INTERVIEW | After successful the Asians, I’m extra assured of doing effectively on the World Championships: Divyanshi Bhowmick

Divyanshi Bhowmick is India’s best in her age class, women’ u-15, and second finest in u-17. At the International stage, the 14-year-old from Mumbai is progressing heading in the right direction to be among the many prime on the planet’s charts.

After successful the women’ u-15 crown within the Asian youth championships, she bagged one other main title in her fledgling profession not too long ago by successful the u-19 women’ title within the WTT Youth Contender in Almaty. In reality, Divyanshi has had an excellent International season within the youth class in 2025. She has gained 5 WTT titles within 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 on the planet, within the first spherical of the WTT Star Contender in Chennai in March this yr.

An attacking participant on each flanks, Piccolin is a paddler troublesome to cope with at the most effective of instances. More so, when a 14-year-old is taking up 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 facet. The win was no fluke as she continued to make waves, successful the women’ u-15 singles crown within the Asian youth desk tennis championships held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) from June 26 to July 2, beating three prime Chinese gamers on the way in which.

Coached by her father Rahul Bhowmick at Kandivali (Mumbai) and Anshuman Roy (in Bengaluru), Divyanshi is eager to play extra senior tournaments on the International circuit and deal with enjoying extra occasions on the home entrance, hoping to interrupt into the world’s prime 100 in girls’s part (she is 194 now) ahead of later. Her quick purpose is to carry out effectively within the World youth championships in u-15 part to be held in Romania from November 23 to 30.

“After successful the Asians, I’m extra assured of doing effectively on the World Championships this yr” mentioned Divyanshi.

Excerpts:

How necessary was the women’ under-15 crown, and the way did you put together for it because the second seed?

I had ready very well for this match. We had an India camp earlier than this match in Bengaluru. And over there, all of the coaches and the pinnacle coach, Massimo Costantini, actually helped. And being the second seed, I hoped to play within the last. And to win gold for India after 36 years was actually particular for me. B. Bhuvaneshwari, the previous India paddler, was the primary to take action.

You had overwhelmed three Chinese together with Zhu Qihui within the last, how was the sensation?

I used to be going step-by-step. In the quarter-final, I used to be enjoying in opposition to Huize Yang (China). I used to be assured as I had overwhelmed her earlier. Yes, I had gone with a plan on what to play. I did talk about with my coach and my dad, and executed it. Even the semi-finals was a extremely 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 might 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 scenario and I gained. Beating one Japanese and three Chinese on the way in which was actually particular.

India misplaced to Japan within the quarterfinals of the staff occasion which was earlier than the people. Did the defeat prod you to do effectively in singles?

In the teams, the entire staff performed very 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 might win. It was fairly a detailed match. I misplaced the fourth rubber. I bought 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’m ranked World No. 3 on the planet in women’ u-15. That provides me enormous confidence. I wish to develop steadily and do effectively within the tournaments I compete whereas additionally having fun with the expertise and dealing on my weaknesses. And after each match, in fact, I sit with my coaches and my dad to work on the errors which I made and attempt to overcome them within the subsequent match.

The final two years have been good. Last yr, I missed out on the Asian Championships. And even within the Worlds, I misplaced within the pre-quarter finals. So, final yr, it was okay. But this yr, it began very nice with me successful the Asian Championships and doing effectively on WTT youth tournaments. I’ve to 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 within the National camp, with head coach Massimo Costantini serving to the staff. I centered extra on my forehand and the necessity to assault.

Your recreation revolves round chops and blocks on the backhand and a very good 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 follow the twiddling act (twiddling is switching racquet between the lengthy pimple rubber (backhand) and a daily plain rubber on forehand), permitting one to play extra aggressively and making the opponent troublesome to learn the spin of the ball) like Manika Batra, who’s my idol. I’m but to grasp it (twiddling).

You did create ripples, by beating a prime 100 participant in Giorgia Piccolin within the first spherical of the WTT Star Contender in Chennai early this yr. Do you propose to play in additional senior occasions?

This yr, I’m going to attempt to play extra senior occasions alone bills, with the assistance of my Foundation, Dani Sports.

And in fact, within the home circuit, attempt to be within the prime 10 and even prime eight within the girls’s class. In the home season final yr, I simply performed one or two tournaments in my class. This yr I’m going to play in all of them.

At 14 years and eight months, college performs an necessary half for Indians particularly. How do you juggle teachers {and professional} sports activities?

Studies are necessary. This yr, I’ve my Std. tenth board exams. So, sure, I’m 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 practice in Mumbai with my dad and every time I’ve time, I’m going to Bengaluru. He has actually helped me enhance, make these modifications and enhance my backhand and block and all the pieces. Yasashwini (Ghorpade), one in all India’s prime paddlers, additionally trains with Anshuman sir.

In Mumbai, I practice with my dad. I’ve a robotic at my home and lots of follow 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.

What has been probably the most memorable win in your profession?

It was successful the silver medal within the 2023 World youth Championship with my companion Jennifer Verghese in women’ u-15 doubles in Slovenia, and it was a historic victory.

And, I grew to become World No. 3 in under-15 singles, I’m additionally now. And the subsequent huge second was successful double gold (clinching the u-15 & u-17 singles title) within the WTT Youth Contender at residence (Vadodara) this yr.

And even defeating Italy’s Giorgia Piccolin within the first spherical of WTT Star Contender in Chennai this yr was an excellent second. And then enjoying 4 video games (3-1) with Shin Yubin, who was seeded fourth within the match’s second spherical.

When I look again, I felt good as I used to be 10-9 up within the fourth recreation in opposition to Shin Yubin, earlier than I misplaced. It was particular, nonetheless. It gave me a variety of expertise.

How do you see the longer term panning out?

I have to work more durable, particularly this yr for the ITTF World Youth Championships to be held in Romania from November 23 to 30. After successful the Asians, I’m extra assured of doing effectively on the World Championships u-15 class this yr. I wish 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 perspective. I’ve not bought the prospect to speak a lot to her. But by seeing her recreation, I attempt to study as a lot as I can.

Does Divyanshi have associates within the TT circuit?

Yes, it’s Syndrela Das. We are finest associates and in addition play as a pair in doubles.