Surat: One hour prior to the final match, Diya Chitale approached the practice table with a meticulously planned routine. She engaged in a brief session with her sparring partner, focusing on serves and executing heavy topspin shots from both sides. As the practice progressed, another sparring partner joined, tasked with utilizing the long pimple rubber to block every shot Chitale attempted.

At the Pandit Dindayal Indoor Stadium in Surat, Chitale was set to compete against two-time champion Sreeja Akula in the women’s singles final of the Senior National Table Tennis Championships. Akula's use of the challenging long pimple rubber on her backhand prompted Chitale to prepare thoroughly in her quest for her first senior national title.

This last-minute preparation proved beneficial. After falling behind two games to none in the best-of-seven final, Chitale mounted a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-3 victory and claim the championship.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” she expressed with a smile. “I am thrilled to have become the national champion. It brings a sense of relief knowing that all my hard work is yielding results. I have previously won titles in the sub-juniors, juniors, and youth categories, which fueled my desire for this achievement.”

She erupted in joy as Akula’s final forehand shot hit the net. On the sidelines, her coach Sachin Shetty sank to the floor in disbelief, while her parents, seated in the audience, were moved to tears.

“We have been anticipating this moment for a long time,” her father Parag shared with HT. “She has secured national titles across various age groups, but her best performance in the seniors had been reaching the quarter-finals. She has dedicated herself to this goal.”

Chitale had formulated distinct strategies for the match. While she prepared for Akula’s long-pimple backhand, she simultaneously adopted an assertive tactic against the world No. 28’s forehand. The 21-year-old from Mumbai consistently applied pressure on Akula's forehand side, thereby denying her opponent the chance to execute a powerful drive, as demonstrated during the pivotal point.

The victory on Sunday secured her the most prestigious title available on the domestic circuit. On the international stage, however, she has been diligently honing her skills. In singles, she currently holds the world No. 110 ranking. In mixed doubles, she ranks No. 14 alongside Manush Shah, who triumphed in the men’s singles category.

The pair reached the semi-finals in three WTT Contender events last year and claimed the title at the WTT Feeder event in Beirut. Looking ahead, Chitale aims to progress “one step at a time.”

Initial Steps in Table Tennis

Chitale was just seven years old when she first witnessed a table tennis match, observing her father and uncle play during a family vacation.

“She was always inclined towards sports, expressing interest in swimming and skating,” recalls Parag. “Upon seeing us play, she wanted to join in. We enrolled her at the Khar Gymkhana, where she began her training. Within a month, her coach Gandeep Bhiwandkar advised us to increase her training sessions from three to six times a week, as he recognized her potential.”

Chitale soon began competing in district-level matches, and at the age of 11, she secured an individual silver and a team gold at the Under-12 nationals, solidifying her resolve to pursue the sport.

Since 2013, she has been training with Shetty, and two years later, she began traveling to Germany to learn from former India national coach Peter Engel. Additionally, she has been collaborating with Korean coach Shin Min Sung.

Manush Shah’s First Title

In the men’s singles category, world No. 78 Shah achieved his first title at the Senior Nationals, shortly after reaching a career-high ranking. Despite losing the initial game against Delhi’s Payas Jain, the Baroda-native made a strong comeback.

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