Champion paddler Diya Chitale focussing on smaller goals

India paddler Diya Chitale in action

Mumbai-based table tennis prodigy Diya Chitale, 17, who won the youth singles title in the Junior and Youth National TT Championships in Indore recently, is seen as a medal prospect for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the teenage paddler wants to take it step by step towards her ultimate goal.

Chitale, who got the better of Karnataka's Yashaswini Ghorpade 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 5-11, 11-8, 11-2 in the summit clash to retain her crown, has already planned her course to claim the ultimate glory like a top-level athlete.

"Winning an Olympic gold is my ultimate goal. But to win a medal, I need to first qualify for the Olympics. I'm taking it set by step. If I think about the end result only, it will not help me. I need to keep working hard and focus on smaller goals. My first few goals are to do well in the 2022 Commonwealth Games and to better my world ranking." Chitale told mid-day.com.

She has already started training in Germany and Japan to learn the different style of play and is plying her trade in foreign leagues to create a unique style of play.

"I train in Germany with Peter Engle [former India national team coach] and it has helped me a lot as he has a lot of experience. He focuses on small details of the game and strategies. I've learned a lot from him. I also play in the league there against the European players and that has given me a lot of confidence," said Chitale.

"I also train in Japan to learn the Asian style of play. They are one of the top countries in TT. Getting to learn how the Asian players play, has enhanced my game too," she added.

The paddler hopes India too will have a sporting culture soon similar to Asian powerhouse like China.

India paddler Diya Chitale after winning the youth singles national TT title at Indore recently

"We need a sports culture like in China where they start training at a very young age. In India, people take up sport very late. But it is changing off late. Earlier, when players were in Class 10th or 12th, they had to decide on either of the one. And many people would take up education. But that is changing now. Many people are taking up sports as a career in India too," Chitale stated.

Chitale, who secured her first title on the ITTF World Junior Circuit at the Ghana Junior and Cadet Open in 2019, is finding it difficult to balance studies and sport.

"For me, balancing education and sports is very difficult. Till Class 10, I was in Arya Vidya Mandir [Bandra], so the school supported me by taking extra classes and scheduling exams during my off season. Now, I'm in Class 12th and I'm doing open schooling, so I try to study whenever I find time. My first priority is always sports and during the tournament, I don't find much time, but when there are no tournaments, I try to study whenever I get time after my practice session," Chitale explained.

For inspiration and motivation, Chitale looks up to India star paddlers Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra and feels their performances at the top-level lifts the confidence of youngsters like her.

"With Sharath bhaiya and Manika didi performing so well at the International level, youngsters get a lot of confidence and motivation from them as they feel they too can do well at the top-level," she signed off.