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India Gazette
26-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"Trust the Process": Sreeja Akula's inspiring advice to young Table Tennis star Divyanshi Bhowmick
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 26 (ANI): In a lively exchange that captured the spirit of mentorship, Olympic star Sreeja Akula caught up with 15-year-old table tennis sensation Divyanshi Bhowmick on the sidelines of the recently-concluded UTT Juniors. The fireside chat was a showcase of the bond between two generations of Indian table tennis players. Divyanshi, who won gold at the Dream Sports Championship Table Tennis in March, spoke about playing in the Dream UTT Juniors, 'Getting to see the top players up close, training with them, and having you play right in front of me - it was incredible,' she said according to a release from Dream Sports Foundation. The star, currently ranked third in the U-15 category, has already made waves by challenging senior players - a testament to the rising standards of Indian table tennis. When asked by Divyanshi about her toughest experiences on the table, Sreeja revealed, 'I've had several challenging matches that taught me different lessons. In the Commonwealth Games I was almost on the verge of losing my quarter-finals against Mo Zhang. I kept reminding myself to focus on each point, not the scoreline. Then, in the Paris Olympics against Sun Yingsha, I had a 10-5 lead in the first two games but the situation was completely different.' 'My biggest lesson from the Olympics was never becoming passive when leading - I was just trying to keep the ball on the table instead of playing aggressively. 'My advice to young athletes would be to believe in yourself, trust the process and your team, and keep pushing hard,' Sreeja added. Her words carried the weight of experience, having competed at the highest level and playing a key role in taking the Jaipur Patriots to the semifinals in the ongoing Ultimate Table Tennis. 'Don't get too focused on the final outcome, but concentrate on the process and try to improve each day,' she noted. In a heartwarming twist, the Stanley's Chennai Lions' young TT player revealed how the pandemic sparked her table tennis journey, 'We got a table for our house during lockdown and I'd spend the whole day practicing with my dad and sister. As I kept playing, I fell in love with the sport, and then I started winning.' Both athletes spoke highly about the Dream Sports Foundation's impact on their careers. Sreeja, who has been supported since 2021, reflected, 'The support came at exactly the right moment when I was seeking sponsorship... It wasn't just financial help - they connected me with a dietician, mental trainer, and gave me exposure through international tournaments.' When discussing her goals, Divyanshi's determination stood out, 'My long-term goal is winning an Olympic medal for India and breaking into the world's top 10. We're putting in the work every single day.' Sreeja's response was filled with encouragement: 'With your style of play, you'll definitely make it happen.' Sreeja's daily routine reflects the dedication required at the highest level. 'Being disciplined on and off the court is crucial for me because you have to spend at least 2 hours a day maintaining your fitness. It's also very important for preventing injuries,' she explained. The conversation's lighter moments revealed personal touches that made both athletes relatable. Divyanshi's sporting heroes? 'Manika Batra... and you,' she told Sreeja with a smile. Sreeja's role model? Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Divyanshi also added during the rapid fire that one athlete she dreams of meeting was China's world champion and Olympic gold medalist, Chen Meng. For Sreeja, the Indian Olympian shared that her coach Somnath Ghosh brought the most energy to practice sessions. Divyanshi is now preparing for her upcoming Asian Championships with aspirations of representing India at the Olympics. Meanwhile, Sreeja continues to inspire the next generation. Their exchange serves as a reminder that the most powerful victories come from lifting others up along the way. (ANI)
India Gazette
08-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Kolkata Thunder Blades beat U Mumba TT in season 1 of Dream UTT Juniors
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 8 (ANI): Season 1 of Dream Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Juniors concluded with a thrilling finale that showcased India's brightest U-15 table tennis talent. After two weeks of intense competition between young athletes from across the country, Ritvik Gupta and Swara Karmakar of the Kolkata Thunder Blades emerged victorious in a nail-biting final that ended 5-2. They beat U Mumba TT's Prateek Tulsani and Ananya Muralidharan at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad on Sunday, as per a press release from UTT and Dream Sports Foundation. The tournament provided a unique platform for junior players to experience professional-level competition and learn alongside seasoned athletes, marking a significant milestone in Indian table tennis development. The awards were presented by Vita Dani, Co-promoter, Ultimate Table Tennis, Neel Shah, CEO of Dream Sports Foundation, and Sumit Pandey, COO of the Dream Sports Foundation. Speaking about the tournament, Neel Shah, CEO, Dream Sports Foundation said, 'The inaugural Dream UTT Juniors has been a remarkable success, providing our talented U-15 players with an invaluable opportunity to compete in a professional league format and learn from senior athletes. This tournament represents more than just competition - it is a crucial stepping stone that will help these young champions develop the skills needed to represent India on the global stage. We are proud to partner with Ultimate Table Tennis for this tournament -- strengthening our shared commitment to nurturing grassroots talent and shaping a stronger future for Indian table tennis.' The duo representing the Kolkata Thunder Blades were elated following their victory. 'The experience was incredible. I had so many opportunities to play alongside top players. I really enjoyed spending time with senior players Adriana Diaz and Quadri Aruna - they were very friendly and welcoming,' said Swara Karmakar. Her teammate Ritvik Gupta echoed the sentiment, adding, 'I never imagined I would get the chance to play in Dream UTT Juniors. It was always my dream to be part of UTT. This was my first time here, and coming as a player rather than just a spectator makes me incredibly happy.' A blistering start from Prateek saw him come back well against Ritvik to win the first set 11-10 in their boys' singles tie. The two youngsters fought tooth and nail, with Ritvik winning the second set 11-10. In the end, Ritvik gave the Kolkata Thunder Blades the early lead in the final with an 11-8 win in the third set. Ritvik and Swara of the Kolkata Thunder Blades made a strong start to their mixed doubles tie with an 11-4 win over U Mumba's Prateek and Ananya. Despite an impressive comeback from U Mumba in the second set, it was the Thunder Blades who won with an 11-9 score. In the final set of the mixed doubles, U Mumba secured the set with an 11-9 score to ensure the tie read 4-2 entering the girls' doubles. In the end, Swara sealed the trophy for her team with a 11-4 victory in the first set of the girls' doubles to confirm the trophy for the Kolkata Thunder Blades. Dream UTT Juniors Final: U Mumba TT vs Kolkata Thunder Blades -Prateek Tulsani vs Ritvik Gupta: 11-10, 10-11, -Prateek/Ananya vs Ritvik/Swara: 4-11, 9-11, 11-9-Ananya Muralidharan vs Swara Karmakar: 4-11. (ANI)
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Inaugural edition of Dream UTT Juniors to kick off in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], May 27 (ANI): The inaugural edition of the Dream Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Juniors tournament is scheduled to take place at EKA Arena, Ahmedabad, from May 29 to June 8 this year. Showcasing 16 of India's most talented U-15 table tennis players, this tournament marks a pioneering effort in grassroots sports development. The initiative is a result of the partnership between Dream Sports Foundation (DSF) and Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), with DSF as the official Youth Development Partner, as per a press release. Showcasing emerging talent, the tournament brings together the top eight boys and eight girls from the Dream Sports Championship Table Tennis 2025 that concluded in March, headlined by champions Sahil Rawat of Chandigarh and Mumbai's Divyanshi Bhowmick. These 16 athletes have been drafted across UTT's eight franchises:-Ahmedabad SG Pipers: Abheek Kashyap and Mouboni Chatterjee-Stanley's Chennai Lions: Siddhanth Dhariwal and Divyanshi Bhowmick-Dabang Delhi T.T.C.: Akash Rajavelu and Dhaani Jain-Dempo Goa Challengers: Sahil Rawat and Aarya Redkar-Jaipur Patriots: Trishal Surapureddy and Shreya Dhar-Kolkata ThunderBlades: Ritvik Gupta and Swara Karmarkar-PBG Pune Jaguars: Atharva Nawarange and Tushti Sood-U Mumba TT: Prateek Tulsani and Ananya Muralidhar This competition will give them unprecedented exposure to India's premier table tennis ecosystem. The 11-day tournament will follow a league format with 20 ties in the group stage. The semi-finals will be held on June 07, and the final on June 08. Each match day will feature multiple ties starting from 9:00 AM and will be streamed live on FanCode. The action begins on Thursday, May 29, with the first three matches scheduled as below: Stanley's Chennai Lions vs Kolkata ThunderBlades: 9:00 AMU Mumba TT vs Dabang Delhi T.T.C.: at 10:00 AMAhmedabad SG Pipers vs Dempo Goa Challengers: 11:00 AM The tournament aims to bridge the gap between grassroots and professional table tennis in India, providing these young champions with authentic league experience that will accelerate their development toward representing India at future international competitions. The collaboration between DSF and UTT will play a pivotal role in the comprehensive growth of Indian table tennis, establishing a clear pathway for athlete progression by nurturing the sport and providing a structured roadmap for player development. Dream Sports Foundation aims to empower the next generation of athletes to make India proud in the 2030 Youth Olympics and thereafter at the 2036 Olympics. (ANI)
India Gazette
19-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
DSF collaborates with UTT as Youth Development Partner to launch 'Dream UTT Juniors'
New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): In a bid to foster sports development at the grassroots level, Dream Sports Foundation (DSF), announced an exclusive partnership with Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT). As the Youth Development partner, DSF will launch the inaugural Dream UTT Juniors, a U-15 Table Tennis tournament curated to provide professional league experience to emerging table tennis talent, according to a release from Dream Sports Foundation. The inaugural Dream UTT Juniors will be held alongside the sixth edition of the Ultimate Table Tennis league in Ahmedabad from May 29 to June 8. Speaking on the partnership, Harsh Jain, CEO & Co-founder, Dream Sports said, 'At Dream Sports, we are driven by our vision to 'Make Sports Better'. Thanks to Vita Dani and Niraj Bajaj, Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) has played a pivotal role in nurturing India's table tennis talent to compete & win at the global stage. But there remains a pressing need to support grassroots talent, and our partnership to create Dream UTT Juniors is a big step toward bridging this gap. Through our Dream Sports Foundation, we aim to empower the next generation of athletes to make India proud in the 2030 Youth Olympics and thereafter at the 2036 Olympics,' as quoted from a release by Dream Sports Foundation. Vita Dani, Co-promoter, Ultimate Table Tennis further added, 'Dream UTT Juniors is a natural extension of our shared vision with Dream Sports Foundation -- to strengthen the foundation of sport in India and empower young athletes. By giving budding table tennis talent early exposure to the world-class UTT ecosystem, we're not just launching a tournament -- we're creating a pathway for the next generation of Indian stars to emerge.' As part of the Dream UTT Juniors, the top eight boys and eight girls from the recently concluded Dream Sports Championship Table Tennis 2025, a first-of-its-kind U-15 tournament organised by DSF in association with Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), have been drafted into the eight franchises of UTT. They will have the unique opportunity to experience the intensity and standards of India's premier table tennis league, thus accelerating their growth. The announcement follows the recent success of DSF's U-15 table tennis tournament. (ANI)
