India’s young table tennis sensation Divyanshi Bhowmick continues to redefine consistency and composure on the international youth circuit.
The 14-year-old prodigy from Kolkata capped off a landmark week at the WTT Youth Star Contender in Podgorica with a remarkable double silver in U15 girls’ singles and gold in U19 girls’ doubles alongside Syndrela Das. The results not only consolidate her growing stature among the world’s elite but also underline a defining duality in her development: a fierce singles competitor capable of pushing the very best and a doubles specialist thriving under shared pressure.
The U15 girls’ singles final in Podgorica will be remembered as one of the finest contests of the season a five-game thriller between Divyanshi Bhowmick (IND) and Kokomi Ishida (JPN) that swung dramatically before the Japanese star edged home 3–2 (11–4, 4–11, 7–11, 17–15, 11–8).
It was a final that showcased not just skill, but mental strength and maturity far beyond their years. Ishida dominated the opening game with quick counterloops and smart placement, forcing Divyanshi onto the defensive. But the Indian fought back with controlled aggression using her crisp backhand drives to seize control of rallies and level the match.
The momentum swung decisively in Game 3, as Divyanshi’s serve-return patterns began to unsettle Ishida. Her backhand flicks and mid-table control pushed the Japanese star deeper behind the baseline, earning her a 2–1 lead. The fourth game was where the drama peaked an extended 15–17 epic where both players saved multiple championship points. Divyanshi led 10–8 and later 14–13, but Ishida’s precision under pressure rescued her, leveling the match. That missed opportunity would prove decisive; the Japanese player carried her momentum into the fifth, claiming it 11–8 after a sequence of intense, 20-shot rallies.
Despite the defeat, the quality of play reaffirmed why Divyanshi is already ranked World No. 3 in the U15 category. Her ability to push a top Japanese opponent to the brink reflects not just skill but also tactical evolution particularly her shot selection under pressure, an area she has worked to refine over the past year.
Podgorica Redemption: The U19 Doubles Title
Just hours after that heart-breaking loss, Divyanshi returned to the arena with Syndrela Das for the U19 Girls’ Doubles final a higher age category featuring stronger and more experienced opposition. What followed was a statement of resilience and adaptability.
The Indian duo defeated the European pair Leon/Bogdanowicz in straight sets 3–0 (11–8, 11–9, 11–7) to clinch the WTT Youth Star Contender U19 title their first together as a pair. The victory was more than just a medal; it was proof of Divyanshi’s mental elasticity. Within 24 hours, she had transformed the disappointment of a singles loss into an emphatic doubles triumph. The composure, coordination, and chemistry between her and Syndrela were evident from the first serve.
Divyanshi’s backhand, long acknowledged as one of the strongest in her age group, became the stabilizing factor in quick exchanges. Her reflex returns and defensive blocks set the platform for Syndrela’s forehand winners. Their rotations were seamless, their energy perfectly synced the kind of chemistry that defines elite partnerships. For Divyanshi, it also marked her second consecutive Star Contender doubles gold, following her U15 doubles title with Ananya Muralidharan in Skopje last month. That victory had come against a Chinese pair, further underlining her growing reputation as one of the most reliable doubles players in youth table tennis.
The Making of a Modern Indian Talent
Behind the medals lies a story of preparation, science, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. Born in 2010, Divyanshi has been groomed through an unusually structured development system led by coach Anshuman Roy, blending modern training tools with traditional Indian grit. Her father’s investment in a specialized table tennis robot during the COVID-19 lockdown was a turning point. Those long hours of repetitive backhand and block drills often 50 to 60 per stroke built the technical foundation that today separates her from peers.
She trains six days a week, integrating strength work and match simulations to bridge the physical gap with Asian opponents, particularly from China and Korea. The focus on fitness and stamina has also allowed her to sustain energy through long rallies a crucial component of her recent success in five-game matches.
2025: The Year of Consolidation
The 2025 season has been transformative for Divyanshi. She captured the Asian Youth U15 Singles Gold becoming the first Indian girl in 36 years to win the continental title before following it up with back-to-back doubles triumphs in Europe.
At just 14, she already holds world rankings across multiple categories:
•U15 Singles – World No. 3
•U17 Singles – World No. 14
•U19 Singles – World No. 24
These numbers illustrate her exceptional maturity and versatility, competing and often winning in age brackets several years above her own. What stands out in Divyanshi’s trajectory is her ability to balance singles ambition with doubles mastery. Her doubles success with multiple partners Jennifer Varghese (2023 World Youth Silver), Ananya Muralidharan (Skopje 2025 Gold), and Syndrela Das (Podgorica 2025 Gold) reflects adaptability, communication, and consistency.
The pattern also highlights her unique mindset. When singles results fluctuate, doubles becomes her outlet for redemption a domain where her calm under pressure translates into collective triumph. As she now prepares for the 2025 World Youth Championships in Romania, her targets are clear: to turn her U15 world ranking into a global medal in singles and upgrade her 2023 doubles silver to gold.
In Divyanshi Bhowmick, India has found a complete modern table tennis athlete one who combines technique with temperament, intelligence with intensity. Her loss to Ishida in Podgorica might sting for now, but it was a lesson wrapped in brilliance, followed immediately by gold in the higher age category.
Few 14-year-olds recover from heartbreak by defeating Europe’s best within 24 hours and fewer do it twice in a season. Divyanshi has done both. She’s not just India’s next big table tennis hope she’s already shaping up to be the player who could redefine what’s possible for Indian women in global sport.
