Delhi gears up for a big table tennis festival with top players from India! The UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Tournament kicks off on September 7 at Thyagraj Stadium and promises exciting matches for fans and players alike.
This year, the tournament has smashed records with nearly 3,000 entries—2,958 to be exact! It’s the highest number of players registering for a national ranking event in Delhi since 2008. The last time Delhi hosted such a major tournament was in 2012, organized by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).
Gurpreet Singh, president of the Delhi State Table Tennis Association (DSTTA), said he’s thrilled about the huge response. “The number of entries shows how much people love tennis. We’re ready to host this big event,” he shared.
The tournament runs until September 14 and features 12 different categories, including senior, Under-19, Under-17, Under-15, Under-13, and Under-11 events. It’s a golden chance for young players to see and learn from the best in the country.
Top players like G. Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Anthony Amalraj, and Soumyajit Ghosh will compete in the men’s singles. These athletes are all national champions or have represented India internationally, including in the Olympics.
In the women’s singles, Diya Chitale is the favorite, with experienced players like Mouma Das, Madhurika Patkar, Reeth Rishya, and Divya Deshpande also taking part.
One notable absence is Delhi’s star player Manika Batra, who is busy with international events. Her world ranking recently slipped to 55, so she’s not competing this time.
The tournament is not just about fun and competition—it’s also a great learning experience. Sandeep Gupta, a top national coach and Dronacharya award winner, explained how important this event is for young players. “It’s a fantastic chance for young Delhi players to see national champions in action and improve their game,” Gupta said.
Stay tuned for live updates and exciting matches as Delhi hosts one of the biggest table tennis events in recent years!
