India’s teenage rising table tennis star Diya Chitale demonstrated her skills in large measure as she went on to win the gold medal in the U-19 Girls’ Singles event of the WTT Youth Contender Lima 2022. The Mumbai-based Diya scored an authoritative win against Colombia’s Juliana Lozada by a 3-0 (11-6, 11-2, 11-5) margin in 31 minutes at the Villa Deportiva Nacional, Lima, Peru on Saturday.
The 19-year-old Diya, was dominant from the opening rounds and till the winner’s podium she progressed without dropping a game.
The high-point of her success was her fluent victory against Laura Watanabe of Brazil, the current South American Youth Champion in the quarter-finals. Diya completed a quick 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 win in a little over 30 minutes. In the penultimate round, Diya defeated Brianna Burgos of Puerto Rico 11-5, 11-2, 11-5.
“I feel really great, this is the first time that I’ve won a WTT event, so it is very good for my career and I feel very happy. I prepared very well. I focused on each match and had also analysed my opponents that is why I played so well,” a jubilant Diya said.
After winning multiple Bronze medals in the U-19 Girls events over the last one year, Diya final managed to go the distance this time in Peru to win her first WTT title.
Diya has also been taking giant strides in the Women category on the Indian National circuit. In the recently concluded National season, Diya ended as India Rank 3 in the women category, thereby being eligible for selection to the Commonwealth Games team. Her National circuit performance includes winning the Gold medal in the National Ranking Tournament in Indore in January 2022 – her first ever women title at age 18. In the National Championships in Shillong in April 2022, Diya won the Bronze medal in the Women Doubles event and the Silver medal in the Women Team event. In recognition of her consistent performance, she was also awarded the Best Junior player participating at the Senior Nationals.
Diya has been selected as one of the 8 probables for the Commonwealth Games team. If this young talented Mumbai player gets selected in the Commonwealth Games team, it will provide her the perfect exposure to get groomed for the future.