The second edition of the WTT Youth Contenders in India got off to a dramatic start at the SAMA Indoor Stadium on Friday, with Vatsal Duklan and Hansini Mathan producing the biggest upsets of the opening day to storm into the quarterfinals of the U-17 boys’ and girls’ singles events respectively.
In a competition that began with the U-13 and U-17 categories, the early rounds were marked by high-quality contests, fluctuating momentum and several standout performances from India’s emerging table tennis talents. However, it was Duklan and Hansini who grabbed the spotlight by knocking out the top seeds in their respective draws.
In the boys’ U-17 singles pre-quarterfinal, Duklan showed remarkable composure and tactical maturity to upset top seed Ritvik Gupta in four games. After dropping the opening game 4-11, Duklan regrouped quickly, raising the intensity of his forehand exchanges and tightening his returns. He levelled the match with an authoritative 11-5 second game before edging ahead 11-7 in the third. The fourth game turned into a gripping affair, with both players trading points under pressure, but Duklan held his nerve in the decisive moments to close out the match 18-16 and seal one of the biggest results of the day.
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The surprises did not end there in the boys’ section. Second seed Aditya Das was also shown the exit early, going down to Sohum Mukherjee in the second round. Mukherjee carried that momentum into the Round of 16, where he overcame a stiff challenge from Rushikesh Jagtap in a five-game battle. After splitting the opening two games, Mukherjee won the third 11-9, lost the fourth 10-12, and then produced a controlled display in the decider to win 11-7 and book his place in the quarterfinals.
Local interest was high around Vadodara’s Ved Panchal, who advanced to the pre-quarterfinals before running into Sahil Rawat. Rawat proved too strong on the day, dominating the exchanges and wrapping up the contest in straight games, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3, to move comfortably into the last eight.
In the girls’ U-17 singles, Hansini Mathan delivered an equally impressive performance, knocking out top seed and defending champion Divyanshi Bhowmick in a pulsating Round of 16 encounter. After losing the opening game 5-11, Hansini responded well to take the second 11-9, only for Bhowmick to regain control by winning the third 11-9. With her back against the wall, Hansini raised her level significantly, using variation and placement to disrupt her opponent’s rhythm. She claimed the fourth game 11-7 and then dominated the decider 11-4 to complete a memorable comeback and secure her quarterfinal berth.
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While Hansini’s win headlined the day in the girls’ section, the other leading contenders ensured there were no further major shocks. Second seed Miku Matsushima of Japan looked assured as she eased past India’s Sukrati Sharma in straight games, winning 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 in the Round of 16. Indian paddler Syndrela Das also progressed smoothly, overcoming Indira Sen 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 to join Matsushima in the quarterfinal lineup.
India’s depth in the age group was further underlined by the progress of Naisha Rewaskar and Tanishka Kalbhairav, both of whom booked their places in the last eight with convincing performances. Naisha was in complete control against Arohi Roy, closing out the match 11-5, 11-3, 11-7. Tanishka, meanwhile, showed resilience and fighting spirit, recovering from the loss of the first game to defeat Ankolika Chakraborty 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10. The two will now face each other in an all-Indian quarterfinal, with a semifinal spot at stake.
The WTT Youth Contenders 2026 in Vadodara marks the second time India has hosted a Youth Contender event, reflecting the growing importance of the country on the international junior table tennis circuit. Following the opening day’s U-13 and U-17 competitions, the tournament will continue with U-11, U-15 and U-19 categories in the coming days, promising more high-intensity action and opportunities for young paddlers to test themselves against strong domestic and international opposition.
If the opening day is any indication, the Vadodara leg is set to deliver a compelling mix of expected dominance from top seeds and breakthrough moments from rising challengers, underlining the competitive depth and unpredictability that defines youth-level table tennis today.
