A year ago, the Asian Games would have been a distant milestone for Yashaswini Ghorpade. Now, after winning her maiden Senior Nationals title and following it up with Commonwealth gold, the Bengaluru-trained paddler is preparing for her first appearance at the continental event, to be held in Japan from today.
The Commonwealth final, where she defeated Sreeja Akula, was another step in a season that has given Ghorpade plenty of big-match experience. Yet, when she looks back at the past few months, she highlights something less tangible than the titles: a better reading of the game. “My understanding of the game has much improved. I understand different strategies and playing styles better and I’m also more comfortable adapting to different opponents,” the young champion notes, reflecting on the tactical growth that has propelled her to India’s No 1 spot and a prominent place on the international stage at World No 75. Such adaptability could prove useful in Japan, where Ghorpade will encounter conditions that are different from what she is used to in India. The tables are expected to be slower and offer less spin, requiring players to make adjustments to their pace and strokes. “I’ve been working on adapting my game to different conditions during training. The focus is on being comfortable with the pace of the table and making the right adjustments during the match,” she shares.
Ghorpade also has an unusual weapon in her game. Her use of long-pimpled rubber allows her to change the nature of the ball during a rally. Against players accustomed to a more conventional attacking game, the variation can make her harder to read. “The long pimpled rubber gives me more variation in my game and allows me to create different kinds of shots and changes in the ball. The variation is an important part of my style,” she reveals.
Her preparation for this stage began much closer to home. The 21-year-old started playing table tennis at a young age and spent much of her formative years training and competing in the city. The regular competition among India’s leading young paddlers also gave her a chance to repeatedly test herself against different styles. She attributes this development to her coach, Anshuman Roy, whose mentorship since her early training days has played a defining role in her career.
Fast-forward to the Asian Games, the tournament will bring a different scale of competition. Ghorpade is expecting the first match to test her ability to remain composed while quickly figuring out both the environment and the player on the other side of the table. “The biggest test will be staying composed and adapting quickly to the conditions and the opponent,” she says. Having already competed in major tourneys, she wants to keep the occasion from becoming a distraction and stay focused on the game in front of her.
The journey has also required a balancing act, though away from the table. Ghorpade was completing her final year of BCom while training and travelling for tournaments. Classes and coursework had to fit around an increasingly demanding sporting calendar. She recalls, “It was definitely about managing my time well. I had to balance my academics with training and tournaments, so a proper routine helped manage both.”
The Commonwealth title has given her confidence, but Ghorpade is not carrying it into the Asian Games as a guarantee of anything. She sees Japan as fresh competition, with the quality of the field demanding a match-by-match mindset. “There are some of the best players in Asia, so I’m focusing on preparing well and taking each match as it comes,” she smiles, confidence evident in her voice.