"I just went in there with the focus" - Diya Chitale on clean-sweeping Manika Batra in UTT 2024

Diya Chitale in action, Image Credits: UTT
Diya Chitale in action, Image Credits: UTT

Diya Chitale is quickly making a name for herself as one of India’s most promising table tennis talents. In 2019, the Mumbai-born paddler became the youngest female player to claim the prestigious double crown — winning both the under-18 and under-21 national championships.

Since then, she has won countless national and international tournaments and even represented India at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. However, her recent success at the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2024 season with Dabang Delhi TTC has undoubtedly solidified her reputation as a force to reckon with. On September 1, Chitale stunned India’s star paddler Manika Batra with a 3-0 victory in their UTT league match.

Her impressive showing at UTT 2024 wasn’t just about her performance but also about her mindset and ability to handle high-pressure situations. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Chitale reflected on her journey through the season and what it took to defeat Batra in a crucial match.

Diya Chitale’s win against Batra was one of the highlights of the UTT 2024. With her team Dabang Delhi TTC being on the backfoot and needing to win all three games to take the tie, Chitale stayed focused and did the unthinkable, securing a 3-0 victory against Manika Batra to help her team secure an 8-7 win in the tie.

“Of course, we were one-seven down at the start, and I mean, they started really strong. But I think we got back in the mixed doubles. We won two games, and then Sathiyan [Gnanasekaran] won three games. That was the turning point," Chitale said.
"Honestly, I was excited; you know, that okay; now I told myself that I have the chance. It is still five-seven, and I still have a chance and I can have the team win the tie. So I just went in there with the focus that I have to play each and every point. Of course I knew I had to win all three games, but he [Sathiyan] just told me to go out there, not think about the score, and just have fun. Even when we were down, the support from the bench was great, and that really pushed me even more to go out there and just give my best,” she added.

Diya Chitale showed skill and remarkable composure. Her victory over Batra, one of India’s top-ranked paddlers, was a defining moment in her UTT journey.

Chitale’s ability to manage pressure is a key aspect of her success, particularly when she’s tasked with playing the deciding matches in the ties. Reflecting on the pressures of playing in such situations, she said:

“I think I'm prepared for it, and I know that if it comes to it, it's going to boil down to the last match. The pressure is a lot when you go into the match, but it's how you handle the pressure and play in that situation. So I'm happy that I am able to keep calm and convert the matches."

“The retention [rule] also makes sense, but it all depends on the teams” - Diya Chitale on the unique retention structure of UTT

Unlike the IPL and many other sporting leagues, Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) allows only one player retention spot per team. Diya Chitale shared her thoughts on this structure, acknowledging both its challenges and benefits.

“I mean, it's like we have different foreign players coming in every year, and also maybe with the Indian ranking that's also changing every year. The retention [rule] also makes sense, but it all depends on the teams. If they retain two players, it’s always good to keep the loyalty,” Diya explained in the same interview.

The presence of foreign players has always proven beneficial, one such example being Chitale’s teammate Orawan Paranang of Thailand. Chitale spoke highly of Orawan’s impact, not just as a player but as a mentor and friend.

“I think she is an amazing person, you know, off the court as well. She’s really very jolly and always smiling, and that’s really helped me, you know, to stay happy. Whenever the pressure is there, she always makes some jokes, and it’s fun to be with her. I think she has an amazing game; she’s really very stable. The way she changes the pace and the way she played yesterday against Bernie [Bernadette Szocs], I think, was amazing. So, of course, there’s a lot to learn from her,” Chitale said.

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Edited by Parag Jain
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