Diya’s ultimate goal: win a medal for India at the Olympic Games

• Diya Chitale, a 22-year-old Indian table tennis player, has achieved a double crown at the Senior National table tennis championship in Surat.

• Despite having won five age-group National championships, the National champion title has eluded her for over a decade.

• Despite her success, she acknowledges the long way to go and emphasizes the importance of one step at a time.

• Despite her success, Diya has struggled to cross the quarterfinal hurdle in all her previous Senior Nationals.

• Her coach, Sachin Shetty, and former India coach Peter Engel and Korean coach Shin Min Sung have been instrumental in her career.

• Diya’s come-from-behind win against World No. 21 Sreeja showcased her skills, strength, stamina, and agility.

• The team’s training sessions were monitored closely by Sachin and assistant coach Sudhir Jadhav, and parents Parag and Reshma took care of every aspect off the table.

• After clinching the doubles title, Diya also won a singles summit clash against Sreeja.

• With this milestone, Diya now has the space to focus on larger ambitions, including winning a medal for India at the Olympic Games.