In a display of exceptional skill and dominance, Indian table tennis players showcased their talent in the U-19 singles category at the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship. Payas Jain, the top seed, effortlessly cruised through his matches to secure the top spot in Group 1 and secure a place in the main draw.
Jain displayed his prowess by defeating Tandin Tshering from Bhutan and Baniya Bishwo from Nepal with commanding scores of 3-0. Following his lead, Ankur Bhattacharjee, the second Indian participant, also excelled in Group 2, securing two consecutive 3-0 victories over Sujau Mohamed Thabin from the Maldives and Gesandu Peiris from Sri Lanka.
The competition remained fierce in Group 3, where Ridoy Mohutasin Ahmed from Bangladesh emerged victorious. He showcased his talent by defeating Utam Kafley of Bhutan and Batagoda Gamage of Sri Lanka with impressive scores of 3-0 and 3-1, respectively. Meanwhile, Bawam Ramhim Lian from Bangladesh emerged as the frontrunner in Group 4, triumphing over Khalid Akhyar Ahmed of the Maldives with a close 3-2 score and securing a 3-0 victory over Sujan Gadal of Nepal.
The second positions in each group were claimed by Nepal’s Baniya Bishwo, Gesandu Peiris, and Batagoda Gamage from Sri Lanka, as well as Khalid Akhyar Ahmed from the Maldives. These talented players earned their spots in the knockout stage, set to commence the following day.
In the U-19 Girls category, Indian players also showcased their skills with Yashashwini Ghorpade and Suhana Saini topping Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Fathimath Dheema Ali from the Maldives led the way in Group 3.
Joining the leaders in the knockout matches were Lesanya Sethumdee Kulappuwadu and Diwya Dharani Gamage from Sri Lanka, along with Nepal’s Evana Thapa Magar. These talented girls were set to compete in the thrilling knockout matches scheduled for the final day of the championship.
The exceptional performances by Indian players in both the boys’ and girls’ categories highlighted their strong presence and potential in the South Asian table tennis scene. With their impressive skills and determination, they have set the stage for an exciting and fiercely competitive knockout stage, raising the excitement levels for the remaining matches of the championship.