TT Championships Conclude in Shimla: India Sweeps South Asian Youth Titles in Style
Shimla, April 11: The curtains came down on the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships in Shimla with India delivering a commanding, near-flawless performance, reaffirming its dominance across age groups and categories.
Indian paddlers stamped their authority on the tournament, clinching a remarkable 13 gold medals along with four silvers, including three team titles secured earlier in the competition. The event also served as a key qualifier for the upcoming Asian Youth Championships.
The Under-19 boys’ singles final turned into an all-India showdown, where Priyanuj Bhattacharyya outclassed Punit Biswas 3-1 to take gold. Both finalists had earlier cruised past opponents from Sri Lanka and Nepal in the semifinals, underlining India’s depth in the category.
India continued its dominance in doubles as M.R. Balamurugan and Mehan Senthil bounced back after dropping the opening game to defeat Bangladesh’s Abul Hasib and Nafiz Iqbal in the final.
In the Under-15 boys’ section, Aditya Das was in complete control, defeating compatriot Akshay Kirikara in straight games to secure the title. The doubles crown also stayed with India, with Rishaan Chattopadhyay and Akash Rajavelu edging past Nepal in a thrilling five-game encounter.
The girls’ events mirrored the same script. In the Under-19 final, Jennifer Varghese staged a strong comeback after losing the first game to defeat Ananya Muralidharan.
Meanwhile, Ankolika Chakraborty overcame Aahona Ray in another all-India clash to win the Under-15 crown.
India completed a clean sweep in both girls’ doubles categories. Prisha Goel and Ditsa Roy clinched the Under-19 title in straight games, while Sreejani Chakraborty and Tanishka Kalbhairav recovered from a slow start to win the Under-15 final.
The mixed doubles events further highlighted India’s supremacy. Priyanuj Bhattacharyya paired with Jennifer Varghese dominated the Under-19 final, while Aditya Das and Ankolika Chakraborty sealed the Under-15 title without dropping a game.
With a dominant medal haul and consistent performances across all segments, India once again proved why it remains the powerhouse of table tennis in the South Asian region.