Indian U-19 women’s table tennis team clinch bronze at ITTF World Youth Championships 2023

By Ajay Gandhar

Ajay Gandhar has been part of Khel Now since 2023 and has covered almost every Olympic sport, but Badminton, Tennis, Football, and Track and Field have his heart.

Published at :November 28, 2023 at 10:26 PM

Modified at :February 23, 2024 at 11:15 PM

(Courtesy : Sportscafe.in)

This is India’s first team medal in the said category.

In a historic achievement, the Indian U-19 women’s table tennis team clinched the bronze medal at the ITTF World Youth Championships 2023 held in Slovenia. This marks the first-ever team medal for India in the U-19 category at the Championships.

The team, comprising of Yashaswini Ghorpade, Suhana Saini, Sayali Wani, and Taneesha Kotecha, showcased exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament. India settled for a bronze medal finish after going down to China in the semifinals.

The Indian U19 Women's #TableTennis team comprising of Yashaswini Ghorpade, Suhana Saini, Sayali Wani and Taneesha Kotecha clinched the Bronze Medal 🥉 at the ongoing ITTF World Youth Championships 2023! 🇮🇳🏓Congratulations!! 👏👏#ITTFWorldYouths pic.twitter.com/nsv1lnfQxa
— Khel Now (@KhelNow) November 28, 2023

They had reached the semis after defeating a tough Egyptian side in the quarter-final round. Seeded fourth in the tournament, India received a bye in the round of 16, while Egypt, led by Hana Goda, beat Slovenia 3-1 in their last 16 tie.

It was Egypt who started on top with Hana beating Suhana Saini in straight games. Despite the setback, India bounced back with Yashaswini and Taneesha winning 3-0 over Farida Badawy and Mariam Younes respectively, to give India a 2-1 lead.

However, the fourth match saw Hana return and overpower Yashaswini with a 3-0 win to tie the match at 2-2. The decisive fifth match was played by Suhana, who, after losing her first game to Farida, regained momentum to win three consecutive games, securing the match and a medal for India.

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In the bronze medal match, India faced the giants of the game, China. Sayali Wani, playing her first match of the tournament, put up a valiant fight against China’s Chen Yi in a five-set thriller. However, Chen clinched the fifth set after a marathon game, giving China a 1-0 lead in the tie. Xu Yi and Qin Yuxuan then sealed the tie with consecutive 3-0 wins over Yashaswini and Suhana respectively.

Despite the defeat, the Indian team’s performance was commendable, and they returned home with the well-deserved bronze medal.

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Ajay Gandhar

Ajay Gandhar has been part of Khel Now since 2023 and has expertise across a wide range of Olympic sports. While his coverage spans the Olympic spectrum, he is passionate about Badminton, Tennis, Football, and Track and Field. Beyond his primary focus areas, Ajay is also an avid kabaddi enthusiast and closely follows the sport.