Syndrela Das, Divyanshi Bhowmick rise to World No. 1 in U-19 doubles rankings

Syndrela Das and Divyanshi Bhowmick have become the World No. 1 Under-19 girls’ doubles pair in ITTF rankings, leading a record surge of six Indian pairs into the top 100 — a milestone moment for India’s growing youth table tennis ecosystem.

HYDERABAD: Syndrela Das and Divyanshi Bhowmick have achieved a historic milestone by claiming the No. 1 position in the latest ITTF Under-19 Girls’ Doubles World Rankings, released on Tuesday.

With 3910 points, the Indian duo leads the global standings ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Wu Jia-En and Wu Ying Syuan (3195) and France’s Leana Hochart and Nina Guo Zheng (3170).

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This marks a remarkable achievement for Indian table tennis, as six Indian girls have entered the world’s top 100 doubles pairs for the first time, reflecting the nation’s rapid progress in youth development.

Syndrela and Divyanshi’s ascent to the top is the result of a string of strong performances at both domestic and international events. The pair has captured gold medals at the WTT Youth Contender in Goa and WTT Youth Star Contender in Tunis, in addition to semifinal finishes at the WTT Youth Contender in Berlin and Lima. Their on-table chemistry, combining Syndrela’s precise backhand flicks with Divyanshi’s powerful forehand drives, has made them one of the most formidable pairs in the junior circuit.

Alongside them, several other Indian players have made their mark on the rankings. Taneesha Kotecha and Sayali Wani are placed 13th with 1575 points, after impressive runs at the Asian Youth Championships and WTT Youth Contender Doha. Suhana Saini and Shriya Anand occupy the 22nd position with 875 points, following their silver medal at the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships.

Another newly formed pairing, Suhana Saini and Taneesha Kotecha, is ranked 31st with 620 points after the pair’s runners-up finish at the WTT Youth Contender Jaipur. Al Lis Gan and Stuti Kashyap are ranked 34th with 565 points, having delivered strong performances in Southeast Asian competitions, and Kheith Cruz and Vaishnavi Jaiswal share the 36th spot with the same tally after consistent results in the recent youth circuit.

This collective breakthrough signals a new chapter for Indian table tennis, underscoring the country’s growing strength and depth at the junior level. Secretary General Kamlesh Mehta described it as a proud moment, noting that Syndrela and Divyanshi’s success has set new standards of excellence for the next generation of players. With several upcoming international tournaments, including the WTT Youth Contender events in Budapest and Tokyo, Indian girls are now well-positioned to strengthen their global presence further and sustain their rise on the world stage.