing well at the World Championships: Divyanshi Bhowmick
Divyanshi Bhowmick is India's finest in her age category, girls' u-15, and second best in u-17. At the International level, the 14-year-old from Mumbai is progressing on the right track to be among the top in the world's charts. After winning the girls' u-15 crown in the Asian youth championships, she bagged another major title in her fledgling career recently by winning the u-19 girls' title in the WTT Youth Contender in Almaty. In fact, Divyanshi has had an outstanding International season in the youth category in 2025. She has won five WTT titles in the u-19, 17 and 15 categories. Divyanshi rocked the senior category when she, as a qualifier, outplayed Giorgia Piccolin of Italy, then ranked 64 in the world, in the first round of the WTT Star Contender in Chennai in March this year. An attacking player on both flanks, Piccolin is a paddler difficult to deal with at the best of times. More so, when a 14-year-old is taking on the Italian. Armed with a long-pimpled rubber on backhand and regular inverted rubber on forehand, Divyanshi turned the tables on the Paris Olympian with a display that had chops, blocks sprinkled with dollops of aggression on the forehand side. The win was no fluke as she continued to make waves, winning the girls' u-15 singles crown in the Asian youth table tennis championships held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) from June 26 to July 2, beating three top Chinese players on the way. Coached by her father Rahul Bhowmick at Kandivali (Mumbai) and Anshuman Roy (in Bengaluru), Divyanshi is keen to play more senior tournaments on the International circuit and focus on playing more events on the domestic front, hoping to break into the world's top 100 in women's section (she is 194 now) sooner than later. Her immediate goal is to perform well in the World youth championships in u-15 section to be held in Romania from November 23 to 30. 'After winning the Asians, I am more confident of doing well at the World Championships this year' said Divyanshi. Excerpts: How important was the girls' under-15 crown, and how did you prepare for it as the second seed? I had prepared really well for this tournament. We had an India camp before this tournament in Bengaluru. And over there, all the coaches and the head coach, Massimo Costantini, really helped. And being the second seed, I was hoping to play in the final. And to win gold for India after 36 years was really special for me. B. Bhuvaneshwari, the former India paddler, was the first to do so. INDIA'S DIVYANSHI STUNS CHINA'S LIU 🤯 Divyanshi Bhowmick has stunned Liu 4-3 in a thriller way to storm into the Final of U15 at Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2025! 💪 INCREDIBLE RUN BY DIVYANSHI! 🇮🇳❤️ — The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) July 1, 2025 You had beaten three Chinese including Zhu Qihui in the final, how was the feeling? I was going step by step. In the quarter-final, I was playing against Huize Yang (China). I was confident as I had beaten her earlier. Yes, I had gone with a plan on what to play. I did discuss with my coach and my dad, and executed it. Even the semi-finals was a really tough one, because the last two times I had lost to her (Ziling Liu). I went one step at a time with every Chinese. In the final against Zhu Qihui, I had confidence that I would beat her because I had defeated her earlier also (WTT Youth Contender in Bangkok). What was the strategy against Zhu? The match was really tough. I did what we had planned but she forced me to change it. However, I adapted to the situation and I won. Beating one Japanese and three Chinese on the way was really special. India lost to Japan in the quarterfinals of the team event which was before the individuals. Did the defeat prod you to do well in singles? In the groups, the whole team played really well. We defeated Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Kyrgyzstan to top the group. But with Japan, seeded third, we couldn't win (losing 1-3). We (India was seeded fifth) all felt sad after the match because we were expecting that we could win. It was quite a close match. I lost the fourth rubber. I got the extra motivation to win the singles event after the defeat to Japan. The last two years (2024-25) have been really good. You won the u-15 and u-17 titles in Vadodara and also reached six finals, four semifinals and six quarterfinals in both the sections.... I feel very happy. Right now, I am ranked World No. 3 in the world in girls' u-15. That gives me huge confidence. I want to grow steadily and do well in the tournaments I compete while also enjoying the experience and working on my weaknesses. And after every tournament, of course, I sit with my coaches and my dad to work on the mistakes which I made and try to overcome them in the next tournament. The last two years have been good. Last year, I missed out on the Asian Championships. And even in the Worlds, I lost in the pre-quarter finals. So, last year, it was okay. But this year, it started really nice with me winning the Asian Championships and doing well on WTT youth tournaments. I have to work harder for the World Championships (to be held in Tokyo) now. Any special training you took before the Asian youth championships? Before the Asian Championship we were in the National camp, with head coach Massimo Costantini helping the team. I focused more on my forehand and the need to attack. Your game revolves around chops and blocks on the backhand and a good attack on the forehand. How do you plan to improve your game awareness further? Along with the chops and blocks, I need to improve my attack. With the long-pimpled rubber, I do practice the twiddling act (twiddling is switching racquet between the long pimple rubber (backhand) and a regular plain rubber on forehand), allowing one to play more aggressively and making the opponent difficult to read the spin of the ball) like Manika Batra, who is my idol. I am yet to master it (twiddling). You did create ripples, by beating a top 100 player in Giorgia Piccolin in the first round of the WTT Star Contender in Chennai early this year. Do you plan to play in more senior events? This year, I am going to try and play more senior events on my own expenses, with the help of my Foundation, Dani Sports. And of course, in the domestic circuit, try to be in the top 10 or even top eight in the women's category. In the domestic season last year, I just played one or two tournaments in my category. This year I am going to play in all of them. At 14 years and 8 months, school plays an important part for Indians especially. How do you juggle academics and professional sports? Studies are important. This year, I have my Std. 10th board exams. So, yes, I am playing my matches and then trying to find time to do online tuition also, because that is mandatory. What was coach Anshuman Roy's impact on your game? I've been training with him for the last two years, but I also train in Mumbai with my dad and whenever I have time, I go to Bengaluru. He has really helped me improve, make those changes and improve my backhand and block and everything. Yasashwini (Ghorpade), one of India's top paddlers, also trains with Anshuman sir. In Mumbai, I train with my dad. I have a robot at my house and many practice partners come to train with me. The robot has been of big use to me. It keeps giving balls at a certain speed, it has helped my consistency. What has been the most memorable win in your career? It was winning the silver medal in the 2023 World youth Championship with my partner Jennifer Verghese in girls' u-15 doubles in Slovenia, and it was a historic victory. And, I became World No. 3 in under-15 singles, I am also now. And the next big moment was winning double gold (clinching the u-15 & u-17 singles title) in the WTT Youth Contender at home (Vadodara) this year. And even defeating Italy's Giorgia Piccolin in the first round of WTT Star Contender in Chennai this year was a great moment. And then playing four games (3-1) with Shin Yubin, who was seeded fourth in the tournament's second round. When I look back, I felt good as I was 10-9 up in the fourth game against Shin Yubin, before I lost. It was special, nevertheless. It gave me a lot of experience. How do you see the future panning out? I need to work harder, especially this year for the ITTF World Youth Championships to be held in Romania from November 23 to 30. After winning the Asians, I am more confident of doing well at the World Championships u-15 category this year. I want to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. How much has Manika Batra been an inspiration for you? She is my idol and I really look up to her game and attitude. I have not got the chance to talk much to her. But by seeing her game, I try to learn as much as I can. Does Divyanshi have friends in the TT circuit? Yes, it is Syndrela Das. We are best friends and also play as a pair in doubles.
The Hindu
27-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Asian youth table tennis championships
Fresh from her U-15 gold medal at the Asian youth table tennis championships at Tashkent recently, Divyanshi Bhowmick continued her fine run to claim the U-19 girls' title at the WTT Youth Contender in Almaty (Kazakhstan) on Saturday. She overcame Zlata Terekhova of the Russian Federation 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2 in the final. In an all-Indian U-17 boys' final, Priyanuj Bhattacharyya rallied to beat P. B. Abhinandh 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6. In the U-15 girls' final, Ananya Muralidharan went down down 8-11, 8-11, 8-11 to Lu Yu-En of Taiwan. India wrapped up the Almaty event with a total of 11 medals—two gold, two silver, and seven bronze.
Observer
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Omani umpire to officiates at FISU Games
MUSCAT, JULY 14 Oman's pioneering table tennis umpire, Aisha al Saidi, continues to raise the Sultanate of Oman's flag high on the international sports events. The distinguished blue badge umpire will officiate at the FISU World University Games 2025 which is set to begin on Wednesday and will run until July 27 in Germany. The table tennis competitions will take place in Essen city at Messe Essen Halle 1 including seven key events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles, and men's and women's team events. Aisha, who hails from Saham, made history in March 2022 when she earned her blue badge umpire status at the WTT Youth Contender in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. She was among only three Omanis to achieve this elite status beside Mohammed al Alawi and Ibrahim al Jassasi. Since then, she has officiated at several international World Table Tennis (WTT) events, gaining the desired experience for her professionalism and precision. Most recently, Aisha was among the selected officials at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships which concluded in Doha in last May as she oversaw a series of high-profile matches, including some in the final rounds. She participated in the 2024 World Championship in Bosan, South Korea, where she further solidifying her international umpiring credentials. Commenting on her upcoming assignment, Aisha said it is a great honor to be selected to officiate at another global event. 'I look forward to representing Oman at the FISU Games and contributing to the success of the tournament. This is another milestone in my umpiring journey, and I am eager to continue developing and officiating at the highest levels.' She ended Aisha began her career in 2016 and she was consistent presence in domestic, regional and international table tennis tournaments. Her progression through the ranks reflects not only her personal dedication but also the growing impact of Omani officials in international sports.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
High Performance Centre to come up by August
Former India star paddler Sharath Kamal's dream has finally come true. The High Performance Centre (HPC), to be funded by the Tamil Nadu Innovations Initiatives (TANII), a wing of the State Planning Commission of the Tamil Nadu Government, will be up and running by the end of August, at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (TNPESU) at Melakottaiyur. The proposal was approved by the Executive Committee of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) here on Thursday. Speaking to The Hindu, J. Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary of SDAT, said the HPC has received a funding for three years from TNII which help stabilise the Centre. It was also decided that Sharath would be HPC's Advisory Director. 'The funding from TNII will comprehensively cover the infrastructure, upgradation, equipment, manpower, expert coaches for the facilities,' he said. The 42-year-old five-time Olympian was thrilled with the development. Sharath said his vision is to develop talents from other districts of Tamil Nadu and make the HPC into a National Training Centre and tie-up with World Table Tennis (WTT) to bring in coaches and players from abroad. The 10-time Senior National champion is keen to hold a WTT Youth Contender either by November this year or Nov. 2026 at TNPESU. 'It's been a long process. It took us a while to figure out how to get the HPC into shape. Am happy it will be starting soon. I had in mind to start a National Training Centre and in 2022-23 when Meghanatha Reddy sir called me, the seed was planted in my mind. Slowly it took shape,' Sharath told The Hindu. Sharath said he is planning to rope in reputed fitness trainer Ramji Srinivasan and his team of physios and strength and conditioning coaches into HPC. 'Of course SDAT will have a say on it,' he said. Sharath insisted that HPC will have residential facilities for players while adding that he would finalise his team of coaches in the coming months.
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Historic bronze for Malaysia at Asian Youth Table Tennis
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's 36-year medal drought at the Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships finally ended on Wednesday, thanks to a breakthrough performance by rising stars Yaap Rui Zhe and Lam Ee Sim. The unseeded pair bagged a historic bronze in the boys' Under-19 doubles in Tashkent, Uzbekistan — the country's first medal at the event since 1989. Rui Zhe-Ee Sim fell 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 to Taiwan's Chang Yu An-Hung Jing Kai in the semi-finals but had already made history by reaching the last four. In 1989, Malaysia had also claimed bronze — in the girls' team event. En route to the semi-finals, Rui Zhe-Ee Sim defeated Japan's Yoshiyama Kazuki and Ryuusei Kawakami (11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8) and India's Bhattacharjee Ankur-Pradhivadhi Abhinandh (11-6, 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7) en route to the semi-finals. The bronze marks another sign of resurgence in Malaysian table tennis, fuelled by a promising new generation. Their success follows a string of encouraging results by their peers — most notably 13-year-old Dania Elisha Airul, now ranked world No. 2 in her age group after winning four WTT Youth Contender titles this year. In April, Im Jin Zhen ended another long drought by winning gold in the boys' Under-19 singles at the Southeast Asian Youth Championships in Jakarta — Malaysia's first in over 30 years. Rui Zhe, Ee Sim and Jin Zhen also helped the boys' Under-19 team take silver, while Gan Ai Lis-Lim Jing Shuen added to the medal haul by winning the girls' Under-19 doubles title.
