India’s highest-ranked athlete in the ITTF world rankings and UTT Season 2 champion, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, scaled new heights after climbing four spots to jump from WR. 28 to WR. 24 for the month of May.

This is the first time Sathiyan, or in fact any Indian paddler, has made it into the top 25 in the world. In an exclusive with UTT, Sathiyan said, “I am really happy with the way I am playing, and I am moving in the right direction.”

Sathiyan’s recent form has earned him a place in the ITTF World Cup to be played in Chengdu, China, later this year. His feats, include a sixth-place finish in the Asian Championships, and a round of 32 finish at the recently concluded World Table Tennis Championships.

This has all been part of Sathiyan’s larger plan to break into the top 15 by the end of this year.

“I’ve started to beat world class players more frequently. I still feel the best is yet to come and I’m marching towards my goal of top 15 by the end of this year,” said Sathiyan.

Anyone who has followed the Dabang Smashers’ star over the past two seasons of the UTT will not be surprised with his rise in form. From being a ‘giant-slayer’ in season 1 to the captain of the winning team and an undefeated record in the mixed doubles in Season 2, Sathiyan has systematically bettered himself over the years and is coming into peak form.

The Asian and Commonwealth Bronze medallist signed off saying, “I am super happy to be the first Indian to be in the top 25, but I feel the best is yet to come!”