India Can Win More Table Tennis Medals at Asian Games 2026, Says Coach Sourav Chakraborty

India’s national Table Tennis coach Sourav Chakraborty has expressed confidence that the country can significantly improve its medal tally at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Reflecting on India’s performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Chakraborty admitted the team fell short of its potential despite coming close to multiple podium finishes.

India returned from the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou with a single bronze medal, won by the women’s doubles pair of Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee. However, Chakraborty believes the team was capable of securing at least two more medals.

“At the last Asian Games, we won one medal, but I believe we missed out on at least two more. This time, I hope we can convert those missed opportunities into medals,” Chakraborty said.

Asian Games 2026 Becomes Major Target for Indian Table Tennis

With just over a month remaining before the Asian Games begin, India’s table tennis players are using Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 and the upcoming Commonwealth Championships as key preparation events.

Chakraborty, who is serving as head coach of Ahmedabad APL Pipers in UTT for the first time, has had the opportunity to closely monitor several members of India’s Asian Games squad.

The national coach believes the current Indian squad is stronger and more balanced than the one that competed in Hangzhou.

India’s men’s and women’s doubles combinations have improved significantly, while several players are currently enjoying strong international rankings and consistent performances.

Young Stars Give India Fresh Hope

One of the biggest positives for Indian table tennis ahead of the Asian Games is the emergence of young talents such as Payas Jain and Syndrela Das.

Both players are expected to make their Asian Games debut and have impressed throughout the ongoing UTT season.

Chakraborty reserved special praise for the youngsters and highlighted their professionalism and hunger for success.

“Payas has been playing really well. Syndrela has been magical. The way she’s performed has been fantastic. This is a very young Indian team and I believe this group can go a long way,” he said.

UTT Helping Indian Players Compete at World-Class Level

The Indian coach also credited Ultimate Table Tennis for transforming the country’s table tennis landscape. According to him, UTT provides Indian players with a unique opportunity to compete alongside some of the world’s top players.

He described UTT as one of the finest table tennis leagues globally and praised its role in developing both established stars and young talents.

The mixed-team format used in UTT has gained even greater significance after the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) confirmed a similar format for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Chakraborty believes India’s balanced squad could benefit greatly from the format because of the country’s strength in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.

Commonwealth Championships to Serve as Final Preparation

Before heading to the Asian Games, the Indian team will participate in the Commonwealth Championships beginning on July 27. The tournament will be followed by a preparatory camp where players will spend nearly a month training together.

Chakraborty revealed that detailed planning with the national squad will begin once the players assemble after their UTT commitments.

He remains optimistic that India’s preparation, combined with the current form of the players, can result in the country’s strongest-ever Asian Games table tennis campaign.

Can India Achieve Its Best-Ever Asian Games Performance?

India’s table tennis standards have risen significantly in recent years, with players regularly challenging some of the world’s best competitors. With experienced performers, promising youngsters, and improved doubles partnerships, expectations are higher than ever.

While competition from traditional Asian powerhouses such as China, Japan, and South Korea remains intense, Chakraborty believes India now possesses the depth and balance needed to challenge for multiple medals.

If the team can convert the narrow defeats that hurt them in Hangzhou into victories in Aichi-Nagoya, India could be set for a historic Asian Games performance in table tennis.