Bhutanese Table Tennis Players delivers Promising Peformance at Indian Table Tennis League

While the Bhutanese team faced strong opposition, their performance showcased tremendous growth and promise. In the Men’s Singles category, Leki Dorji encountered a tough opening-round match against Yuwan of NTTA, but his determination was evident throughout the match. His teammate, Karma Wangdi, began strongly by winning the first set against Umar Khan of the Panthers but, despite his best efforts, eventually lost 1-3 after three consecutive set losses. Both players displayed resilience, setting a strong foundation for future tournaments.

In the Women’s Singles, Sonam Choki Tamang demonstrated admirable tenacity in her first-round match against Shreya Agarwal of ITTA. In a gripping five-set contest, she narrowly lost 2-3, showing incredible fighting spirit. In another match against Jamini Jeol of ITTA, Sonam won one set but lost the match 1-3. This match was listed twice in official records, indicating a possible scheduling error. Regardless, Sonam’s performance underscored her growing potential in the sport.

The Open Doubles event brought more success for the Bhutanese players. The pairing of Sonam Choki Tamang and Sonam Dema triumphed in their first-round match against Purusharth and Kabir (ITTA) with a 3-1 victory. They followed it up with a thrilling 3-2 win over Hemant and Sumit (ITTA) in the second round, proving their exceptional teamwork. While they were eventually eliminated in the quarterfinals by Shagun and Hemant of Phoenix/Delhi Academy, losing in straight sets, their performance was a testament to their skill and determination.

In the Men’s Open Doubles, Leki Dorji and Karma Wangdi made an impressive start by defeating Ayushi and Sunhani (ITTA) 3-0 in the first round. Though they couldn’t maintain their momentum in the second round and lost 0-3 to Davindar Pal and Nitin Narang from Uttar Pradesh, their strong opening round performance was encouraging.

In the Mixed Doubles, Leki Dorji and Sonam Choki Tamang formed a formidable partnership. They secured a 3-1 victory over Nehru Mehta and Suraj Kapri (ITTA) in the opening round and followed it with a commanding 3-0 win against Pehel and Purusharth. Their run ended in the semifinals with a 0-3 loss to Vaishnavi and Adhrit of Uttar Pradesh in a closely contested third set, but their overall performance earned them the 2nd runner-up position—an incredible achievement. Another mixed pair, Karma Wangdi and Sonam Dema, displayed great resilience, though they lost 1-3 in the first round to Akansha and Rajeev of ITTA.