As the main draw of WTT Star Contender kicks off in Chennai, emerging young Indian talents deserve attention alongside the top seeds.
These under-the-radar players bring fearless attitudes, strong form, and upset potential to the WTT Star Contender stage. There will be the big Indian guns like Manav Thakkar, Manika Batra in action, but there can be new stars at the end of the tournament. In this article, we shall take a look at the players to keep an eye on.
Anusha Kutumbale (Women's Singles)
Anusha Kutumbale arrives at WTT Chennai 2026 buzzing from her "fairytale run" at the WTT Feeder Vadodara this year. As an unseeded entrant, she shocked seeded international veterans to reach the women's singles final, displaying technical skill and mental grit. Ranked near her career high,
the aggressive right-handed shakehand player excels at countering elite spins. As a host wildcard, she's primed for another big upset at home.
Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (Men's Singles)
Priyanuj Bhattacharyya, Assam's youth sensation, earned his Chennai main draw spot as the reigning U-19 Boys' Singles champion from WTT Youth Contender Vadodara 2026. On a hot streak, he won the title in straight games, showing remarkable tactical poise. He first shone by grabbing Assam's inaugural individual gold at the Khelo India Youth Games. Transitioning to seniors, his high-intensity style and clutch play make him ready for global elites.
Divyansh Srivastava (Men's Singles)
Divyansh Srivastava, from Uttar Pradesh's table tennis pipeline, enters as a hyped host wildcard. His tactical smarts and offensive, high-risk game unsettle veterans. With solid WTT feeder results, he's set to cement his place among the world's top paddlers in Chennai.
Tanishka Kalbhairav (Women's Singles)
At 13, Belagavi's Tanishka Kalbhairav embodies resilience, pushing through family hardship to dominate nationals. Her meteoric rise includes a U-11 international gold at WTT Youth Contender Bangkok 2023 and the U-15 National Ranking title in late 2025. She qualified for Chennai by upsetting seniors, blending rapid reflexes and bold attacks-making her a real threat worldwide.
