Solan, July 27
Himachal Pradesh’s young table tennis player Dhananjay Singh Thakur continued his impressive run on the international stage by representing India at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from July 19 to 22, 2026.
Competing in the prestigious tournament for the second time, Dhananjay delivered a commendable performance in the Under-17 Boys’ Singles category by reaching the Last 32. He also progressed to the Pre-Quarterfinals in the Mixed Doubles event, further strengthening his position as one of the country’s promising young table tennis players.
Earlier this year, Dhananjay won a Bronze Medal at the 87th Inter-State Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships, held in Dehradun from April 15 to 23, 2026. His performance at the national championship earned him recognition among the top emerging players in Indian table tennis.
A student of St. Luke’s School, Solan, Dhananjay has been representing the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) since the age of 10. Over the years, he has built an impressive record with several national achievements. He became the CBSE National Champion in 2023 and also secured a Bronze Medal in the Under-13 National Championship.
In January 2026, Dhananjay represented India at the WTT Youth Contender in Vadodara, where he reached the Top 32 in both the Under-17 and Under-19 categories, demonstrating his ability to compete successfully against higher-ranked players.
The son of Kushal Chanta and Arti Thakur, Dhananjay hails from Kaina village in Jubbal, Shimla district. Through his consistent performances at national and international tournaments, he has continued to make Himachal Pradesh proud and has emerged as one of the state’s most promising young sporting talents.
