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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. The way I have been supporting my teammates here is exactly how I want to support them there as well,” she added.
The teenager said that competing in UTT had already taught her how to cope with pressure in high-stakes situations, something she believes will help her when she represents India at the Asian Games.
“This is my first UTT season, so it has been a completely different experience. I am really enjoying it so far and I believe everything I am learning here will help me when I compete at the Asian Games,” she said.
Earlier this month, she partnered with India’s another emerging talent in Divyanshi Bhowmick to win silver at the Asian Youth TT Championships.
Asked to describe her partnership with Divyanshi, Syndrela’s response reflected a maturity well beyond her 16 years, highlighting the trust, understanding and selflessness that underpin their successful doubles pairing.
“I am very comfortable playing with Divyanshi because we understand each other’s game really well. More importantly, we trust each other completely. We don’t overcomplicate things or make elaborate plans during matches,” Syndrela said.
“If she serves or receives, I already know where I need to be and she knows the same when it is my turn. That is the most important aspect of doubles, trusting your partner,” she added.
The teenager believes trust is the foundation of any successful doubles partnership. As per Syndrela, paddlers who start feeling they must shoulder all the responsibility often end up overthinking and making mistakes, while their partner may be performing well.
“What I really enjoy about our partnership is that we communicate well and genuinely have fun on the table. I trust her blindly. We keep each other relaxed, make each other laugh and are not afraid to try different things,” she said.
Training at former paddlers Soumyadeep Roy and Poulomi Ghatak’s academy in Kolkata, Syndrela gives plenty of credit to the couple for her journey to the top.
“After the lockdown, just when I had started playing well again, I fractured my right wrist. Even during my recovery, I went to the club every day, either to practise with my left hand or simply to watch, because I just loved being around table tennis,” Syndrela said.
“Soumyadeep Sir kept motivating me throughout that period. He would tell me that this was only a temporary setback, that it would make me stronger and that I had to fight through it. Looking back, I think overcoming that injury was a turning point and my journey really took off from there,” she added.
A key player for Dempo Goa Challengers and one of India’s most promising young paddlers, the teenager is now gearing up to test herself against the world’s best, pull off more upsets and carve out a name for herself on the international table tennis circuit.
Goa, India, India
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