With chop blocks and confidence, Divyanshi Bhowmick announces arrival on senior stage
On a day when Achanta Sharath Kamal, 42, began the last tournament of his professional career, 14-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick took her first steps at the senior level with a performance that defied her age.
Two matches before Sharath’s much-awaited men’s singles opener against Anirban Ghosh, Divyanshi stepped onto the show court at the Nehru Indoor Stadium for her senior main draw debut at the WTT Star Contender event. The Indian qualifier faced World No. 64 Giorgia Piccolin of Italy, a seasoned opponent 15 years her senior.
A nervous start saw Divyanshi fall behind 3-9 in the opening game, but she fought back with six straight points before the Italian eventually converted her fifth game point. The Indian responded by clinching the second game 11-9 but lost the third by the same margin.
It was in the fourth game that Divyanshi stamped her authority. Using her Grass D.Tecs rubber to disrupt Piccolin’s rhythm with precise chops and chop blocks, she dominated with an 11-1 win. In the decider, she maintained her defensive solidity, sealing the match 11-6 and booking her spot in the round of 32.
“The only preparation for the match was to enjoy it. She is a senior, so I just wanted to play freely and make the most of the experience,” said Divyanshi.
Her rise has been swift. She picked up the sport in 2020 as a school activity, but the COVID-19 lockdown gave her the chance to train extensively with her father and sister at home in Kandivali, Mumbai. Since then, she has won 10 WTT Youth Contender titles across the Under-13, U-15, and U-17 categories. She also claimed a silver medal in the U-15 doubles at the ITTF World Youth Championships in 2023.
At last month’s Singapore Youth Smash, she stunned Japan’s Rin Mende, a Top 10 player in the U-19 category, during the qualifiers and reached the U-15 semifinals. Now, with her first senior main draw win, she is taking another major step forward.
ALSO READ | WTT Star Contender Chennai: Achanta Sharath Kamal lives to fight another day
The moment is even more special for her as she shares the tournament stage with her idol, Manika Batra. “We use the same rubber (long pimple on the backhand), and I love her game. It’s amazing to play in the same tournament as her,” said Divyanshi.
Up next is an even tougher test: a round-of-32 clash against World No. 10 Shin Yubin of South Korea on Friday. But for Divyanshi, the approach remains the same. “I just want to play my best and enjoy the match,” she said.
As Sharath bows out, young talents like Divyanshi are ensuring Indian table tennis has a bright future.