India’s mixed doubles pair Ankur Bhattacharjee and Taneesha Kotecha produced two composed and confident performances to enter the quarterfinals of the ITTF World Youth Championships 2025 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Showing grit, tactical clarity, and impressive resilience across two tight matches, the young Indian duo is now among the last eight in the U19 mixed doubles field a significant achievement on one of the toughest youth stages in world table tennis.
Their progression through the Round of 32 and Round of 16 showcased not just their synergy but also their ability to handle pressure in long rallies and close games, a sign of growing maturity on the international circuit.
Round of 32: A Hard-Fought Win Against France
Ankur and Taneesha began their campaign with a gritty 3–2 win over the French pair Flavio/Elise in the Round of 32. The match swung back and forth, testing India’s patience and composure.
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After winning the opening game 9–11, the Indians lost the second 11–3, but recovered confidently in the third, winning 11–9. France hit back again to take the fourth game 11–8, pushing the contest into a deciding fifth game. In the decider, Ankur and Taneesha held their nerve to close out the match 11–7, sealing a 3–2 victory and advancing to the next round.
The comeback reflected their capacity to adapt mid-match — tightening serves, improving placement, and increasing pace through their counter-attacks. More importantly, it set the tone for their Round of 16 performance.
Round of 16: Another Thrilling 3–2 Escape
Their challenge grew tougher in the Round of 16, where they faced the talented Spanish–Ukrainian team Daniel/Veronika. Once again, the Indian pair found themselves in a five-game battle but managed to dig deep, closing it out 3–2 in another nail-biter.
The game scores 14–12, 12–14, 14–12, 9–11, 11–5 reveal how fiercely contested the match was. Three games went beyond 12 points, highlighting the razor-thin margins and the intense pressure both sides operated under.
Ankur and Taneesha displayed exceptional temperament in crucial moments, especially in the opening and third games, where they saved game points and turned the tide with bold attacking strokes. Their willingness to stay close to the table, take early balls, and mix placements between body and wide angles earned them valuable winners. The deciding fifth game was their most dominant, with an 11–5 finish. After four games of extreme tension, the Indian pair stepped up the pace, forced errors with proactive third-ball attacks, and sealed their place in the quarterfinals.
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The back-to-back five-game victories underline the promise that Ankur and Taneesha bring to India’s youth table tennis programme. Mixed doubles at the youth level is often unpredictable, with fast exchanges and momentum shifts, but the Indian pair’s ability to remain balanced and tactical under pressure reflects a growing maturity.
For Taneesha, who has been one of India’s standout performers in the junior circuit over the past year, this run reinforces her upward trajectory. Ankur, too, has shown excellent adaptability and touch at the net, complementing Taneesha’s speed and sharp counterplay. Their entry into the quarterfinals places them among the top eight mixed doubles pairs in the world at the U19 level a platform that could propel them deeper into the tournament if they continue their current form.
As the Championships move into the business end, the competition will tighten further, with all remaining teams capable of turning matches around quickly. But if their first two rounds are any indication, Ankur and Taneesha have both the composure and the firepower to challenge for a medal.
India will be watching closely as the young duo steps into the quarterfinals, carrying momentum, confidence, and a growing belief that they belong among the best in the world.
