Nashik’s Swara Karmarkar Wins Bronze in Under-19 Girls’ Singles at WTT Youth Contender in Chennai, Her First International Medal
Nashik table tennis player Swara Karmarkar won bronze in the Under-19 girls’ singles at the WTT Youth Contender in Chennai, her first international medal.
Photo: Santeri Viinamäki / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nashik, 30th October 2026: Maharashtra table tennis has a new medal to celebrate. Nashik’s Swara Karmarkar won bronze in the Under-19 girls’ singles at the WTT Youth Contender and Feeder competition in Chennai. It is her first medal at an international event.
Her route to the podium
Swara’s best result came in the pre-quarter-final, where she beat second seed Nandini Saha 3-0.
In the quarter-final she defeated Aarushi Nandi 3-1, winning 11-2, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3. After dropping the second game, she took control and closed out the match comfortably.
In the semi-final she lost 1-3 to Sainika Maji, with game scores of 11-13, 8-11, 11-9, 2-11. The first game went to extra points, and she pulled one back in the third before Maji ran away with the fourth. Losing semi-finalists receive bronze in WTT youth events.
Why WTT youth events matter
World Table Tennis Youth Contender and Feeder events are part of the international youth circuit. Results there earn world youth ranking points, which decide seeding and entry into bigger events. For young Indian players, home events such as the one in Chennai are a chance to collect points without heavy travel costs.
Nashik’s growing table tennis scene
Officials of the Nashik District Table Tennis Association congratulated Swara on the medal.
The semi-final against Maji showed how close the margins are at this level. The opening game went to 13-11, and Swara had chances to take an early lead. Coaches often say that winning those tight games against higher-ranked players is the next step after a first international podium. Nashik, like Pune, has seen more young players coming through club and district-level competition in recent years, and a first international medal is a big step on the youth circuit.
For more sport, check the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 India schedule and details of the India vs Sri Lanka T20 in Pune.
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Swara Karmarkar win?
She won bronze in the Under-19 girls’ singles at the WTT Youth Contender and Feeder competition in Chennai.
Whom did Swara Karmarkar beat in the quarter-final?
She beat Aarushi Nandi 3-1 (11-2, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3).
Who beat Swara Karmarkar in the semi-final?
Sainika Maji won the semi-final 3-1.
