Bengaluru paddler Yashaswini Ghorpade eyes strong build-up for 2026 Asian Games
Bengaluru paddler Yashaswini Ghorpade has begun her preparation for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, following her recent inclusion in the Indian national table tennis squad. The 21-year-old athlete will return to Bengaluru to undergo three weeks of intensive training at the UTT-Skies High Performance Centre under her long-time coach Anshuman Roy, ahead of the tournament which begins on September 20.
Yashaswini secured her spot in the national team last week, achieving her primary target set at the start of the 2025 season. She now has a three-month window to sharpen her skills before the table tennis events commence at Sky Hall Toyota in Japan.
To build momentum, Yashaswini is scheduled to compete in several international and national tournaments. Her immediate schedule includes the United States Smash, starting this Friday, followed by the Europe Smash in Sweden this August. She will also participate in the Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi and various domestic national ranking events to gain match practice.
"Asian players are always strong in table tennis. With nations like China, Korea, Japan, and others in the fray, I need to be at my best," Yashaswini said, noting that her ultimate goal is to make a mark in her first multi-sport event.
Following her tournament in the United States, Yashaswini will travel to Bengaluru to train. Her coach of 14 years, Anshuman Roy, has drafted preparation plans focusing on match tactics, physical fitness, and mental readiness. Roy is currently in financial discussions to bring sparring partners from Malaysia or Korea to Bengaluru to help her prepare for the playing styles she will face in Japan.
"There are no drastic changes needed in her game, but we will work on some match tactics," Roy said. He will also travel with her for the national ranking tournaments in August.
Though she is 21, Yashaswini brings valuable international experience to her preparation. She secured a silver medal at the WTT Feeder Cappadocia in Turkey in March and made her World Team Table Tennis Championship debut in London during April and May.
