Ananya Muralidharan and Divyanshi Bhowmick clinched the U15 girls’ doubles crown at the WTT Youth Star Contender. The title clash turned into a nail-biter on Sunday. The Indian duo faced Zhao Wangqi and Liu Ziling of China. The battle lasted for more than 43 minutes. Ananya and Divyanshi started the game with a positive intent.
They claimed the opening game 11-8 with sharp strokes and steady play. After the first round, the opposition made a strong comeback in the second and won the second game with a scoreline of 11-7.
Ananya and Divyanshi showed good intent in the third round and played fearless shots, and regained the lead with an 11-8 win. But Zhao and Liu refused to give up. They dominated the fourth round with a composed 11-6 and pushed the contest into a decider. The final game was filled with drama and spice. Both pairs traded points, refusing to step back. The Indian duo held the match point, but Zhao and Liu saved it. When the scoreline was at 12-all, the tension was unbearable.
Ananya and Divyanshi held their nerves, and finally, they clinched the game. Ananya and Divyanshi sealed the game with a scoreline of 14-12 and won the championship. Their journey to the final was equally strong. After a first-round defeat, they beat South Korea’s Lee Haelin and Yana Zhadzko in straight games in the quarterfinal.
In the semi-final, they faced the fellow Indians Riana Bhoota and Ankolika Chakraborty. It was a tougher fight, but Ananya and Divyanshi came through 3-1 and sealed their place in the final.
This title is a huge step for the young duo. Beating a Chinese pair in an under pressure final speaks volumes about their character. It shows the rise of Indian table tennis at the youth level and the belief these youngsters are carrying.
For Ananya and Divyanshi, this victory is not just about a trophy. It is about belief, maturity, and courage under pressure. India has found two new stars who can shine even brighter in the years ahead.
