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Table Tennis

'Destined to be a player' - Teen TT prodigy Suhana Saini carrying forward a family legacy

Published at :March 15, 2024 at 6:13 PM
Modified at :March 15, 2024 at 6:51 PM
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Ankhi Dutta

Suhana Saini is a former U-19 World No.1 in women’s doubles with Yashaswini Ghorpade.

Suhana Saini, the current top-ranked U-19 table tennis player in India, carries a legacy deeply rooted in the sport. Her mother, Bhawna Saini, an experienced table tennis coach, and her father, Vikas Saini, a former state champion, have been pivotal in her extraordinary journey. Bhawna too is a former state champion.

From her earliest days, the familiar sound of a table tennis racket in motion was a backdrop to her life. This connection, extending back to her maternal grandfather, has continually inspired Suhana, fueling her dedication and skills in the game. She shares candidly, “My parents will tell you that I was destined to be a player—it’s honestly why I was born.

“My journey in table tennis began thanks to my parents, especially my mother, who not only introduced me to the sport but also sharpened my early skills through her academy. Our training sessions weren’t always smooth; we had our share of conflicts. Understanding the importance of a fresh perspective, she decided to send me to Chennai to train with Coach R. Rajesh—a decision that set the stage for my professional journey.”

Not getting swayed by success at junior level

In 2021, Suhana’s performance was exceptional. She ascended to World No. 3 in the U-15 category, No. 13 in U-17, and No. 21 in U-19. Her achievements included gold medals in the U-15 division at the WTT Youth Contenders 2021 events in Otocec, Tunis, Muscat, Senec and Szombathely, affirming her position as an emerging talent.

Furthermore, in 2023, she attained the top world ranking in U-19 doubles with partner Yashaswini Ghorpade, demonstrating her adaptability and skill in the sport.

“We had some outstanding performances in recent tournaments, notably at the Star Contender in Goa (2023). Partnering with someone I’ve known since childhood brought a special synergy to our game, especially when we managed to upset a high-ranked pair from Korea,” reflected Suhana talking about her partnership with Yashasvi.

“The feeling of achieving World No. 1 status in doubles in the U-19 category was surreal. It all began with our victory at the U-19 Doha Star Contender, which boosted our confidence tremendously,” she said.

The U-19 table tennis sensation from Rohtak, Haryana, who is supported by the Welspun Foundation, has been a prodigy from a young age. At WR-27, she is also India’s highest-ranked paddler in youth girls’ singles. However, despite her impressive achievements, she maintains a unique perspective on her success.

“From the outset, my coach emphasized the importance of setting my sights on excelling in the senior category. The competition is intense; there are so many skilled players, each with their unique strengths. It’s quite challenging,” said Suhana. “Even though I’m currently under 19, my initial foray into the senior level last year didn’t yield the best results in the women’s division.

“Even if I play semis or finals or even if I win U-19 or any category, it’s not really satisfying. At the end of the day, Olympics mein under 17-19 jeet ke nahi jaa sakte (Cannot qualify for Olympics by winning at U-17, U–19 level).”

Historic medal at ITTF World Youth Championships 2023

While she is yet to taste success at the senior level, Suhana has achieved historic performances with the U-19 Indian team. Just last year, she anchored the Indian U-19 women’s table tennis team to a first-ever team medal at the ITTF World Youth Championships 2023. It was she who played and won the deciding quarter-final match against Egypt that propelled India to the semis and confirmed a historic first medal in the tournament.

India though failed to progress past the semifinals and had to remain content with a bronze medal after going down 0-3 against pre-tournament favourites and top seeds China.

Suhana hopes that India can one day reach that level. While China has dominated the sport for close to 6-7 decades now, Japan and South Korea have significantly closed the gap, showcasing their progress.

Asked what separates India and Indian table tennis from them, the young prodigy pointed out that for beginners having a national training centre is a must.

“To achieve an Olympic medal, having a national training centre is crucial. It needs to be a Centre of Excellence where training and schooling coexist seamlessly,” said Suhana who is currently ranked 14th in youth doubles. “Government should ensure efficiency and support. To excel at the highest level, every necessary resource must be readily available. From top-notch coaching to fitness training, having everything under one roof optimizes performance and preparation.”

Importance of mental health in sports

While constantly learning and upgrading one’s skill-set is important, Suhana also spoke about the importance of mental health. She shared how handling mental health involves cultivating resilience to navigate losses and back-to-back matches, prioritizing self-care routines, and maintaining a positive mindset to bounce back stronger and stay focused on performance.

“There’s a lot of mental aspect in the game because in this sport, you’re leading 9-3 and then suddenly you lose 11-9.”

Building mental fortitude is essential for sustaining peak performance and overall well-being in the face of challenges on and off the table.

“I have a psychologist, she’s there to talk and to prepare me off the table. But inside, I have to say what I’m feeling.

“Just go and play. Whatever you know,” is what the next generation paddler believes in, focused and determined to achieve her goal.

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