Exclusive | Divyanshi Bhowmick, first Indian in 36 years to win historic gold, ‘actually scared’ of a school challenge | More sports News

NEW DELHI: When 14-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick steps up to a Table Tennis desk, she stares down Asia’s best with out flinching. She spins, smashes and scripts historical past, as she did earlier this month in Tashkent, turning into the first Indian in 36 years (after Subramanian Bhuvaneswari) to win the U-15 women’ singles crown on the Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships.But point out the Class 10 board exams, and her fingers begin to tremble.“Yes, I think hearing that makes me feel really scared and nervous because I have to give my boards this year,” she tells TimesofIndia.com, virtually whispering. “I’m a little nervous for my boards, but I’m gonna study harder.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!For somebody who held her nerve 6-9 down in the deciding set towards China’s Liu Ziling in the ultimate, the irony is scrumptious. Beating three Chinese opponents enroute to the trophy is straightforward; beating board-exam anxiousness isn’t.

The examination earlier than the examination

At an age when most teenagers are anxious about pre-boards, Divyanshi is already ranked World No. 3 in U-15, trains practically eight hours a day, and travels throughout continents.Yet, together with her desk tennis session ending by January, it’s the February-March board examination timetable that looms bigger in her thoughts than any world rating.“It’s really difficult to study after the training sessions because I am tired, but I have no other option,” she admits.(*36*)

For her boards, she is going to barely have 30 days to put together. However, her father would not need to add further strain of ‘good marks’ to these younger shoulders.“We have no expectations, but she has expectations of her own, which makes her nervous,” says her father, Rahul Bhowmick, COO of a multinational agency for the South Asia-Pacific area.Her worry of exams would possibly make her relatable, however her journey makes her a rare case. It all started throughout the pandemic, in the household’s Mumbai house.“My dad wouldn’t allow me to play outdoor sports, so he got a table at home. Me, my elder sister (Hitanshi) and my dad used to practice all day. That’s when I really started to like the sport, and I started winning also,” remembers Divyanshi.Her father, who as soon as performed the game himself, noticed the early spark. “When the first state tournament happened, she reached the semifinals. So that further reinforced our belief that she has in herself to excel,” he says.Ever since, the sport has consumed her life.“From morning 7:30 to 11, I practice, then I have tuitions, then again evening practice from 4 to 8:30. Sometimes I have tuition from 9 o’clock,” says Divyanshi explaining her each day routine.

Divyanshi Bhowmick (Special preparations)

Rahul provides with a chuckle, “If you ask her to practice 10 hours also, she might happily do it.”The months and years of toil confirmed in Tashkent. Seeded second, Divyanshi toppled three Chinese opponents to take the title.Her semi-final was the stuff of legends, down 6-9 in the decider towards Liu Ziling, she clawed again to win. It was “really something,” she exclaims. Her father calls it proof of her resilience. “This game is cruel — one small mistake and it’s over. But she pulled herself up. Many thought that match was lost,” he remembers.

Dreams that stretch past boards

What lies forward? For now, Romania in November, the place she is going to characterize India on the World Youth Table Tennis Championships.“If you can become an Asian champion, there is no reason why you can’t win the world championships because the same girls will play there as well,” her father provides.Long-term, the household has a roadmap: “Short term is to break into India’s top five and the world top 100 in women’s by 2026. Eventually, 2028 Olympics and an Olympic medal,” says Rahul.But ask Divyanshi, a quiet woman, about her instant precedence, and the reply isn’t an Olympic podium; it’s a report card. Because in India, even history-makers should survive India’s most unforgiving event – the Board Exams – earlier than dreaming past.