New Delhi, August 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Rising Indian table tennis players Syndrela Das and Payas Jain have been included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Scheme, as India steps up efforts to build its next generation of paddlers ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics.
The 17-year-old Syndrela, who hails from Kolkata, earned her place in the development programme after producing a series of strong international performances.
She won silver in the Girls’ Doubles and bronze in the Girls’ Singles at the Asian Youth Championships in Thailand earlier this year.
Syndrela had also enjoyed a successful 2023 season, winning National Ranking age-group titles in the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 singles categories. She moved into the senior national circuit in 2025.
Earlier this year, TOPS created a dedicated group for young table tennis players in the 14-17 age category to strengthen India’s talent pool with an eye on the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics. Syndrela was part of that group before her recent performances earned her inclusion in the TOPS Development Scheme.
She joins fellow Indian paddlers Payas Jain and Ankur Bhattacharjee in the scheme. Payas and Ankur are also set to partner in the men’s doubles event.
Syndrela has meanwhile been named in India’s 10-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games. The women’s team comprises Sreeja Akula, Diya Chitale, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela.
The men’s squad features Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar, Harmeet Desai and Payas Jain.
In another development, India’s top-ranked table tennis player Manika Batra has received approval from the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) for financial assistance to compete in WTT Contender tournaments in Bulgaria and Kazakhstan in September.
The latest additions to the TOPS Development Scheme underline the emphasis on identifying and supporting young Indian table tennis talent as the country prepares for major international competitions over the coming decade.
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