Published: March 13, 2026 at 4:20 pm
India’s leading paddlers will converge at the Abhay Prashal Stadium as the 87th UTT Inter-State Senior National Table Tennis Championships get underway from tomorrow, bringing together traditional powerhouses and ambitious state teams in one of the country’s most prestigious domestic competitions.
Memories of last year’s dramatic finals in Surat remain vivid. The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) men produced a remarkable comeback to defeat the Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) 3-2 after trailing 0-2, retaining the coveted Barna Bellak Cup. In the women’s final, however, Railways turned the tables, edging PSPB by the same margin in a marathon encounter to lift the title.
PSPB teams complete golden double with a fine sweep
Once again, PSPB enters the men’s team event as the strongest side on paper. With international stars Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar spearheading the squad and rising paddler Payas Jain adding depth, PSPB possesses formidable strength and experience. The presence of seasoned campaigner Sanil Shetty and youngster Divyansh Srivastava further enhances their balance, making them the team most likely to challenge for the crown. Their combined ranking strength also tops the field with 775 points from their best three players.
Railways, last year’s runners-up, will once again be among the principal challengers. With players such as Ronit Bhanja, Akash Pal, and the experienced Anirban Ghosh in their ranks, Railways could trouble even the strongest opponents. Having come agonisingly close to the title last year, they will be eager to go one step further this time.
Telangana paddlers have potential to mount a challenge
Among the state teams, West Bengal appears to be one of the strongest contenders, led by the talented Ankur Bhattacharjee. Telangana, powered by the technically sound Snehit Suravajjula, also has the potential to mount a serious challenge, while Delhi, Mizoram, and Uttar Pradesh field promising combinations capable of producing upsets during the competition.
Telangana, powered by the technically sound Snehit Suravajjula, also has the potential to mount a serious challenge
The women’s team event promises an equally compelling contest. PSPB once again heads the strength chart with an impressive lineup that includes Syndrela Das, Swastika Ghosh, Yashaswini Ghorpade, and Sayali Wani, giving the institutional side tremendous depth and experience. Their top three players collectively account for 725 ranking points, the highest among all teams.
RBI women could pose stiffest challenge to PSPB
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) could pose the stiffest challenge, boasting the presence of international paddlers Diya Chitale and Sreeja Akula, both capable of turning matches single-handedly. Tamil Nadu also fields a strong unit with Yashini Sivashankar, Selena Deepti, and Nithyashree Mani, and Maharashtra and Haryana have balanced squads capable of pushing the favourites deep into the contest.
Defending champions Railways will also be keen to retain their women’s crown, banking on the experience of Sutirtha Mukherjee and the fighting spirit that carried them to victory last year.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) could pose the stiffest challenge, boasting the presence of international paddlers Diya Chitale and Sreeja Akula, both capable of turning matches single-handedly
With 35 men’s teams and 30 women’s teams participating from across the country, the championships promise several days of intense competition, showcasing both established stars and emerging talent eager to leave their mark on the national stage.
Nearly 500 entries for men’s singles event
Once the team events conclude, attention will shift to the marquee individual competitions, where the country’s top paddlers will battle for the coveted singles crowns. The men’s singles have attracted close to 500 entries, making it the largest-ever participation in the history of the Senior National Championships. The unprecedented numbers have prompted the competition department to expand the format, introducing a 256-player main draw. The preliminary phase will feature 156 groups, from which the qualifiers will advance to join the top-ranked 16 players who receive direct entry into the main draw.
The championships will be conducted under the supervision of an experienced officiating panel. Mangesh Mopker will serve as the referee for the tournament, with veterans Anil Dubey and AS Kler lending their support. A 60-member team of Blue Badge, international, and national umpires will oversee the matches under the guidance of competition manager N. Ganeshan. Stag Global equipment—including flooring, tables, and balls—will be used throughout the championships.
