The Europe Smash 2025 tournament in Malmö, Sweden, opened with thrilling qualifying rounds that set the tone for an intense week of table tennis. Yashaswini Ghorpade was the only Indian to qualify to main round
For India, it was a campaign of highs and near-misses, with Yashaswini Ghorpade emerging as the standout performer after a string of commanding victories. The 20-year-old from Bengaluru stormed into the main draw of the Women’s Singles with a composed 3-1 win over Serbia’s experienced campaigner Izabela Lupulesku, adding to earlier wins over Brianna Burgos (Puerto Rico) and Lam Yee Lok (Hong Kong). Her performance was not just a personal milestone but also a reflection of the depth and resilience in Indian table tennis, with multiple players testing themselves against some of the world’s best in Europe’s premier indoor arena, Baltiska Hallen.
Yashaswini’s Road to the Main Draw
The path to qualification is never easy, but Yashaswini showed remarkable poise across three rounds of high-pressure matches.
- Round 1: She began against Puerto Rican veteran Brianna Burgos, displaying clinical control to register a straight-games victory (11-5, 11-9, 11-7). Her aggressive forehand play and precise placement gave Burgos little chance to settle into rallies.
- Round 2: Against Hong Kong’s Lam Yee Lok, she was even more ruthless. In just under 20 minutes, she wrapped up the match 3-0 (11-1, 11-4, 11-8), neutralizing Lam’s defensive chops with powerful topspins and smart angles.
- Round 3: The final hurdle was Serbia’s Izabela Lupulesku, a seasoned European player ranked higher and known for her solid backhand drives. Yashaswini started nervously, conceding the opening game 7-11. But her response was emphatic—tightening her serve, taking control of mid-rallies, and finding rhythm in her third-ball attacks. She took the next three games 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 to clinch the tie 3-1 and secure her spot in the main draw.
This victory showcased not only her technical improvements but also her growing maturity in handling momentum shifts. After dropping the first game, she regrouped mentally, used her timeout effectively, and executed her game plan to perfection.
Tactical Brilliance Against Lupulesku
The match against Lupulesku was a microcosm of Ghorpade’s evolution as a player. Lupulesku thrives on long exchanges, often forcing opponents into errors through relentless backhand pressure. Yashaswini, however, chose to break the rhythm.
- Service Variety: She mixed short side-spin serves with long fast ones, forcing Lupulesku to constantly adjust.
- Targeting Weakness: Recognizing Lupulesku’s discomfort when pulled wide on the forehand, Yashaswini repeatedly opened up angles to exploit that gap.
- Composure in Decisive Points: In the third and fourth games, every time Lupulesku tried to stage a comeback, Yashaswini closed the door with aggressive yet measured shot selection.
Her 11-6 finish in the fourth game was symbolic of her dominance by the end she dictated rallies, while Lupulesku was left scrambling.
India’s Mixed Fortunes in Qualifying
While Yashaswini marched forward, other Indian players faced contrasting fortunes.
- Diya Chitale produced one of the standout moments in qualifying when she upset Korea’s Heo in straight games, showcasing her fearless counter-attacking style. However, she ran into reigning Junior World Champion Annett Kaufmann of Germany, whose speed and precision proved too strong. Diya fought hard but bowed out in a 1-3 defeat.
- Manush Shah endured heartbreak in a nail-biting clash against Luxembourg’s Luka Mladenovic. In a five-game thriller, Manush had chances but eventually lost 2-3. For Mladenovic, it was a career milestone his first-ever qualification into a Smash main draw while for Manush, it was a bitter end to an otherwise spirited campaign.
These results underlined both the opportunities and challenges that come with competing in elite European tournaments, where margins are razor-thin, and experience often tips the scales.
Main Draw Prospects
With qualifications wrapped up, the spotlight now shifts to the main draw, where India will have multiple representatives:
- Manav Thakkar in Men’s Singles
- Yashaswini Ghorpade & Sreeja Akula vs. Manika Batra in an all-Indian clash in Women Singles
- Manav/Manush in Men’s Doubles
- Diya/Yashaswini in Women’s Doubles
- Diya/Manush in Mixed Doubles
This lineup guarantees Indian presence across categories, offering a chance not just for experience but also for deep runs if players can seize their opportunities. The all-Indian women’s singles clash between Sreeja and Manika promises to be particularly exciting, reflecting the growing depth of Indian women’s table tennis.
Yashaswini’s Growing Reputation
For Yashaswini, this qualification is another feather in her cap as she continues to establish herself among India’s most promising paddlers. A product of India’s robust junior system, she has been steadily transitioning into the senior circuit. Known for her aggressive topspin play, strong serves, and fearless attitude, she represents the modern brand of Indian table tennis bold, attacking, and unafraid of taking on seasoned opponents.
Her performance at Europe Smash also builds on a consistent run over the past year, where she has not only competed regularly in international events but also made deep runs in continental tournaments. Each match abroad sharpens her ability to handle diverse playing styles from European blockers to Asian choppers and this adaptability will be crucial as she targets higher world rankings.
Europe Smash: A Premier Stage
The Europe Smash tournament has rapidly become one of the marquee fixtures on the global table tennis calendar. With its grand stage, strong field, and packed arena at Baltiska Hallen, it offers players a unique mix of prestige and ranking opportunities. For Indian players, it is also an invaluable chance to test themselves against Europe’s best a region that has historically dominated women’s table tennis outside Asia.
The event also serves as a barometer for players’ readiness ahead of bigger challenges, such as the World Championships and the Olympic cycle. For youngsters like Yashaswini, it is not just about immediate wins but also about long-term growth.
India’s presence at the Europe Smash reflects a broader upward trajectory in the sport. Over the past decade, Indian paddlers have transitioned from being surprise package upstarts to consistent contenders. Achievements like Manika Batra’s Commonwealth Games heroics, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran’s top-25 world ranking stint, and Sharath Kamal’s legendary career have set the foundation. Now, the next generation Yashaswini, Diya, Manav, Manush, and Sreeja are building on it.
The significance lies not just in individual wins but also in collective depth. Multiple Indians making it to the main draws of elite tournaments was once rare; today, it is becoming more common, a testament to improved infrastructure, exposure, and coaching back home. Yashaswini Ghorpade’s 3-1 victory over Izabela Lupulesku to book her place in the Europe Smash 2025 main draw is more than just a match result. It is a statement of intent—from her as an emerging star and from India as a growing force in world table tennis.
With her qualification, she has ensured that India will have strong representation in Malmö, alongside teammates across singles and doubles draws. The road ahead in the main event will be challenging, but if her composure and tactical acumen in qualifying are anything to go by, she is ready to make a mark.
As Europe Smash enters its decisive stages, all eyes will be on the Indian contingent. Whether it is Yashaswini’s fearless forehands, Diya’s grit, or the doubles chemistry of Manav-Manush, India’s presence in the draw is already one of the talking points of the tournament. For Yashaswini in particular, this could be the breakthrough moment where she transforms from a promising youngster to a consistent main-draw performer on the world stage.
And if Malmö 2025 is any indication, the journey has only just begun.
