Meet Syndrela Das, The 16-Year-Old Leading India's Next Wave Of Table Tennis Talent
Meet Syndrela Das, The 16-Year-Old Leading India's Next Wave Of Table Tennis Talent Written By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 15:55 IST Syndrela Das, one
Meet Syndrela Das, The 16-Year-Old Leading India's Next Wave Of Table Tennis Talent Written By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 15:55 IST Syndrela Das, one of India's most promising young paddlers, is gearing up to test herself against the world's best, Syndrela Das credits UTT for helping her deal with pressure. (PTI Photo) Syndrela Das, named after the Disney princess, has emerged as one of India’s brightest young table tennis prospects. The 16-year-old from Kolkata announced herself on the international stage by winning the WTT Youth Contender in Doha earlier this year and her career has continued on an upward trajectory ever since. Although Syndrela started her Ultimate Table Tennis journey with a defeat to a much higher-ranked Anna Hursey, her moment came just in the Dempo Goa Challengers’ second match of the season, against the Ahmedabad APL Pipers. Syndrela was handed the toughest possible challenge against Manika Batra, regarded as India’s finest women’s singles paddler. The contest came against the backdrop of the recent Asian Games team announcement, in which Manika was named in the reserves, while the 16-year-old Syndrela earned a place on the main team. With established names like Sreeja Akula, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale and Sutirtha Mukherjee already occupying places in the Asian Games team, Syndrela was the only singles player whose selection sparked comparisons with Manika. But the teenager’s performance against the Indian stalwart in UTT underlined why she earned that spot, proving she is no pushover and can topple the biggest names. Level at 10-all in the opening game, Syndrela bagged the golden point to win it 11-10 and then followed it up with close 11-9, 11-9 wins against Manika, pulling off a stunning win. But with such senior and experienced names on the block, did Syndrela expect a call-up for the Asian Games?
“I had been fighting hard to earn a place in the Asian Games squad, so I was not sure if I would make it. At the same time, I was playing a lot of international tournaments because I wanted to improve my world ranking and get closer to the top 100," Syndrela said while speaking to News18 Sports. “When I finally found out that I had been selected, I was extremely happy. My coach was equally delighted. Around the same time, I also received the news that I had been selected for the Commonwealth Championships, so getting both chances together made it a very special moment for me," Syndrela added. So, is there nervousness representing India on a big stage like the Asian Games? “I would not say I am nervous about the Asian Games. I actually enjoy playing at big events and I see them as chances rather than pressure. If I begin thinking of it as pressure, I probably would not be able to perform," Syndrela responded. “I would just freeze. Instead, I want to embrace the experience, understand the environment, enjoy being part of the team and strengthen my bond with my teammates. Those are the things I want to focus on the most," she added. Will the high-pressure situations at UTT help her in countering what might come at the Asian Games? Syndrela says that the UTT format is something that helps paddlers stay on their toes and that would be crucial. “I think the format here, where every individual game matters, creates a different kind of pressure and that has been a great learning experience for me, both as an individual and as part of a team," she said. “The team bonding we have built here is something I want to carry into the Asian Games.
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