Under the bright lights of Vadodara's SAMA Indoor Sports Complex, a fire rages in the hearts of India's teenage table tennis prodigies at the WTT Feeder Series 2026.
These youngsters, eyes locked on Olympic glory, pour every ounce of sweat and soul into each rally, dreaming of draping a gold medal around India's neck by 2028. Their passion isn't just play, it's a heartfelt vow to shatter the nation's long Olympic drought in the sport.
Hansini's Defiant Triumph
Picture 16-year-old Hansini Mathan from Chennai, the youngest U19 national champion, her small frame trembling with adrenaline as she topples South Korea's third seed Yoo Yerin 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-9) in the women's singles Round of 32. Tears of joy mix with sweat; since age 11, she's whispered Olympic dreams to her paddle,
honing a ferocious forehand and unbreakable spirit amid grueling training. Although she was beaten in the quarterfinals, Hansini's journey has just started, and the paddler firmly says she wants to win the Olympic Gold for India, nothing else.
Anusha's Gritty Surge
Unseeded Anusha Kutumbale from Indore battles like a warrior, her fists clenched in fury as she storms into the women's singles semifinals, crushing fourth seed Yashaswini Ghorpade 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7 after a string of breathtaking upsets. Each point won feels like defiance against doubt, her eyes fierce with the raw emotion of proving underdogs can roar. In quiet moments, she confides her Olympic fire was lit by watching past heartbreaks, fueling a relentless drive to etch India's name in gold.
Shankhadip Das emerges from the shadows of qualifiers, his calm exterior masking a storm of determination as he upsets higher seeds to claim a men's singles main draw spot. Payas Jain has been a sensation in the tournament as he gears up for multiple glories in the competition. Payas, who hails from Delhi, is currently the only player who can end up with medals in all three categories of the competition as he has reached finals of his respective doubles categories, while is also in the semis of the singles.
The Known Names
Big names such as Manush Shah, Snehit Suravajjula are set to battle for the glory at the event, and as they look to reach the next level, they have just one thing in mind, which is to win a medal for India at the highest stage. For Ayhika Mukherjee, the focus is more pragmatic as she aims to transform her Asian Games Bronze medal to Gold along with partner Sutirtha Mukherjee.
Syndrela and Sarthak's Electric Bond
Kolkata's Syndrela Das, still buzzing from U19 triumphs at the WTT Youth Contender, teams with Odisha's Sarthak Arya, whose cricket scars forged his table tennis steel. Syndrela won the U-17 title in the youth contender and her grit speaks volumes.
"I had no coach coming into the tournament. Hence, I wanted to win and showcase that I can motivate myself," and, she exactly did that. The Kolkata girl eyes world ranking leaps as she is set to feature in the Mixed Doubles Final and has also advanced to the Singles Semis.
Sarthak is an energetic kid, as the Odisha star often fuels himself with a loud 'Cho Le' ritual on the table. And as MyKhel spoke with him, the youngster says, "The dream is to win Olympic Gold and make India proud. "
A Nation's Pulse Beats in Vadodara
India has never won a medal in Table Tennis at the Olympics. As rallies echo like heartbeats, the youngsters' Olympic quests may not be a dream anymore in the coming years. With the ever-progressing ecosystem of table tennis in the country, the general notion is that India is progressing in the right direction in their chase for a podium finish at the global quadrennial event.
Vadodara has been an abode for the paddlers across the country, and this exact colosseum may prove to be the budding ground of a future Indian Olympic medal winner in Table Tennis. Many names may have failed to make an impact in this WTT event, but they are firmly in the race. India's table tennis community can rest assured: dreams abound in abundance, now, it's simply a matter of forging them into triumphant reality.
