Diya Chitale has scripted historical past a few instances, most not too long ago on the World Desk Tennis (WTT) Contender held in Tunis over April 22-27, the place she and Manush Shah grew to become solely the second Indian pair to win the combined doubles title. In October final 12 months, the desk tennis participant was a part of the workforce that gained a historic bronze for India on the Asian Championships held in Kazakhstan. She additionally occurs to be the youngest Indian feminine to have gained a double crown within the Nationwide Championship within the U-18 and U-21 classes. The budding paddler exemplifies resilience. Months after a stress fracture in her foot shattered her Paris Olympics desires, she bounced again and clinched her maiden senior girls’s singles title in January this 12 months, overcoming a 0-2 deficit to beat Olympian Sreeja Akula in a nail-biting remaining. She partnered with Akula to safe the ladies’s doubles title on the similar championship. In an interview with Hindustan Occasions, she spoke concerning the elements that gasoline her hearth, the necessity to bounce again after heartbreaks and the way authorities help and the Final Desk Tennis have helped her develop as an athlete:
Diya Chitale scripted historical past on the World Desk Tennis (WTT) Contender held in Tunis over April 22-27 Congratulations in your combined doubles title. You’ve got been on a profitable spree in 2025. Might you speak concerning the title win and your partnership with Manush?
Yeah, I believe it was certainly one of our greatest wins as a pair.
This was truly the primary time that we reached the ultimate of a WTT occasion (contender or star contender). We had earlier reached many, many semi finals. We had gained a title within the feeder occasion earlier than as nicely. However in a contender (match), we had by no means made it previous the semis. So to start with, we had been actually thrilled to have reached the finals. Then in fact, we needed to play in opposition to a high Japanese pair within the finals. We had truly misplaced to them – 3-0 – final 12 months. This time I believe each of us had been actually well-prepared for the match. And I believe all through the partnership, our bonding was actually superb.
So we simply tried to play each level with full aggression, tried to deal with our sport and what we would have liked to play. Because the match went on, we began getting the sensation that we might truly win in opposition to them. We continued to play aggressively, attempting to assault first, which is definitely our power as a pair.
We had been actually very, very glad that we might take the trophy house.
What’s subsequent in your radar?
Positively the world championship that begins on Could 17. We (Manush and I) will likely be taking part in combined doubles there too. Then there’s singles, girls’s doubles, combined doubles, every little thing. So in fact, that’s certainly one of our subsequent targets – to at the very least make it to the quarterfinals within the World Championships. The world’s high pairs will likely be taking part in there however I believe we’re in vert good condition. We gained (the WTT Contender Title) in Tunisia, so we’re trying ahead to carrying the identical kind.
A extra long-term aim, in the direction of the tip of the 12 months, can be to interrupt into the highest 10 and even high eight. We’re on the eleventh place now. And I believe the final word aim for each of us as a pair is unquestionably to win a medal on the Olympics for India.
You could have proven exemplary dedication and resilience by rising shortly from lacking your probability on the Paris Olympics. Might you speak a bit about this turnaround?
Yeah, in fact. Being a part of the Paris Olympics workforce was a goal, however that didn’t occur. In fact, there was a number of disappointment. I believe it is extra necessary to maneuver ahead relatively than dwell on what did not occur. So I attempted to rebuild from there on.
I believe the 12 months to this point has been actually good for me. I gained the Nationwide Championships firstly of the 12 months. It was an necessary milestone for me and I used to be very pleased to have made it. And naturally, within the combined doubles, we had been taking part in very well for fairly a while. Profitable this title provides us a really massive confidence increase and tells us that we’re on the appropriate path. After the Paris Olympics (did not work out), I began working extra on different issues that I wanted to do in coaching. I centered on taking part in my sport relatively than interested by the outcomes. After I’m on the desk, I simply attempt to play my sport and have enjoyable. I believe that has actually been working nicely for me, and I am simply going to hold that ahead.
You had been very younger while you began taking part in professionally. Any recommendation for younger ladies seeking to construct a profession in desk tennis?
I’d say that instances actually are altering in India. Earlier, nobody would truly take up sports activities as a profession or a career. They’d play until a sure age advert then deal with lecturers. That is altering now. Persons are taking over sports activities as a profession. So my recommendation to younger athletes can be – in case your aim is ready, put your all into it. If you happen to actually need to obtain it, simply go all out, have enjoyable, take pleasure in what you are doing. There’ll at all times be troublesome instances and troublesome phases, however you have to bounce again, work laborious and simply hold believing in your self. Your laborious work will repay ultimately.
Talking of lecturers, you’re nonetheless pursuing your BBA, proper? Is it troublesome juggling the 2?
I completed my commencement final 12 months.
And yeah, I believe it’s fairly troublesome to handle sports activities and lecturers. Actually, I used to be very, very fortunate to have the help that I did once I was youthful from my college Arya Vidya Mandir. That basically helped all through my time at school. For example, if I used to be not obtainable throughout an examination, they’d let me retake it and provide me separate lessons if I missed out on any lessons.
With their help, I used to be actually in a position to deal with coaching and taking part in tournaments even throughout my college years. In fact, Chitkara College additionally supported me with my profession, and that performed an enormous position in my success. Since I needed to journey lots, they let me do most issues on-line. I by no means actually needed to go to varsity. That was an enormous assist. Because of them, I devoted all my consideration to desk tennis.
Talking of help, how have authorities initiatives benefited you as a participant? Can extra be executed?
The federal government has devised many useful schemes which might be serving to gamers vastly. Take the Khelo India initiative—it actually helped me in my preliminary years by permitting me to take part in additional tournaments and get the perfect services. Additionally, now I am below the TOPS growth scheme, which can also be an enormous assist for all. SAI can also be serving to us lots. Authorities backing has enabled us to present our greatest on the desk with out having to fret an excessive amount of about different stuff.
You obtained a letter of appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi final 12 months. That will need to have been particular. How did it really feel?
In fact, when the Prime Minister despatched such a letter, it was positively an enormous encouragement for all of us. Apart from, he had conferences with all of us earlier than we went for the Commonwealth Video games and the Asian Video games. I believe it is an amazing initiative from him that he steadily meets us. I believe he is so invested within the sport and he actually is aware of it intimately. Once we see such authorities help, the truth that they’re at all times there for us, it pushes us to do higher for the nation.
Final Desk Tennis (UTT) begins in lower than a month and also you had been the highest-valued Indian paddler on the public sale. Does the worth tag put strain on you?
Actually, I really feel there’s at all times strain, whether or not you are the very best or the bottom (paid). There’s at all times going to be a little bit of strain in any match you play. I believe it is about how you’re taking that strain and the way you cope with it that counts. I used to be actually pleased to have carried out so nicely final 12 months. About being the participant with the very best bid, I used to be pleased all of the groups wished me regardless of there being so many high gamers. However I believe I am simply going to go along with the identical movement as final 12 months and simply try to assist my workforce to make as many factors as potential.
I really like taking part in in workforce occasions, and the ambiance and the platform that Final Desk Tennis has created is absolutely nice for all of the younger athletes and all of the Indian gamers, I’d say, as a result of we get an opportunity to play with the highest international gamers, to apply with them and spend time with them. So it is a tremendous platform that they’ve created for us. The group is wonderful. It is an amazing ambiance. There’s only one desk. So I’ve a number of enjoyable taking part in in such tournaments. I am actually trying ahead to it.
How has the UTT improved your sport?
Firstly, I’ve carefully adopted UTT – whether or not it was watching from the stands or from house. I at all times wished to be part of it. After I lastly bought that probability, I spotted what a tremendous ambiance it was to play in. Final 12 months was a tremendous season for me. I used to be in a position to assist the workforce attain the finals, and we gained silver. If you’re in a position to do this to your workforce, it provides you a confidence increase. UTT additionally teaches you learn how to deal with strain. Plus, the group is nice, the cheering is nice, and the chance to play in opposition to and apply with international gamers has actually helped me develop.