The moment he blocked one of Payas Jain’s signature forehand topspins from the backhand corner deep into the forehand corner and watched his doubles partner fail to reach it, Ankur Bhattacharjee knew the wait was over.

The 19-year-old dropped his racquet, turned to the near-capacity crowd of over 2,000 — largely made up of schoolchildren — and gestured at them to raise the volume. He then blew a flying kiss towards the stands before embracing Payas and sharing a long hug with his father-cum-coach Angshuman Bhattacharjee.

It was more than the celebration of a title.

By prevailing in a topsy-turvy 70-minute final to win the men’s singles crown at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, Ankur had delivered his answer to the Indian table tennis fraternity.

Less than a fortnight after narrowly missing out on India’s squads for both the Commonwealth Championships and, more significantly, the Asian Games, the Kolkata paddler had produced perhaps the finest week of his seniors career.

“For me, this was the most important event of my life,” Ankur told The Hindu after posing for dozens of selfies and signing more than a few autographs at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex on Sunday (August 2, 2026) night.

“I had to prove to myself and to everyone else that I deserved to be part of the Indian team. I deserved to be part of the Asian Games team.”

The irony was impossible to ignore.

While India, as hosts, fielded 16 players in the singles events — prompting many to jokingly refer to the tournament as the “India Open” — Ankur arrived only because of the expanded quota. Yet his path to the title was anything but straightforward.

His round of 16 itself was against Malaysia’s Wong Qi Shen, the man who had stunned both Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah during the team championships and almost single-handedly threatened India’s supremacy.

Ankur dismantled him 4-0.

Next came Australia’s Nicholas Lum, the World No. 44 and third seed, a left-hander who had beaten Ankur the last time they met. This time, the Indian matched Lum for pace, repeatedly using his trademark backhand winners and flat punches to deny the Australian any rhythm.

“I had lost to Lum in our last meeting. So for me, if I wanted to win this tournament, I had to be at my best,” Ankur said.

Then came Manav Thakkar in the semifinals, arguably India’s biggest title contender. Having faced him during Ultimate Table Tennis last month, Ankur carried a clear tactical blueprint into the contest.

“Recently I played against Manav in UTT, so I knew how to play against him.”

More importantly, he showcased the aspect of his game that has improved the most over the last six months. Long regarded as one of India’s finest backhand players, Ankur repeatedly breached Manav’s defensive wall with his forehand as well, underlining the strides he has made under father-cum-coach Angshuman’s guidance.

The final, however, demanded something entirely different. Across the table stood Payas, not merely another Indian youngster but his regular doubles partner, practice companion and a friend. The familiarity only made the contest harder.

“He is my doubles partner. We are very good friends,” Ankur said. “We always practise together. He knows my weak points and I know his. Even our mental trainer (Vir Saran) is the same.”

The chess match lasted 70 engrossing minutes before Ankur recovered from 2-3 down to prevail in seven games. “I was very happy that I played against him in the final. And I am very happy that I won the title.”

Beyond the trophy, though, the week represented validation. “I had never been part of the Commonwealth Championships team. I came here only for the individual events,” he said. “So the first thing was to prove that I can be part of the Indian team.”

The omission from the Asian Games squad inevitably added motivation, though Ankur insisted it wasn’t the only driving force.

“I don’t really care whether I’m in the Asian Games or not. I always want to win every tournament I play. Whatever tournament it is, I take it seriously.”

Then, after a brief pause, he admitted the criticism had fuelled him.

“I like such challenges when people doubt me. Maybe a lot of people think I have only come because I am the host country’s player. But I feel that if I play well consistently, I can beat anyone.”

Asked about the flying kiss immediately after championship point, the otherwise animated teenager suddenly turned shy. “My mother,” he said with a sheepish smile. No doubt his mother Kuntali — also a former paddler just like his father — was praying while sitting in the stands, sitting next to her was a friend.

There is little time to savour the biggest title of his young career. His next stop is Europe Smash in Sweden starting over the weekend, where another opportunity awaits against the world’s elite. “Now I’ll head to Europe Smash,” Ankur said. “I hope I can return with a medal.”

Published – August 03, 2026 03:17 am IST

Ankur came back from a game down to go all the way.
| Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Syndrela Das, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ankur Bhattacharjee emerged as giant-killers on Saturday, spearheading a dominant Indian showing as the host nation secured a clean sweep of the singles podium at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex.

The Bengal trio upset higher-ranked Australian opponents in the quarterfinals, ensuring all eight semifinal berths across the men’s and women’s singles belonged to India. With the doubles events also entering the decisive phase, the host remained on course for a clean sweep of titles.

The biggest upset of the tournament came courtesy of 16-year-old Syndrela, who stunned top seed and World No. 31 Yangzi Liu in six games. Having lost to the Australian in Ultimate Table Tennis barely a fortnight ago, Syndrela turned the tables with a fearless display, repeatedly catching Yangzi off guard with her ferocious winners.

The teenager looked set for a comfortable finish after racing to an 8-2 lead in the sixth game. Yangzi, however, mounted a spirited comeback, claiming six of the next seven points to reduce the deficit to 9-8. Syndrela’s tactical timeout proved decisive. Regaining her composure, she produced a trademark backhand winner before Yangzi miscued a backhand topspin, sealing the biggest victory of the youngster’s career.

Minutes earlier, Sutirtha had accounted for second seed Min Hyung Jee in five games, relying on her powerful forehand winners to book her place in the semifinals.

The men’s quarterfinal between Ankur and third seed Nicholas Lum provided the afternoon’s most absorbing contest. It turned into a fascinating tactical duel between Lum’s explosive forehand topspins and Ankur’s backhand-oriented game, with the animated Indian feeding off the home crowd’s energy to script a memorable victory.

Hometown hero Payas Jain, too, bested fourth seed Harmeet Desai in an absorbing all-Indian contest to set up a last-four clash against top seed Manush Shah.

The results: Quarterfinals: Singles: Men: Manush Shah bt Aditya Sareen (Aus) 11-6, 11-8, 2-11, 13-15, 11-8, 11-5; Payas Jain bt Harmeet Desai 8-11, 12-10, 12-14, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9; Ankur Bhattacharjee bt Nicholas Lum (Aus) 7-11, 15-13, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9; Manav Thakkar bt Connor Green (Eng) 5-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-8, 11-6.

Women: Syndrela Das bt Yanzgi Liu (Aus) 10-12, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8; Sreeja Akula bt Tin-Tin Ho (Eng) 13-11, 1-4, 11-9, 12-10; Yashaswini Ghorpade bt Constantina Psihogios (Aus) 11-5, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5; Sutirtha Mukherjee bt Min Hyung Jee (Aus) 11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7.

Doubles: Men: Manav Thakkar & Manush Shah bt Connor Hunter & Joseph Green (Eng) 11-7, 11-4, 12-10; G. Sathiyan & Harmeet Desai bt Josh Chua & Nicholas Tan (Sgp) 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8; Wong Qi Shen & Javen Choong (Mas) 12-10, 11-7, 4-11, 13-11; Nicholas Lum & Aditya Sareen bt Akash Pal & S.F.R. Snehit 4-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8.

Women: Constantina Psihogios & Yangzi Liu (Aus) bt Sutirtha Mukherjee & Swastika Ghosh 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 11-1; Yashaswini Ghorpade & Divyanshi Bhowmick bt Tin-Tin Ho & Cheuk Wong (Eng) 11-9, 11-8, 11-5; Taneesha Kotecha & Sayali Wani bt Min Hyung Jee & Jiamuwa Wu 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4; Sreeja Akula & Syndrela Das bt Ai Xin Tee & Karen Lyne (Mas) 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 14-12.

Semifinals: Mixed doubles: Richard Yap & Ai Xan Tee (Mas) bt Ronit Bhanja & Anusha Kutumbale 11-8, 11-7, 4-11; 4-11, 11-9; G. Sathiyan & Sreeja Akula bt Aditya Sareen & Constantina Psihogios (Aus) 11-5, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8.

Published – August 01, 2026 08:40 pm IST

India’s Yashaswini Ghorpade overcame a spirited challenge from Singapore teenager Chong Sian Zi to enter the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships at the Thyagaraj Stadium on Friday.

Fresh from playing a key role in India’s team gold medal triumph, the third seed prevailed 4-1, but the scoreline scarcely reflected the quality of resistance offered by the 15-year-old Singaporean.

Chong countered Yashaswini’s long-pimpled backhand with impressive composure, refusing to be drawn into errors and matching the Indian in extended rallies. The only one-sided game came in the third, when Yashaswini unleashed a series of forehand winners that left the teenager with few answers. Undeterred, Chong continued to trouble the Indian with her fearless shot-making before eventually bowing out.

With the host nation allowed to field 16 paddlers each in the men’s and women’s singles, the Indians dominated the day’s action and secured a majority of berths in the pre-quarterfinals.

Sayali Wani kept India’s campaign on track with a hard-fought victory over Malaysia’s Ying Ho, while Yashini Sivashankar exited after an encouraging display against Australia’s Constantina Psihogios. The young Indian repeatedly tested the Australian before going down in a closely fought contest.

Top seed Yangzi Liu of Australia, the highest-ranked player in the tournament, avenged her defeat in the team championships by brushing aside Malaysia’s Karen Lyne in straight games to progress comfortably.

In the men’s singles, Payas Jain, a member of India’s gold medal-winning team, proved too strong for Malaysia’s Choong Javen to move into the last 16. Defensive specialist H. Jeho ended compatriot Mudit Dani’s campaign with a clinical victory in an all-Indian encounter, while Ronit Bhanja produced an entertaining 4-1 win over Singapore’s Ellsworth Le to complete another successful day for the home contingent.

Important Results: Singles (round of 32): Men: Jash Modi bt Thisas Methkalana (SL) 11-2, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5; Akash Pal bt August Xiao (NZ) 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6; Payas Jain bt Javen Choong (Mas) 11-7, 13-11, 11-6, 11-5; Sanil Shetty bt Eli Ho (NZ) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8; Harmeet Desai bt Xuqi Lin (Aus) 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4; H. Jeho bt Mudit Dani 11-8, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8; Ronit Bhanja bt Ellsworth Le (Sgp) 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 15-13; Manav Thakkar bt Akhyar Ahmed Khalid (Mdv) 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 11-2.

Women: Yanzgi Liu (Aus) bt Karen Lyne Anak Dick (Mas) 11-4, 11-4, 11-7, 11-2; Swastika Ghosh bt Olivia Huang (CAN) 11-7, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6; Anusha Kutumbale bt Jocelyn Lam (NZ) 10-12, 11-3, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5; Tin-Tin Ho (Eng) bt Kavya Bhatt 6-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-1, 11-2; Taneesha Kotecha bt Anzhou Han (NZ) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7; Ai Xin Tee (Mas) bt Suhana Saini 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6; Nithyashree Mani bt Fiona Iayi Nie (Can) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5, 13-11; Sayali Wani bt Ying Ho (Mas) 12-10, 13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9; Constantina Psihogios (Aus) Yashini Sivasankar 5-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 19-17; Yashaswini Ghorpade bt Sian Zi Chong (Sgp) 11-8, 11-7, 11-2, 11-13, 12-10.

Published – July 31, 2026 08:35 pm IST

Sreeja again came up an inspired display to sustain India’s fortunes.
| Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP