Roger Federer is coming back to US Open four years after retirement, set for two blockbuster matches US Open confirmed Roger Federer's return on Sunday, and he will be joined by three other tennis greats Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:25:16 IST Written by Aratrick Mondal Prefer HTon Google Share
Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:09:14 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
After seventh seed Victor Lai fell in three games to ninth seed Alex Lanier at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, the former described the Frenchman as a ‘beast’, lauding his physical fitness and tenacity to go the distance and play the long game
India men’s football team will face Panama in a FIFA international friendly in September, ahead of another friendly against five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. According to a report by The Times of India, the match between India and the North American side is
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace Gianni Infantino, but says he expects a candidate to challenge the Fifa president's leadership in March. Infantino has faced calls to step down after he scrapped a controversial plan to sell off stakes in Fifa's
Abhinandh flicks mental switch
Abhinandh flicks mental switch, lights up Ultimate Table Tennis
It was the grand inaugural match of Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7 in Panaji.
The flashlights were bright sweeping across the indoor arena, and the official UTT anthem blared through the speakers.
Amidst the maddening noise, the lights and the spectacle emerged two paddlers. There was, however, nothing particularly spectacular about the match-up on paper. One was ranked in the 200s, the other inside the world’s top 50.
But what unfolded over the next few minutes was spectacular. P.B. Abhinandh, 18, representing Dempo Goa Challengers, was the challenger with everything to prove. Across the table stood defending champion U Mumba’s Lilian Bardet — a 25-year-old with deep runs in several WTT Pro Tour events and a silver at the 2024 World championships with the French men’s team.
More than that, Bardet, the then World No. 42, is an uber-aggressive player on both wings, with the game and the experience to trouble anyone. Yet, the manner in which Abhinandh, then ranked 210, drubbed him in three straight games underlined the teenager’s growing prowess.
The Chennai-based paddler served smartly, even if there weren’t too many variations. More often than not, he rushed Bardet with quick serves directed either to the extreme backhand or into the body, denying the Frenchman the time to settle into his attacking rhythm.
The defining feature of the victory, however, was Abhinandh’s powerful forehand topspin. Time and again, he overpowered Bardet with ferocious forehand winners from behind the table. Whenever Bardet dropped the ball short or kept his serve short, Abhinandh was quick to pounce, either setting up the point with a deep push that forced Bardet out of position or finishing it outright with a clean winner, all without losing his balance over the table.
The manner of victory thrust the spotlight firmly on the youngster. Under such unforgiving lights, many would have crumbled. Abhinandh didn’t.
He continued to string together wins with the same fearless aggression and sharp tactical awareness, including one over Ankur Bhattacharjee — widely regarded as one of India’s brightest prospects. His unbeaten run ended against Egypt’s Omar Assar, UTT’s highest-ranked player at World No. 35. Yet even in defeat, Abhinandh left a lasting impression.
The teenager starred in his team’s march to the final, where he again defeated Bardet in the opening match. U Mumba came back to win the title, but Abhinandh had done enough over the course of the tournament to be named Season 7’s Player of the League.
Clearly, he is no ordinary talent.
Ranked World No. 13 in the youth (u-19) category, Abhinandh is slowly beginning his transition to the senior circuit. In fact, he has competed in just three senior WTT tournaments this year and is expected to play a few more.
What explains the transformation witnessed during UTT?
Abhinandh says it is the result of a conscious change in approach after several discussions with his coach, Subin Kumar, at the Chennai Achievers TT Academy.
“Compared to the standards at which I played in the WTT Youth and WTT Feeder events, there has definitely been a major difference in my game. Beating players like Bardet, Payas [Jain], Ankur and Youssef [Abdelaziz] doesn’t happen every day. WTT is a different atmosphere, while UTT, played at home, is played over the best-of-three format where anything can happen.
“More importantly, there has been a shift in my mentality. I’m no longer afraid to go for my shots and back myself. I play without fear. Playing with seniors in UTT has certainly been beneficial,” Abhinandh says.
One of the common criticisms of many Indian juniors is that, under the guidance of their coaches, they continue to focus heavily on junior and youth events instead of making an early switch to the senior circuit. This, critics argue, often hinders their development.
Abhinandh, however, disagrees with the notion that youngsters should abandon the junior circuit altogether. According to him, becoming a top-five junior in the world is an achievement of immense value and should not be dismissed. What matters, he believes, is ensuring that the transition to the senior ranks is well-planned.
He cites examples to buttress his arguments. “Take Harimoto Tomokazu for example. He gradually quit playing in juniors after he won the ITTF World juniors at 13. China’s Ma Long was 16 when he won the ITTF World juniors in 2004. Ryuusei Kawakami, who won the World youth u-19 title last year, hasn’t played much in juniors. The shift should be gradual and if it is done abruptly it will affect the confidence of young players.”
The teenager says his aim is to reach the top-4 in the youth section over the next year before shifting his attention to the seniors completely.
Subin Kumar, an ITTF-certified coach who has worked with Abhinandh since the youngster was five years old, says the breakthrough did not come overnight.
Crushing it! A striking feature of Abhinandh’s game is his powerful forehand topspin. | Photo Credit: Butterfly UTT
“I started preparing him for a proper transition to the senior level, and there were plenty of ups and downs. We began working on his transition two years ago, focusing not just on his game but also on the mental and physical aspects. I always knew he was a big-stage player who loves competition, so what he has done in UTT hasn’t come as a surprise to me,” Subin says.
The coach believes the next phase of Abhinandh’s development involves regular exposure to the senior international circuit.
“He hasn’t played many senior WTT tournaments so far, but this year and next year he will compete in more senior events. The idea is that by the time he graduates from the youth circuit, the transition to the senior level will be much smoother. We are still working on his fitness and the mental side of the game,” he adds.
Dempo Goa Challengers coaches Elena Timina and Parag Agrawal, who have watched Abhinandh closely, echo Subin’s assessment. They believe the teenager has the maturity to take responsibility for his own development.
“He has his feet firmly on the ground, listens well and is a very clever boy. He has a clear idea of what he wants to do on the table. The main area he needs to improve is his physical fitness,” Timina says.
Parag believes Abhinandh has struck the right balance between junior and senior competition. “He has planned his junior and senior careers well. He’s playing an adequate number of tournaments in both categories and is very disciplined,” he says.
The next two to three years will be decisive. He possesses the technical ability, tactical awareness and temperament to succeed at the highest level.
A self-confessed admirer of former World No. 1 Fan Zhendong, Abhinandh appears ready to challenge the likes of G. Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah on the domestic and international circuits, besides testing himself against the world’s best paddlers.
If his UTT performance is any indication, he will leave no stone unturned to prime himself for bigger battles, bigger stages and bigger medals.
Published - August 01, 2026 07:50 am IST
Weekend Sport
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: P.B. Abhinandh, PB Abhinandh, Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7, UTT Season 7, P.B. Abhinandh UTT, Indian table tennis, Indian table tennis player, rising table tennis star
Barcelona began their La Liga title defence with a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche on Sunday, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut. The result comea a day after Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-1 with a late winner
10 hours ago
GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 09:43:17 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link St. Louis
10 hours ago
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin may have been vocal in his demand for the current FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down but he has no interest in replacing the under-fire Swiss. Infantino continues to face pressure to leave his position as world football’s governing body chief following
10 hours ago
The French are known for a lot of things but badminton isn’t one of them. Till Sunday, when the country that has never been considered among the top nations even in Europe created history at the 2026 World championships, in more ways than one
10 hours ago
AITA picked them, the government cut them: Why has India’s Asian Games tennis squad been slashed from 12 to 7? The AITA had originally proposed a 12-member squad for for the Asian Games, which included six women. But the list was slashed down to just seven players. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
10 hours ago
Ashton Jeanty injury update: Is the Raiders RB out for the season? Doctor reveals possible diagnoses; ‘best case…’ Ashton Jeanty was injured after attempting a catch, prompting a tense silence at the Raiders’ facility before his teammates gathered and knelt in prayer. Updated on: Aug 24
14 hours ago
When Liverpool came to Newcastle last August, there was utter jubilation as Rio Ngumoha scored a remarkable 100th-minute winner. They scored late again this time around, through Dominik Szoboszlai's 99th-minute penalty, but it felt more like a sense of relief than joy as they rescued a point
14 hours ago
'Is Sydney Taylor playing tonight?' Chicago Sky guard's slow start vs Fever sparks injury concerns Sydney Taylor was in Chicago’s starting lineup when the Sky hosted the Indiana Fever on Sunday night. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:32:12 IST By Ojas Jaiswal Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
14 hours ago
Yet again, the England men's cricket team is picking through the wreckage of a late-night misdemeanour. The latest stain on the game's reputation is a result of pictures of fast bowler Brydon Carse in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers outside a nightspot in Derby
14 hours ago
Jean-Philippe Mateta is arguing the remainder of his Crystal Palace contract is invalid and has taken his case to Fifa. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport the France international has launched an official challenge over the validity of the final 10 months on his Selhurst Park deal
1 days ago
Bangladesh 64: Starc 6-12 & 95: Shanto 31; Starc 4-39, Cummins 3-10, Lyon 3-25 Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets in the match as Australia bounced back from last week's shock defeat by Bangladesh to win the second Test by an innings and 51 runs and draw the series 1-1. Second Test
1 days ago
Jannik Sinner's absence benefits Carlos Alcaraz: What to expect from the US Open champion after his long injury layoff Jannik Sinner is out, but is it premature to call Carlos Alcaraz the US Open favourite after four months away? Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
US Open leaves Stan Wawrinka out in the cold, denying former champion a wild card for his final Grand Slam The US Open has surprisingly denied Stan Wawrinka a wild card for what could be his final appearance at a Grand Slam. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
India faced the Netherlands in their Pool E match of the ongoing FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 on Saturday (August 22) at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen but suffered a 1-3 defeat. India conceded one goal in the third quarter and two in the fourth quarter to go down against the hosts
1 days ago
There is an uncanny resemblance between Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s bronze-medal run at the 2011 BWF World Championships and Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s campaign at the 2026 edition. Jwala and Ashwini faced the second-seeded Cheng Wen-hsing and Chien Yu-chin as early as the
1 days ago
Runs on the board and rival wickets, is the template that Dhananjaya de Silva will chase when the second Test commences at the SSC Ground on Sunday (August 23, 2026). “It’s about putting runs on the board. That’s what India did [at Galle]. For the first two days they batted and got 460 runs
1 days ago
Serena Williams returns to US Open after four years, joins Carlos Alcaraz for mixed doubles Serena Williams will return to the US Open for the first time since 2022, partnering Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles after receiving a wildcard. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
Roberto De Zerbi may have spent close to £400m by the time his Tottenham Hotspur rebuild is complete – but it took just his side's first Premier League game of the season to prove all the money in the world is no guaranteed cure for a losing mentality
1 days ago
Manchester United's fans had endured a bad enough day on the banks of the River Humber when Hull City's stadium announcer gleefully piped up midway through the second half. Two trains back to Manchester from the city centre station had been cancelled
1 days ago
From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:08:49 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
2 days ago
Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:17:58 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Aberdeenshire , Shubhankar Sharma ended his streak of four missed cuts as he made the
2 days ago
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi has been fined for slapping Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan during their side's Major League Soccer (MLS) 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Messi, 39, slapped Sullivan around the back of the head towards the end of the game as he complained the Union player had elbowed him after
2 days ago
Premier League champions Arsenal will start the new season with some of the nightmares of the previous two as their marquee signing, midfielder Bruno Guimarães, is not part of the squad due to an injury. Guimarães signed for £75 million (Rs. 979 crore) from Newcastle United and suffered a knock
2 days ago
Nostalgia may have enveloped Sairaj Bahutule when he entered the SSC Ground. He would have remembered his last Test played at the same venue in 2001, a game India lost. The Indian spin-bowling coach, though, quickly immersed himself in the nets here Friday (August 21, 2026)
2 days ago
Lionel Messi fined for slapping opponent on the head as Inter Miami-Philadelphia clash erupts into late red-card chaos Lionel Messi was fined by MLS after slapping Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan on the head as Inter Miami's 2-2 draw desecended into stoppage-time chaos. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026
2 days ago
Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra managed to deliver his season’s best performance at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday but fell agonisingly short of the top spot, as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage finished first with a throw just nine centimetres more than his
2 days ago
Why did Nick Chubb retire? Net worth in focus as NFL player ends career at 30 Nick Chubb played for eight seasons in NFL that included seven years with the Cleveland Browns and one with the Houston Texans. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026, 09:25:09 IST By Shirin Gupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
2 days ago
