WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026: Four young Indian paddlers to watch out for in main draw

Anusha gained national attention after her remarkable runner-up finish at WTT Feeder Vadodara.

As the main draw of the India’s highest-ranked table tennis tournament WTT Star Contender 2026 gets underway in Chennai, the spotlight isn’t only on the top seeds.

Here are four young and emerging Indian entries to keep an eye on—talents who may not be widely known yet, but possess the fearless mindset, form and power to spring big upsets on the WTT Star Contender stage.

Anusha Kutumbale (Women’s Singles)

Anusha Kutumbale heads into WTT Chennai 2026 as one of the most talked-about names in Indian table tennis following her historic “fairytale run” at the WTT Feeder Vadodara earlier this year.

Entering that tournament as an unseeded player, she stunned the field by defeating high-seeded international veterans to storm into the women’s singles final.

This clinical performance showcased not just her technical brilliance but her immense mental toughness under pressure. Currently hovering around a career-high world ranking, Anusha is celebrated for her aggressive right-handed shakehand grip and her ability to neutralize world-class spins with ease.

As a host wildcard in the Chennai main draw, she remains a formidable threat capable of delivering another major upset on home turf.

Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (Men’s Singles)

Priyanuj Bhattacharyya is the rising face of Indian youth power, securing his place in the Chennai main draw as the reigning U-19 Boys’ Singles champion from the WTT Youth Contender Vadodara 2026.

The Assam-born prodigy has been on a relentless winning streak, recently clinching his U-19 title with a composed straight-games victory that highlighted a tactical maturity far beyond his years.

Priyanuj first captured national attention by winning Assam’s first-ever individual Gold medal in table tennis at the Khelo India Youth Games, marking him as a generational talent.

Now transitioning to the senior Star Contender stage, he brings a high-intensity game and a reputation for being a “clutch” performer during high-pressure points, proving he is ready to test his skills against the established global elite.

Also Read: WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026: Live streaming, TV channel, where and how to watch

Divyansh Srivastava (Men’s Singles)

Divyansh Srivastava represents the next wave of Uttar Pradesh’s table tennis excellence, entering the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026 main draw as a highly anticipated host wildcard.

Known for his tactical awareness, Divyansh has consistently showcased his ability to compete with the high ranked players. His game is characterized by an offensive style and a high-risk, high-reward approach that often catches seasoned opponents off-guard.

Backed by a string of impressive performances on the international WTT feeder circuit, Divyansh is poised to use the Chennai stage as a platform to solidify his status as a permanent fixture among the world’s elite paddlers.

Tanishka Kalbhairav (Women’s Singles)

Tanishka Kalbhairav enters the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026 as one of the most inspiring young talents in the sport, known for a level of mental fortitude that far exceeds her age.

At just 13 years old, the Belagavi-born sensation has already become a symbol of resilience, famously continuing her winning streak at the National championships even while her family navigated an emotional personal crisis.

Tanishka’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric; she secured her first major international gold at the WTT Youth Contender Bangkok in 2023 in the Under-11 category and has since dominated the domestic circuit, recently clinching the U-15 National Ranking title in late 2025.

Her performance in the qualifying rounds for Chennai was a masterclass in poise, where she upset senior, more experienced players to earn her spot in the Main Draw.

Trained at the Belgaum Table Tennis Academy, Tanishka combines lightning-fast reflexes with a fearless attacking style, making her not just a rising star, but a genuine threat to any opponent she faces on the global stage.

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