After conquering the junior level, Yashaswini hopes to stand up to the best in the world

The above quatrain on Yashaswini Ghorpade was published by the Goa Challengers Instagram page a few days before the Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 final.

“I would say I am a very shy person. I am an introvert. I’m pretty close to the people I know, but I can’t talk to people naturally,” Yashaswini said. Sports stars just a few hours before the UTT final.

While giving some truth to the lines that portrayed her as a soft-spoken person, Yashaswini showcased her ‘fierce’ game as she got the better of Mouma Das and Sutirtha Mukherjee. With strong backhand defense and decisive forehands, she defeated the experienced activists.

“Of course I have to stick to my backhand. It’s my strong point and I won’t let it go. Maybe on some crucial points, attacking would keep the opponent confused and that would be a good thing for my game,” she explained, hoping to emulate Manika Batra in the future.

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Both Bengal paddlers suffered 1-2 defeats against the Karnataka player in the fifth edition of the UTT, which Yashaswini won with the Challengers in her debut season.

“Yes, I really had so many expectations. To play in front of big crowds and under so many spotlights, while being part of the defending champion team, it’s amazing,” she said of her first time playing in the franchise-based league.

Shortly after winning the UTT title, Yashaswini headed to colder climes. She participated in the National Ranking Championships in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. However, the conditions were not his favorite.

Yashaswini Ghorpade of Athlead Goa Challengers in action during UTT 2024. | Photo credit: PTI

“I like to play fast. In Chennai, the hall was air-conditioned and the environment was good. It was like an international tournament. In Kangra, it rained sometimes. There was humidity,” she said in a call.

Nonetheless, she took the changes in her stride and won her first national ranking tournament after defeating Reeth Rishya, another PSPB (Petroleum Sports Promotion Board) athlete, 4-1 in the women’s singles final.

It hasn’t even been a year since Yashaswini moved from youth to senior level. Despite the short time, she gradually showed her ability to stand up to the big guns.

From a lazy kid to a promising paddler

“It’s only been 8 months of transition, so it’s been pretty amazing I would say. Traveling with the Indian national team players on the WTT circuit has been great. The practice and the points and advice you get from the senior players are very helpful,” she said.

This year has been quite eventful for the young paddler. Alongside Diya Chitale, Yashaswini won the women’s doubles runner-up titles at the WTT Contender events in Tunis and Lagos.

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She even reached the quarter-finals of the Saudi Smash in May, alongside her mixed doubles partner Harmeet Desai – captain of Yashaswini at the Goa Challengers – before losing to China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yinghsa.

Before she started competing in WTT Feeder tournaments and Contender events, Yashaswini was winning titles in all categories at the U-19 level. She has the distinction of being the only Indian to have won gold in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at this age level.

Last year, she captured the U-19 girls’ singles titles at the WTT Youth Contender in Brazil and the WTT Youth Star Contender in Qatar.

Yashaswini Ghorpade at the state ranking tournament in 2020. | Photo credit: K Murali Kumar / THE HINDU

However, table tennis was not always on the cards for the Bangalore teenager.

“I took singing lessons for a year. I was a kid who was lazy…I watched a lot of TV. Before, I was skinny and often got sick. That’s why my parents signed me up for table tennis lessons, which used to be held in my school auditorium. It was great to start there,” Yashaswini recalls picking up the paddle for the first time.

Whether she’s taking up the sport to be more active or to become a promising player for the future, she is one of five Indian women currently ranked in the top 100 in singles.

The world number 87 has also been named as one of the reserve players of the Indian women’s team for the upcoming Asian Championships scheduled for October in Kazakhstan.

As for her immediate goals, Yashaswini will begin her bid to advance to the China Smash main draw when she faces lower-ranked Frenchwoman Audrey Zarif in the first qualifying round of the women’s singles.

“It’s a very big event. Everyone will be ready and I will do my best on the table. Hopefully everything goes well,” she said.