Summary
The competition also featured young athletes from various countries across Asia, including powerhouses like China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Taipei
Syndrela excelled in the Under 17 Singles and Under 15 Mixed Doubles categories, earning silver in both events. She also secured a bronze medal in the Under 15 Girls Singles
Kolkata's 15-year-old table tennis star, Syndrela Das, has made the nation proud once again by winning two silver medals and one bronze at the recent World Table Tennis Youth Contender held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. A recipient of The Telegraph Online Edugraph 18 under 18 Awards for 2023, Syndrela's performance showcased her exceptional talent at international tournaments.
Syndrela excelled in the Under 17 Singles and Under 15 Mixed Doubles categories at the tournament, earning silver in both events. She also secured a bronze medal in the Under 15 Girls Singles. The competition also featured young athletes from various Asian countries, including powerhouses like China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Taipei, all displaying remarkable skills.
Syndrela during a practice session at the training academy under Soumyadeep's guidance Source: The Telegraph Online Edugraph
Sharing her experience with The Telegraph Online Edugraph, Syndrela said, "India won a total of 27 medals at the WTT Youth Contender in Damman. I enjoyed playing and learning from the experience, but it was hard luck not to win the gold medal."
With her eyes set on future competitions, Syndrela is scheduled to travel to Doha on October 6 to participate in the WTT Star Contender. Talking about the challenges ahead, she said, "Players from countries like China, Japan and South Korea will be competing, but I am ready to take on any challenge that comes my way."
Following the Doha tournament, Syndrela will participate in zonal events in Goa and then head to Austria for training sessions. After that, she has matches lined up in Italy and Hungary. Currently, she holds impressive rankings of 1st in the Under 17 and 4th in the Under 19 categories in India.
Additionally, she is aiming to improve her current 24th position in the Women’s category and has set her eyes on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Soumyadeep Roy, her coach at Dhanuka Dhunseri Soumyadeep Poulomi Table Tennis Academy is thrilled with her progress and potential.
"We identified her talent when she was just 8 years old and have been training her accordingly. Syndrela has achieved more than we anticipated in such a short time. However, this is just the beginning. Our goal is to aim for an Olympic gold medal, and her achievements so far indicate we are on the right track."
Syndrela’s accomplishments not only highlight her dedication and hard work but also serve as motivation for her future endeavors. As she prepares for upcoming challenges, both she and her coaches remain focused on her ultimate goal: to represent India at the Olympics.
Her journey is just beginning and her aspirations reflect the hopes of many who wish to see her bring home Olympic glory in the years to come.
Last updated on 03 Oct 2024
