Divyanshi Bhowmick is India’s most interesting in her age class, ladies’ u-15, and second greatest in u-17. At the International degree, the 14-year-old from Mumbai is progressing on the proper monitor to be amongst the prime in the world’s charts.
After winning the ladies’ u-15 crown in the Asian youth championships, she bagged one other main title in her fledgling profession just lately by winning the u-19 ladies’ title in the WTT Youth Contender in Almaty. In reality, Divyanshi has had an excellent International season in the youth class in 2025. She has gained 5 WTT titles in the u-19, 17 and 15 classes.
Divyanshi rocked the senior class when she, as a qualifier, outplayed Giorgia Piccolin of Italy, then ranked 64 in the world, in the first spherical of the WTT Star Contender in Chennai in March this 12 months.
An attacking participant on each flanks, Piccolin is a paddler troublesome to take care of at the greatest of instances. More so, when a 14-year-old is taking over the Italian.
Armed with a long-pimpled rubber on backhand and common inverted rubber on forehand, Divyanshi turned the tables on the Paris Olympian with a show that had chops, blocks sprinkled with dollops of aggression on the forehand aspect. The win was no fluke as she continued to make waves, winning the ladies’ u-15 singles crown in the Asian youth desk tennis championships held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) from June 26 to July 2, beating three prime Chinese gamers on the means.
Coached by her father Rahul Bhowmick at Kandivali (Mumbai) and Anshuman Roy (in Bengaluru), Divyanshi is eager to play more senior tournaments on the International circuit and give attention to enjoying more occasions on the home entrance, hoping to interrupt into the world’s prime 100 in ladies’s part (she is 194 now) earlier than later. Her speedy objective is to carry out well in the World youth championships in u-15 part to be held in Romania from November 23 to 30.
“After winning the Asians, I am more confident of doing well at the World Championships this year” mentioned Divyanshi.
Excerpts:
How vital was the ladies’ under-15 crown, and the way did you put together for it as the second seed?
I had ready actually well for this event. We had an India camp earlier than this event in Bengaluru. And over there, all the coaches and the head coach, Massimo Costantini, actually helped. And being the second seed, I hoped to play in the ultimate. And to win gold for India after 36 years was actually particular for me. B. Bhuvaneshwari, the former India paddler, was the first to take action.
You had overwhelmed three Chinese together with Zhu Qihui in the ultimate, how was the feeling?
I was going step-by-step. In the quarter-final, I was enjoying in opposition to Huize Yang (China). I was confident as I had overwhelmed her earlier. Yes, I had gone with a plan on what to play. I did focus on with my coach and my dad, and executed it. Even the semi-finals was a very powerful one, as a result of the final two instances I had misplaced to her (Ziling Liu). I went one step at a time with each Chinese. In the ultimate in opposition to Zhu Qihui, I had confidence that I would beat her as a result of I had defeated her earlier additionally (WTT Youth Contender in Bangkok).
What was the technique in opposition to Zhu?
The match was actually powerful. I did what we had deliberate however she compelled me to vary it. However, I tailored to the state of affairs and I gained. Beating one Japanese and three Chinese on the means was actually particular.
India misplaced to Japan in the quarterfinals of the crew occasion which was earlier than the people. Did the defeat prod you to do well in singles?
In the teams, the entire crew performed actually well. We defeated Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Kyrgyzstan to prime the group. But with Japan, seeded third, we couldn’t win (shedding 1-3).
We (India was seeded fifth) all felt unhappy after the match as a result of we had been anticipating that we may win. It was fairly an in depth match. I misplaced the fourth rubber. I obtained the additional motivation to win the singles occasion after the defeat to Japan.
The final two years (2024-25) have been actually good. You gained the u-15 and u-17 titles in Vadodara and in addition reached six finals, 4 semifinals and 6 quarterfinals in each the sections….
I really feel very completely happy. Right now, I am ranked World No. 3 in the world in ladies’ u-15. That provides me enormous confidence. I need to develop steadily and do well in the tournaments I compete whereas additionally having fun with the expertise and dealing on my weaknesses. And after each event, of course, I sit with my coaches and my dad to work on the errors which I made and attempt to overcome them in the subsequent event.
The final two years have been good. Last 12 months, I missed out on the Asian Championships. And even in the Worlds, I misplaced in the pre-quarter finals. So, final 12 months, it was okay. But this 12 months, it began very nice with me winning the Asian Championships and doing well on WTT youth tournaments. I should work more durable for the World Championships (to be held in Tokyo) now.
Any particular coaching you took earlier than the Asian youth championships?
Before the Asian Championship we had been in the National camp, with head coach Massimo Costantini serving to the crew. I centered more on my forehand and the have to assault.
Your recreation revolves round chops and blocks on the backhand and an excellent assault on the forehand. How do you propose to enhance your recreation consciousness additional?
Along with the chops and blocks, I want to enhance my assault. With the long-pimpled rubber, I do observe the twiddling act (twiddling is switching racquet between the lengthy pimple rubber (backhand) and a daily plain rubber on forehand), permitting one to play more aggressively and making the opponent troublesome to learn the spin of the ball) like Manika Batra, who’s my idol. I am but to grasp it (twiddling).
You did create ripples, by beating a prime 100 participant in Giorgia Piccolin in the first spherical of the WTT Star Contender in Chennai early this 12 months. Do you propose to play in more senior occasions?
This 12 months, I am going to attempt to play more senior occasions by myself bills, with the assist of my Foundation, Dani Sports.
And of course, in the home circuit, attempt to be in the prime 10 and even prime eight in the ladies’s class. In the home season final 12 months, I simply performed one or two tournaments in my class. This 12 months I am going to play in all of them.
At 14 years and eight months, college performs an vital half for Indians particularly. How do you juggle lecturers {and professional} sports activities?
Studies are vital. This 12 months, I have my Std. tenth board exams. So, sure, I am enjoying my matches after which looking for time to do on-line tuition additionally, as a result of that’s obligatory.
What was coach Anshuman Roy’s impression in your recreation?
I’ve been coaching with him for the final two years, however I additionally prepare in Mumbai with my dad and each time I have time, I go to Bengaluru. He has actually helped me enhance, make these modifications and enhance my backhand and block and every little thing. Yasashwini (Ghorpade), one of India’s prime paddlers, additionally trains with Anshuman sir.
In Mumbai, I prepare with my dad. I have a robotic at my home and plenty of observe companions come to coach with me. The robotic has been of massive use to me. It retains giving balls at a sure pace, it has helped my consistency.
Divyanshi together with her coach Anshuman Roy.
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Special Arrangement
What has been the most memorable win in your profession?
It was winning the silver medal in the 2023 World youth Championship with my accomplice Jennifer Verghese in ladies’ u-15 doubles in Slovenia, and it was a historic victory.
And, I turned World No. 3 in under-15 singles, I am additionally now. And the subsequent massive second was winning double gold (clinching the u-15 & u-17 singles title) in the WTT Youth Contender at residence (Vadodara) this 12 months.
And even defeating Italy’s Giorgia Piccolin in the first spherical of WTT Star Contender in Chennai this 12 months was an awesome second. And then enjoying 4 video games (3-1) with Shin Yubin, who was seeded fourth in the event’s second spherical.
When I look again, I felt good as I was 10-9 up in the fourth recreation in opposition to Shin Yubin, earlier than I misplaced. It was particular, nonetheless. It gave me loads of expertise.
How do you see the future panning out?
I have to work more durable, particularly this 12 months for the ITTF World Youth Championships to be held in Romania from November 23 to 30. After winning the Asians, I am more confident of doing well at the World Championships u-15 class this 12 months. I need to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
How a lot has Manika Batra been an inspiration for you?
She is my idol and I actually look as much as her recreation and angle. I haven’t obtained the probability to speak a lot to her. But by seeing her recreation, I attempt to be taught as a lot as I can.
Does Divyanshi have buddies in the TT circuit?
Yes, it’s Syndrela Das. We are greatest buddies and in addition play as a pair in doubles.
