In the flicker of a high-speed rally, where margins are blurred by milliseconds, Diya Chitale has found clarity — not just about the direction of the ball, but of her career.

At just 21, and in a quiet yet confident manner, the Mumbai-born paddler is scripting her rise in a sport that has often been dominated by senior stalwarts.

But Diya’s ambitions stretch far beyond national championships or the occasional international upset.

Scroll through her Instagram account and you’ll spot a mention of her vision: “Olympics 2028.”

It is not a mere social media display — it is a roadmap she has chalked out for herself.

“Earlier, I had the Paris Olympics in my bio,” she admits, “but I narrowly missed out on that. So, of course, now the goal is the 2028 LA Olympics. An Olympic medal is the ultimate target.”

There’s no bitterness in her voice — just a patient hunger. A quiet knowing that her best is yet to come.

Fresh off her WTT Contender title win in Tunisia, Diya Chitale sat down with Read for an exclusive interview, where she spoke about her breakthrough moment, long-term goals, and the road ahead.

Tunisia breakthrough

For now, though, the journey is being measured one tournament at a time.

At the WTT Contender in Tunisia, Diya had what she calls her “biggest” week on the circuit so far. She walked away with a mixed doubles title — her first at a WTT Contender — and a significant singles scalp to boot.

Partnering with Manush Shah, Diya beat a strong Japanese pair in the final — a result that didn’t just add silverware, but more importantly, instilled belief.

“It feels very special. It was our first-ever final at a WTT Contender. We had played a few semis before, but always lost to top pairs. This time we were really determined to give it our best — and we are so glad we could win.”

That determination did not appear out of thin air. The pairing, she explains, started off casually in October 2023, but quickly turned serious once they realised their games clicked.

“We’ve known each other for quite some time, and our bonding has become stronger with each tournament. Now we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Even when one of us is off, the other steps up.”

She grins while talking about their energy on the court. There is real joy there — not just in winning, but in the way they play.

“We both have a very aggressive style. And we cheer a lot — I think that helps us pump each other up and stay sharp through the match.”

Singles high

Her singles campaign in Tunisia was just as eventful. Diya had to fight through three intense qualifiers, including one cliffhanger that came down to the final points.

“In the last qualification round, I won a really close match, and that gave me confidence for my upcoming matches.”

Then came the headline moment: a 3-2 win over Manika Batra, India’s highest-ranked woman paddler. For Diya, the match carried personal significance.

“She has been an icon for women’s table tennis players in India in recent times. I was down 1-2, but I’m happy I could fight back and win.”

There is clear admiration in her tone, but also a quiet assertion.

Her run ended in the next round, against Germany’s Sabine Winter, but even in that loss, there was reflection.

“I started strong, but I lost momentum. The pressure of winning got to me, and I couldn’t convert. But I’ve learnt the importance of staying in the present. I’ll be better prepared next time.”

She pauses thoughtfully — not frustrated, just honest. Every win, every stumble, is a note in her mental playbook.

Hobby – habit – hustle

Diya’s story began in Mumbai, in the kind of setting many athletes start from — a sport that was played “just for fun.”

But her first tournament lit a spark.

“It was just a hobby, but I won a bronze in my first-ever tournament. And then in 2014, I won silver at the Nationals in the under-12 category. That’s when it became a passion.”

By the time she was in her teens, she was training abroad, collecting national titles, and entering that tricky transition from junior promise to senior pressure.

It wasn’t always smooth. She points to 2019 — a year filled with losses — as a test of belief.

“Even now, when I’m going through a low phase, I think of 2019. It gave me the confidence that if I just keep going, things will turn around.”

It helps that she is never been alone in that fight. Her family, she says, has always been her emotional anchor.

“They’ve always believed in me — even when I didn’t. They’ve never pressured me to just win. They just say, ‘Try your best. Enjoy the game.’ That makes a huge difference.”

She smiles, clearly grateful. That kind of trust is rare, and often, it’s what keeps athletes going when the results don’t.

The extra 1%

For Diya, improvement isn’t just about what happens on the table.

She works closely with mental trainer Mugdha Bavare and fitness coach Yogesh Kanchgar to stay dialed in — physically and emotionally.

“Mental and physical preparation is huge in table tennis. I work on strength and endurance to sustain long match days. And agility, because the game is so fast.”

But it’s the mind, she says, that makes the biggest difference — especially in matches that swing on just a couple of points.

“Mental training is intangible, but so important. To stay calm in high-pressure situations… that can make the difference between winning and losing.”

She credits a lot of her mental development to the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league, not just for the high-level matches, but the training environment.

“I was following UTT from the first season. I was really happy when I finally got to play. It gave me the chance to not only play against top foreign players but to train with them as teammates.”

The exposure, she says, broke mental blocks.

“When you beat foreign players here, it breaks the myth that they’re untouchable. It gives us belief. Last year I had a very good season — we won silver with my team. Playing under pressure helped.”

Eyes on LA Olympics

For now, though, everything circles back to that line in her Instagram bio — Olympics 2028. It is not a decorative. It is the north star.

“There are more event categories available now, so that helps. But ever since I started playing table tennis at a high level, I’ve wanted to win a medal for India at the Olympics. That’s the dream.”

She doesn’t say it with wide-eyed idealism — she says it like someone who knows the grind it’ll take. There’s the Asian Games 2026 before that. Plenty more WTT battles. More wins, more lessons.

But she is in no rush. She is just playing her game. One rally at a time.

“Dream big. Give it your best. Don’t look for shortcuts or fast results,” she says, her voice steady. “You will get results if you keep trying and enjoy the process.”

She leans back slightly, a smile tugging at her lips — as if remembering everything it took to get here, and everything that is still to come.