Mumbai: Ayhika Mukherjee expressed her delight while reminiscing about her recent visit to China. She fondly recalled the enthusiastic reception she received from her dedicated fan base, who sought her autographs and photographs during her participation in the WTT China Smash held in Beijing last October.

“In India, I am not particularly well-known,” Mukherjee remarked to HT during the 86th Senior National Championship in Surat last month. “However, in China, it was evident that people recognized me. Table tennis is their national sport, and they were aware of my achievements.”

Mukherjee's notable accomplishment was her surprising victory over world No.1 Sun Yingsha at the World Team Championships last year, which sent ripples through the Chinese table tennis community.

“That was a significant upset for China. It remains a topic of conversation there,” stated India’s head coach Massimo Costantini in an interview with this publication.

Currently, Mukherjee has returned to China, this time in Shenzhen, as she and the Indian team prepare for the 34th Asian Cup commencing on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old will compete in the women’s singles category alongside her fellow players Sreeja Akula and Yashaswini Ghorpade, while Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar, and Harmeet Desai will represent India in the men’s singles.

However, her victory over Sun was not her only triumph against Chinese competitors. During the postponed Asian Games in 2023, she teamed up with Sutirtha Mukherjee in the women’s doubles event, where they secured a bronze medal by defeating the Chinese duo of Wang Yidi and reigning Olympic champion Chen Meng, who were ranked No.4 and No.2 in the world, respectively, in the quarterfinals. This victory marked the first time that China did not earn a medal in women’s doubles at the Asian Games.

“I had envisioned our victory even before our first match,” Mukherjee shared. “Upon reviewing the draw, I anticipated that our quarterfinal match would be against China, and I believed we had nothing to lose. I thought it was worthwhile to visualize our success, and it unfolded just as I had imagined.”

The experience was reminiscent of her match against Sun at the World Championships the previous year.

“I informed the team of my desire to compete against the world No. 1,” she reflected. “I was uncertain when I would have another opportunity to face such a prominent player. I was eager to play that day. Competing against the best brings out your best performance. I believe I achieved that.”

This victory marked the pinnacle of her career, serving as further affirmation to her family that she is indeed fulfilling her true calling.

A Lifelong Passion for Sports

Hailing from Naihati, West Bengal, Mukherjee shared that her parents initially encouraged her to pursue art.

“I had no interest in it whatsoever. I would intentionally color outside the lines just to be taken out of the class,” she recounted with a chuckle.

Her parents observed early on that she found joy in watching football matches, while she showed little enthusiasm for playing with toys.

Fortunately, Naihati boasted a vibrant table tennis culture, and her parents eventually enrolled her in the sport at the age of five. She began by practicing against a wall to enhance her hand-eye coordination. The next phase involved playing on a table, although she required a stool to reach the surface due to her height.

It was not until 2008 that she recognized her desire to pursue table tennis seriously.

“I participated in 22 competitions in the U-12 and U-15 categories at local tournaments throughout Bengal, winning all 22, including the state championship,” she stated.

Her success has continued to this day. Alongside Sutirtha, she became the first Indian woman to secure a medal in the women’s doubles event at the Asian Games. The pair also earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Championship in Kazakhstan, where Mukherjee contributed to the women’s team that won bronze in the team event.

However, within the Mukherjee family, her victory over Sun remains a cherished memory.

One day, I found myself asleep next to my mother when I abruptly awoke. Upon glancing over, I noticed that my mother was watching a replay of the match on her phone, Mukherjee recounted.

Currently in Shenzhen, she aims to secure additional memorable victories to her repertoire.

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