For Ankur Bhattacharjee, table tennis was never the sport he first dreamed of playing. Like many Indian children, he was drawn to cricket. But a decision by his family when he was just nine years old changed the course of his life. Years later, that reluctant beginning has turned into a remarkable sporting journey. The Kolkata-born paddler has now won his maiden WTT men’s singles title, completing a memorable golden double at the WTT Feeder Olomouc in Czechia. He also won the men’s doubles title with fellow Indian Akash Pal. Ankur’s first sporting dream was cricket. He has spoken about being a big fan of the game and continues to follow Indian cricket closely.He particularly admires former India captain Virat Kohli for his aggression and Hardik Pandya for his mental strength. But his parents, Anshuman and Kuntali Bhattacharjee, had a different sporting background. Both were former table tennis players, and they encouraged their son to try the sport. Ankur initially had little interest in table tennis. However, when his mother took him to a table tennis hall at the age of nine, something unexpected happened. During his very first day, he played a 70-shot rally. That experience made him believe he could be good at the sport. Within about a year, he had become a state champion and soon began collecting titles.
His parents became his biggest support
Ankur’s parents have played a major role in his development. His mother introduced him to the sport, while his father later became his coach. His father, Anshuman Bhattacharjee, is a table tennis player and coach in Kolkata. Ankur has said that he has trained under his father throughout his career and considers his parents his biggest source of strength. Their support helped him rise through the junior ranks. He became a three-time national Under-19 champion, while also winning three bronze medals at the Junior Asian Championships.
Table Tennis is not a cheap sport
Ankur’s journey also gives an idea of how expensive professional table tennis equipment can be. He has revealed that he plays with a DHS W968 Hurricane Long 5 paddle costing around Rs 48,500. He also uses specialised rubbers, including DHS Hurricane 3 Blue Sponge on his forehand and Butterfly Dignics 09C on his backhand. The rubbers cost thousands of rupees and need to be replaced regularly because of the demands of professional training. What began as a sport he did not even want to play has therefore become a serious professional career requiring major investment, discipline and years of training.
A major breakthrough in 2026
Ankur gradually moved from junior success to senior-level competition. He has played in international leagues and WTT events, gaining valuable experience against stronger opponents. In 2024, he also played in the Czech league, seeing it as an opportunity to prepare for the senior circuit. In 2026, he continued to make progress. Before his breakthrough in Olomouc, he had already reached two quarterfinals and two semifinals on the WTT Feeder Series. He also produced a notable upset at the WTT Star Contender in Chennai earlier this year, defeating French player Florian Bourrassaud, a World Championships doubles bronze medallist.
Golden double in Czechia
The biggest moment came at the WTT Feeder Olomouc. Ankur defeated Slovenia’s Deni Kozul 3-1 (9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6) in the men’s singles final. After losing the opening game, he changed the momentum, controlled the rallies and won the next three games to claim his first WTT singles crown. He had already won the men’s doubles title with Akash Pal. The Indian pair defeated David Szantosi of Hungary and Mateusz Zalewski of Poland 3-1 (11-8, 4-11, 13-11, 11-9). For a youngster who once preferred cricket and needed convincing to pick up a table tennis bat, the achievement marks a major turning point. From a reluctant nine-year-old to a WTT champion, Ankur Bhattacharjee’s story is a reminder that one unexpected decision can sometimes change an entire life.
