Overview
- Dronacharya awardee Sandeep Gupta said India’s talent pool looks strong despite the recent retirement of stalwart Sharath Kamal.
- The National Ranking Table Tennis Championship returned to Delhi at Thyagaraj Stadium after more than a decade, drawing about 3,000 entries.
- Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the highest-ever rewards for medalists—₹7 crore, ₹5 crore, and ₹3 crore for Olympic gold, silver, and bronze, and ₹3 crore, ₹2 crore, and ₹1 crore for Commonwealth medals.
- Gupta cited leading names Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Harmeet Desai, and Ankur Bhattacharya, noting recent wins over Japan and competitive spells against China.
- He said an Olympic medal remains a target as juniors such as Payas Jain strengthen the pipeline.