Hyderabad paddler Snehit creates history, breaks into top 100 world rankings

Snehit, now ranked 89th, has become the first player from the Telugu-speaking States to break into the top 100 world rankings of table tennis

Hyderabad: The City-based paddler, S Fidel R Snehit, has become the first player from the Telugu-speaking States to break into the top 100 world rankings.

For someone who started his journey in the one-room Global Table Tennis Academy in Naveennagar here, Snehit achieved this feat thanks to his impressive performance in the WTT Star Contender championship in Chennai last week, which helped him move up the rankings ladder by 34 places.

---

Ranked 89th in the world, Snehit stunned World No 29 Yukiya Uda of Japan in the Round of 32 and went on to defeat Indian legend Sharath Kamal in the Round of 16 before bowing out in the quarterfinals. Teaming up with Sharath Kamal, he also made it to the men’s doubles semifinals.

“I am thrilled with my latest world ranking,” Snehit said. “Breaking into the top 100 was my prime goal for the year, and achieving it feels great. Now, I’m fully focused on making it to the top 50.” Winner of more than a dozen international medals, Snehit missed a Paris Olympics berth owing to an injury.

Snehit expressed gratitude to his coach Somnath Ghosh and fitness trainer Hirak Bagchi for their dedicated efforts and unwavering support. He also extended his thanks to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) leadership, acknowledging their encouragement in balancing his career as an auditor and a professional athlete.

Manav Thakkar (47 rank), Harmeet Desai (68), Manush Shah (73), and Sharat Kamal (80) are the Indian paddlers who are ahead of Snehit in the world ranking.