What once seemed like an improbable task just four months ago has now resulted in one of the most thrilling breakthroughs for Indian table tennis.

India’s young mixed doubles pair of Diya Chitale and Manush Shah were completely outplayed by the deceptive tactics of Japan’s Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto in the quarterfinals of the World TT Star Contender in Doha back in January, suffering a 0-3 defeat.

But just three months later, showcasing their remarkable transformation, Diya and Manush turned the tables in their maiden final in the international circuit at the WTT Contender Tunis in April. They stunned the same Japanese duo - currently ranked World No. 6 - in a hard-fought match to claim their first-ever title as a pair.

What fuelled this remarkable turnaround? Meticulous planning, strong on-court chemistry, and an aggressive style of play. “We were really well-prepared for the match. And our bonding was really very good,” Diya told Sports Now.

“It feels very special winning the title. It was our first-ever final that we reached at a WTT Contender event,” she added.

This victory marks just the second-ever title for an Indian mixed doubles pair, following the historic win by Manika Batra and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in Budapest four years ago.

Diya, from Mumbai, and Manush, from Vadodara, joined forces in October 2023, just months after Indian table tennis made history at the continental showpiece, with Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee clinching India’s first-ever doubles medal at the continental showpiece.

Their partnership clicked instantly. In their debut event - the WTT Contender in Muscat - they reached the quarterfinals. This year, they showcased remarkable consistency, advancing to the quarterfinals in their first three events before making a semifinal run at the WTT Star Contender in Chennai.

Their gradual transformation culminated in their biggest achievement on the circuit - reaching their first final and winning the WTT Contender Tunis.

“We had played a few semifinals before but had always lost to a few top pairs. But this time we were really determined to give it our best and try to win the gold medal, and we are very glad that we could win against such a strong Japanese pair,” said Diya.

En route to the final, Diya and Manush pulled off a major upset by stunning Sweden’s Paris 2024 silver medallist Kristian Karlsson and Christina Källberg in the quarterfinals. They followed it up with a commanding 3-0 win over local favourites - Tunisia’s Wassim Essid and Egypt’s Hana Goda - in the semifinals.

However, Diya said, "The Japanese pair in the finals were the toughest because we had played against them recently and lost 0-3. But this time we were very happy we could turn it around."

In January, both Diya and Manush clinched the men's and women's singles gold at the National Championships in Surat, and they now hold the distinction of being the highest-ranked Indian mixed doubles pair in the world, currently placed at No. 10.

Speaking about their partnership, Diya said, “We have known each other for quite some time, and our bonding has become stronger with each tournament.”

“We have also become akin with each other’s weaknesses and strengths, and we try to adapt to each other’s games and play. Even when one of us is not playing well, the other one steps up and tries to support the other,” she said, adding, “We both have a very aggressive style of play. We also cheer ourselves up a lot on the court, and I think that helps us to pump each other up.”

Diya's rise across both disciplines has been phenomenal. At the National Championships earlier this year, she pulled off a stunning comeback win over Sreeja Akula - the then highest-ranked Indian in international women’s singles. Trailing 0-2, Diya bounced back to win three consecutive games and clinch the title.

Diya’s sharp game-reading ability and analytical mindset proved crucial in turning the tide. Recalling how she won the final, she said, “I have played against Sreeja many times in the past, and we know each other’s game very well. It has always been a very close match with her. But this time in the finals, even though I was 0-2 down, I fought back really well and tried to get back into my zone and play my aggressive game. Even though in the end the match became very, very close, I am very happy that I could hold my nerves and convert the match.”

As she made a strong statement with her performance, Diya became the highest-valued Indian paddler at the UTT auction last month, with Dabang Delhi winning an intense bidding war to retain her for Rs 14.1 lakh for the forthcoming edition, starting on May 29 in Ahmedabad.

Being the highest-valued player ahead of stars like Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal brings added expectations. However, the 21-year-old is determined to give her best.

“Being the highest-valued player among some of the best Indian players was definitely a huge boost to my confidence. It adds to my belief that I am on the right path and my hard work is paying off. However, this also puts a little more responsibility on me to perform well for the team. But I am very excited to go out there and give my best all over again,” said Diya.

She credited her UTT experience as crucial in her transition to the highest level. “UTT has provided a great platform for young players like me to get a chance to play against some of the best foreign and senior Indian players and also to practise with them as teammates."

In the last season, Diya dazzled to take her team to the final, where they settled for the silver medal

Every player has a role model, and for Diya, it’s Germany’s four-time Olympic medalist Timo Boll. His work ethics and discipline have had a significant impact on her.

“During my training stints in Germany, I was fortunate to see the way Timo Boll used to go about his training. I was amazed to see the kind of humble person that he is when I met him in Germany, and the way he went about his training - the rigour, the discipline—all this influenced me a lot, and I have tried to imbibe that in my own self,” said Diya.

Over the last few years, Indian table tennis has made significant gains, with the country securing the first-ever women’s doubles title at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023 and then at the Asian Championships. And for the first time ever, in 2024, both the Indian men’s and women’s teams qualified for the Olympics, with the women’s team even achieving the historic feat of reaching the knockout stages.

“It is only a matter of time now that we will win a medal at the Olympics. There are more event categories available now for the next Olympics, so that really helps us," uttered Diya.

While Diya's immediate focus is on performing well at the World Table Tennis Championships, scheduled for May 17-25 in Doha, followed by the Asian Games next year, her long-term goal is clear: to win an Olympic medal for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“Earlier, I was aiming for the Paris Olympics, but I narrowly missed out. So, now the focus is on the 2028 LA Olympics,” said Diya, whose Paris dream was dashed due to a left foot injury just as the TTFI was finalising the Indian team.

Table tennis will feature six categories at LA28, and Diya, who trains under Shin Min Sung in South Korea, is confident of her prospects. “I have always wanted to win a medal for India at the Olympic Games. Of course, now I am going to take it step by step with the Asian Games coming up next year, but an Olympic medal is definitely the ultimate target.”

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