The 87th UTT Senior National Table Tennis Championships concluded on a compelling note at the Abhay Prashal Stadium in Indore, as Manav Thakkar and Yashaswini Ghorpade clinched their maiden senior national singles titles.
Their triumphs not only marked personal milestones but also reflected the evolving competitive depth in Indian table tennis.
In the men’s singles final, top seed Manav Thakkar justified his billing with a commanding 4-1 victory over Jeet Chandra. The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) paddler came into the final as the favourite and wasted little time asserting control.
Manav dominated the opening two games with authority, dictating rallies through his sharp backhand and controlled aggression. His ability to take the initiative early in points left Jeet struggling to settle into any rhythm. The scoreline in those initial games reflected Manav’s superiority, as he built a strong foundation for the rest of the match.
Jeet, who had impressed with a gritty semifinal performance, showed glimpses of resistance by taking the third game. However, sustaining that level proved difficult against an opponent of Manav’s consistency. The fourth game saw a tighter contest, but Manav’s composure in key moments allowed him to edge ahead.
Once he regained control, there was no looking back. Manav sealed the title emphatically with an 11-3 win in the fifth game, underlining his dominance throughout the tournament. It was a performance built on tactical clarity, physical sharpness, and an ability to execute under pressure qualities that have defined his rise in recent years.
His path to the final further reinforced his credentials. In the semifinal, Manav brushed aside former national champion Harmeet Desai in straight games, showcasing his ability to control high-intensity matches against experienced opposition.
If the men’s final was about control, the women’s final was a test of endurance, nerve, and resilience. Yashaswini Ghorpade emerged victorious in a thrilling 4-3 encounter against the 16-year-old sensation Syndrela Das.
The match had all the elements of a classic. Yashaswini began strongly, taking the opening game 11-6 with measured aggression. However, Syndrela quickly responded, edging a tense second game 14-12 to signal her intent.
From there, the contest evolved into a see-saw battle. Yashaswini’s structured play helped her claim the third game, but Syndrela’s fearless approach saw her level the match again in the fourth. The fifth game proved pivotal, with Yashaswini narrowly edging it 13-11, only for Syndrela to respond emphatically in the sixth, forcing a decider.
In the final game, the pressure was immense. Both players exchanged points in high-quality rallies, but it was Yashaswini’s composure that ultimately made the difference. She held her nerve in crucial moments to close out the match 11-8, sealing her maiden national title.
For Yashaswini, the victory represents a breakthrough an affirmation of her consistency and mental strength. For Syndrela, despite the loss, the performance was a statement of her immense potential. Pushing an experienced opponent to the limit in a national final at just 16 highlights her emergence as one of the brightest prospects in Indian table tennis.
Win Exciting Prizes by Playing Sports Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
The semifinals across both draws highlighted the depth of talent in the field. In the men’s event, Jeet Chandra overcame Ronit Bhanja in a hard-fought seven-game battle, displaying resilience after losing momentum midway.
The women’s semifinals delivered one of the most dramatic moments of the tournament. Syndrela Das stunned defending champion Diya Chitale in a pulsating contest. After falling behind, she staged a remarkable comeback, saving match points and clinching the decider 13-11—a result that signalled a generational shift.
Yashaswini, meanwhile, showcased her consistency by defeating Suhana Saini after dropping the opening game, winning the next four in succession.
The Mixed Doubles final provided another thrilling finish, with Ankur Bhattacharjee and Suhana Saini edging past the West Bengal pair of Aniket Bose and Sampriti Roy 3-2. After taking the first two games, Ankur and Suhana were pushed to the brink as their opponents fought back to force a decider. In a tense final game, they held their nerve to secure a narrow 12-10 victory and claim the title.
Win Exciting Prizes by Playing Sports Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
Another highlight of the tournament was the recognition of young talent. Divyanshi Bhowmick was awarded the D. Vishwa Trophy for her outstanding performance. Her run to the quarterfinals and consistent displays throughout the tournament marked her as one of the rising stars in the sport.
The 87th edition of the Senior Nationals encapsulated the current phase of Indian table tennis a blend of established performers asserting control and emerging talents challenging the hierarchy. Manav Thakkar’s dominant run reaffirmed his status as one of India’s leading paddlers, while Yashaswini Ghorpade’s triumph highlighted the rewards of persistence and composure. At the same time, the emergence of players like Syndrela Das and Divyanshi Bhowmick signals a promising future.
As the curtains fall on Indore, Indian table tennis finds itself at an exciting juncture where experience and youth are converging to push the sport to higher standards.
