Divija Paul Wins U13 Singles Crown at WTT Chennai 2026 Event
Divija Paul Wins Second WTT Youth Contender Singles Gold with Chennai U13 Title
Assam’s Divija Paul added another international title to her growing table tennis record after winning the Under-13 (U13) Singles competition at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender Chennai 2026. The 12-year-old, who represents Adani Sportsline’s ‘Garv Hai’ athlete programme, also reached the semi-finals of the Under-15 (U15) Mixed Doubles event, competing against players in an older age group.
The tournament took place from 23 to 26 October 2026. Divija’s Chennai victory was her second WTT Youth Contender singles gold medal in recent weeks, following her success at Puerto Princesa in the Philippines. Ranked No. 1 in India in the U13 category, she has continued to collect titles at national and international competitions.
The result was secured in the final on 24 October, when Divija defeated third seed Sreosree Chakraborty 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8 to claim the girls’ U13 crown. She entered the final as the top seed. Her route to the title included a five-game semi-final against 13th seed Pehel Gupta, which she won 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9.
The official tournament report lists Divija as an 11-year-old, a detail that places her achievement in perspective. Divija was competing against players in her own age group while also taking part in the U15 mixed doubles competition.
Chennai hosted a wider international table tennis programme during the same period. The WTT Youth Contender ran from 23 to 26 October at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, followed by the WTT Feeder Series from 28 October to 1 November. The combined events attracted 334 players from 13 countries. Of these, 210 entered the Youth Contender, and 124 took part in the Feeder competition.
The Chennai competition was part of the international WTT Youth Series, which gives young table tennis players opportunities to compete against opponents from different countries. According to the 2026 WTT Youth Series Handbook, the Youth Contender category includes boys’ and girls’ singles competitions in five age groups: U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19. Mixed doubles events are held in the U15 and U19 categories.
The age-based structure allows players to gain experience against competitors of a similar age and gradually move into higher categories. For Divija Paul, reaching the U15 mixed doubles semi-finals while winning the U13 singles title offered experience in a more demanding age group.
Divija’s latest result follows a series of strong performances in India and overseas. Before Chennai, Divija won the U13 Singles gold at the WTT Youth Contender in Puerto Princesa, Philippines. She had also secured U11 and U13 gold medals at WTT Youth Contender events in Vadodara in 2025 and 2026.
Divija Paul domestic record includes a U13 singles title at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championship in Delhi in 2025. She also won the U13 Doubles title at the UTT National Table Tennis Championship in Gandhidham, Gujarat, in the same year.
Earlier in October 2026, she returned to Panchkula, where Divija Paul had won her first national title, and collected a bronze medal in the U13 Girls category at the National Ranking Table Tennis Championship. The competition was held from 6 to 13 October. The bronze added another domestic medal before her trip to Chennai.
Panchkula has a special place in her sporting career. Divija won her first national title there in the U11 category in 2023. She started playing table tennis at the age of six. Her early interest in the sport gradually developed into a serious sporting ambition.
Divija Paul is a Class VII student at Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) Silchar in Assam. Managing school studies alongside national and international competitions requires careful planning, particularly when tournaments involve travel and several days of matches.
Divija’s progress also comes at a time when Indian table tennis is giving greater attention to junior competitions. The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), established in 1926, oversees the sport’s organised development in the country. Its national ranking competitions provide players with opportunities to test themselves against competitors from different states and age groups.
The TTFI’s national ranking calendar includes separate competitions for U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19 players. Results at these events help track the progress of young players as they move through the junior categories. Divija’s success in national ranking competitions has helped establish her position among India’s leading young female players.
Divija’s development has also received support from Adani Sportsline through its ‘Garv Hai’ initiative. The company began supporting Divija in September 2026. The assistance covers table tennis equipment, travel for national and international tournaments, and strength and conditioning training.
These areas can place a financial burden on families whose children compete regularly. International tournaments require travel, accommodation and access to suitable sporting equipment. Physical training also becomes increasingly important as young players face longer competitions and stronger opponents.
Speaking after Divija’s Chennai victory, Divija credited the support for giving her and her family greater confidence as she continues to compete.
“Winning in Chennai while wearing the ‘Garv Hai’ jersey is a moment I will always remember. When Adani Sportsline backed me, it felt like someone truly believed I could win. Every time I step up to the table, that belief steps up with me. I would like to thank them for standing with me and my family on this journey. My focus now shifts to the upcoming Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Championship in Jalandhar,” said Divija.
Her next assignment is expected to provide another opportunity to compete at the national level. The Jalandhar competition will follow a busy period that has already included the Panchkula National Ranking Championship and two international singles titles.
Divija has set herself the long-term target of winning an Olympic gold medal for India. She has several years of junior competition ahead before reaching the senior international level. Her results in Chennai and the Philippines give her a strong record at this stage of her career, although progress in table tennis will depend on continued training, competition experience and performance against increasingly difficult opponents.
For Assam, her performances also bring attention to a young player developing her career away from India’s traditional table tennis centres. With her studies at KVS Silchar continuing alongside her sporting commitments, Divija now faces the task of maintaining her progress as she moves towards the next stage of competition.
Her Chennai title adds another national and international achievement to a career that began with a table tennis racket at the age of six. The Olympic goal remains a long-term ambition, while her immediate attention is on the upcoming competition in Jalandhar.
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