The WTT Youth Contender Vadodara, a part of the WTT Youth Series, will be played in India for the first time from 25th February to 1st March 2025 at the Sama Indoor Sports Complex. A total of 165 Indian players will compete across 12 categories, alongside participants from eight countries, all vying for the top prize.

With the global reach of table tennis increasingly on the rise, the WTT Youth Contender Vadodara 2025 presents the perfect opportunity for young players to cement their positions in their respective categories. The spotlight will be on Vadodara, which is hosting the Youth Contender for the first time, setting the tone for future marquee events.

“It is an absolute honor to be here for the first-ever WTT Youth Contender in India. Hosting this event in Vadodara is a significant milestone for World Table Tennis. India has a high number of players who travel around the world for the Youth Series, with several ranked in the world’s top 10. It is only right that they get the opportunity to compete in their own home country, and this event is a great opportunity for more players and coaches to experience competition on this scale,” said Tiago Viegas, Youth Series Senior Manager, WTT.

“India is deploying its best players at home, and as part of the Indian contingent, our goal is to win everything at this historic event. The intention is to showcase our best abilities at the first-ever WTT Youth Contender in India. The potential of Indian players in the junior and youth categories will be on full display, and I wish all the players the best of luck in setting the tone for future events in India,” said Massimo Constantini, Foreign Expert, Table Tennis Federation of India. 

The event kicks off with the U/17 and U/13 boys’ and girls’ categories on the first day, where Divyanshi Bhowmick and Abhinand Prathivadi start as favorites. Big names like Ankur Bhattacharjee, Sayali Wani, and Divyanshi Bhowmick will take the court to showcase their talent and prove their dominance in their respective categories, while other talented players such as Syndrela Das, Taneesha Kotecha, and Sarthak Arya look to challenge the favorites. The Indian stars will also face tough competition from players like Choi Jiwook (WR 13 – Korea), Rohan Dani (England), and Taavi Samaraveera (Sri Lanka), who will be competing in their respective events.

“It is a momentous occasion as WTT has honored us with the opportunity to host the WTT Youth Contender Vadodara 2025. This is a significant event for TTAB and a great opportunity for the young generation of Indian table tennis players to showcase their talent on an international platform,” said Smt. Jayaben Thakkar, Ex Member of Parliament & President, Table Tennis Association of Vadodara.

“Vadodara is known as the cultural capital of Gujarat, and welcoming players and officials from over eight countries is an immense honor. This marks the first time that the WTT Youth Series will be held in Vadodara, India. We thank WTT for placing their faith in Vadodara and the TTAB,” said Hemang Joshi, Vice President, Table Tennis Association of Vadodara.

Local contender Pratha Pawar will look to make the most of this opportunity in the U/15 girls’ category, as the WTT Youth Contender Vadodara will be held in her home state, garnering immense local support.
 

Complete Fixtures:

26th February 2025:
    • U/17 Boys and Girls: Round 1 to Round of 16
    • U/13 Boys and Girls: Round 1 to Round of 16

27th February 2025:
    • U/15 Mixed Doubles: Round of 32 to Semi-Finals
    • U/19 Mixed Doubles: Round of 16 to Semi-Finals
    • U/17 Boys and Girls: Quarter-Finals to Finals
    • U/13 Boys and Girls: Quarter-Finals to Finals

28th February 2025:
    • U/15 Boys and Girls: Round 1 to Round 3
    • U/19 Boys and Girls: Round 1 to Round 3
    • U/11 Boys and Girls: Round 1 to Round 3
    • U/19 Mixed Doubles: Finals
    • U/15 Mixed Doubles: Finals

1st March 2025:
    • U/15 Boys and Girls: Round of 32 to Finals
    • U/19 Boys and Girls: Round of 32 to Finals
    • U/11 Boys and Girls: Quarter-Finals to Finals