In a landmark moment for Indian table tennis, the U19 Boys’ Team scripted history at the ITTF World Youth Championships 2025 in Cluj-Napoca by defeating Chinese Taipei 3–2 in a dramatic semifinal.
This is India’s first-ever appearance in a team final at the Youth Worlds, a breakthrough that redefines the nation’s standing in world junior table tennis.
Before this, India had only one finals appearance in any age-group team event the U15 Girls’ duo of Jennifer and Divyanshi, who finished runners-up in 2023. The U19 boys have now gone a step further, battling through nerves, momentum swings, and high-pressure moments to book their place in the gold-medal match against Japan.
This run has not been accidental; it has been crafted through grit, tactical maturity, and an unshakable belief shown by the trio of Ankur Bhattacharjee, Abhinandh Pradhivadhi, and Priyanuj Bhattacharya three athletes who rose to the occasion when it mattered the most.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
Chinese Taipei entered the semifinal as favourites, having already shocked China a result few had predicted. India, however, did not allow the aura of that upset to distract them. Led by the ever-reliable Ankur Bhattacharjee, the team took the fight to Taipei from the opening serve.
Match 1: Ankur strikes first blood
Facing Hsu Hsien-Chia, Ankur delivered a clutch performance to give India the early lead. In a match full of tight moments, he held his nerve in the decider to win 3–2 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10). His variations in tempo and smart placement troubled Hsu throughout, and the victory provided India with a crucial head start.
Match 2: Abhinandh goes down fighting
Abhinandh Pradhivadhi put up a spirited fight but lost 1–3 to Kuo Guan-Hong (12-10, 10-12, 8-11, 12-14). The Indian youngster showed flashes of brilliance especially in the opening game but Kuo’s counterattacking consistency helped Taipei level the tie at 1–1.
Match 3: Priyanuj restores the lead
In what turned out to be one of the pivotal moments of the tie, Priyanuj Bhattacharya put India back in front with a thrilling 3–2 win over Lin Chin-Ting (11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8). Showing exceptional composure, Priyanuj handled the pressure of the fifth game with poise, demonstrating control during long rallies and decisive forehand finishes.
Match 4: Taipei force the decider
Ankur returned for his second match but ran into an inspired Kuo Guan-Hong, who was in peak form. Ankur fought hard but suffered a straight-games defeat (10-12, 10-12, 10-12), allowing Taipei to level the tie 2–2 and push the semifinal into a nerve-wracking final rubber.
Abhinandh Delivers the Defining Win
With the tie on the line, India turned to Abhinandh Pradhivadhi still recovering from the earlier loss and now burdened with the responsibility of closing out the biggest match of his career.
What followed was a performance that will be remembered in Indian table tennis folklore.
Abhinandh produced a flawless, commanding display to defeat Hsu Hsien-Chia 3–0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-8). His aggressive opening attacks, sharper placements, and superior pace left Hsu scrambling throughout. The dominance he showed in the decider was remarkable, especially given the stakes and it sealed India’s historic entry into the final.
The moment the final point was won, the Indian bench erupted. This was not just a victory; it was the culmination of years of building a strong youth structure, of young athletes learning to compete fearlessly on the world stage.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
This semifinal win is more than an isolated achievement it marks a shift. Indian table tennis has been steadily rising at the senior level, but the performances in Cluj show that the next generation is ready to carry the baton forward.
Beating Chinese Taipei especially a team that defeated China is no small feat. It reflects the tactical discipline, mental resilience, and the growing belief among India’s young paddlers that they can challenge the best in the world.
Final Ahead: India vs Japan
Standing between India and an unprecedented gold medal is Japan, a nation with one of the deepest youth pipelines in the sport. They enter the final after a strong 3–1 win over Korea, and their top guns are in exceptional form. But India walk in with momentum, confidence, and a feeling that they are playing with nothing to lose often the most dangerous mindset in sport.
If Ankur, Abhinandh, and Priyanuj bring the same intensity that carried them past Taipei, the final promises to be a blockbuster.
From never having reached an U19 team final to standing one match away from the world title, India’s boys have rewritten the nation’s youth table tennis story. Regardless of the final outcome, this team has already etched its name in history — and ignited the dream of a golden future.
Final vs Japan. One last step. One giant opportunity for Indian table tennis.
