NEW DELHI: When 14-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick steps up to a Table Tennis table, she stares down Asia’s finest without flinching. She spins, smashes and scripts history, as she did earlier this month in Tashkent, becoming the first Indian in 36 years (after Subramanian Bhuvaneswari) to win the U-15 girls’ singles crown at the Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships.But mention the Class 10 board exams, and her hands start 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, almost 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 someone who held her nerve 6-9 down in the deciding set against China’s Liu Ziling in the final, the irony is delicious. Beating three Chinese opponents enroute to the trophy is easy; beating board-exam anxiety is not.
The exam before the exam
At an age when most teens are worried about pre-boards, Divyanshi is already ranked World No. 3 in U-15, trains nearly eight hours a day, and travels across continents.Yet, with her table tennis session ending by January, it’s the February-March board exam timetable that looms larger in her mind than any world ranking.“It’s really difficult to study after the training sessions because I am tired, but I have no other option,” she admits.
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For her boards, she will barely have 30 days to prepare. However, her father doesn’t want to add extra pressure of ‘good marks’ to those young 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 firm for the South Asia-Pacific region.Her fear of exams might make her relatable, but her journey makes her an extraordinary case. It all began during the pandemic, in the family’s Mumbai home.“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,” recalls Divyanshi.Her father, who once played the sport himself, saw 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 game 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 daily routine.
Divyanshi Bhowmick (Special arrangements)
Rahul adds with a chuckle, “If you ask her to practice 10 hours also, she might happily do it.”The months and years of toil showed 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 against Liu Ziling, she clawed back 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 recalls.
Dreams that stretch beyond boards
What lies ahead? For now, Romania in November, where she will represent India at 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 adds.Long-term, the family 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 girl, about her immediate priority, and the answer isn’t an Olympic podium; it’s a report card. Because in India, even history-makers must survive India’s most unforgiving tournament – the Board Exams – before dreaming beyond.
