Forged in Fire: Table Tennis

Tucked deep inside the Sports Block, past the gym, past the cardio room, lies a room filled with high-flying balls, shouts of “Cho!”, and a lot of camaraderie. Most people don’t notice them, don’t see them hitting their best shots, but what they do see are the fruits of this team’s labour. Over the years, the Ashokan table tennis teams have gathered up an impressive list of victories: winners at BML Munjal, Rishihood University and Northcap University, podium finishes at IIT Roorkee, Bennett University, and BITS Goa, but these triumphs only come out at the end of each year. With Agneepath right around the corner, maybe it’s time to celebrate the people behind these wins and cheer for them as they play their hearts out for our university.

Back in 2023, the men’s team lacked the consistency and quality that the women’s team had been displaying at intercollegiate tournaments. That was when they struck gold: inducting a total of six players to both teams, three of whom have gone on to play in leadership roles since their induction to the team. Edict Sports had the chance to speak to Shaarav Garg (UG’27), current captain of the men’s team, about his experience since becoming captain.

“It’s a tough job,” he says, still sweating after an intense rally against Udayveer Agarwal (UG’28), his doubles partner. “But it is still very, very rewarding. It’s amazing to see players who were once hesitant to interact with the team now taking initiative and being active [...] they’re transforming mentally and technically, being more confident, handling pressure, and being more disciplined.”

Garg was one of four men’s players who took to the team like fish to water, becoming an integral part of their ‘A’ team alongside Rajit Mundhra (UG’27), Soham Dengra (UG’27), and Umang Khandelwal (UG’27). These four led the team to unseen highs, transforming the image that existed around them into something menacing, yet they were still some way short of the women’s team, led by Juhi Bhargava (UG’24). 

“We could always count on Juhi,” says Hrithika Tom (UG’27). Tom, part of the golden batch of the table tennis teams, is the current vice-captain for the women’s team, and her words ring true. Ashoka’s table tennis dominance stemmed from their possession of immense talent located in their women’s team, surging them to the top at multiple tournaments spanning four years. While Bhargava has since graduated, the team finds power in the coming generation of players.

“The quality of the team took me by shock,” said Aditi Parmar (UG’29) while speaking to Edict Sports. “Being able to play against, and train with, is really helpful [because] you won’t get better playing just by yourself.”

Garg is also a staunch supporter of making the sport accessible, actively taking part in the Sports Ministry’s ‘Student-Athlete Mentorship Programme’, which seeks to bring beginners and casual players together in an environment that fosters growth and support over competition. And this environment is something that the table tennis teams are proud of creating for everyone.

“Going to the first tournament was good,” said Parmar when asked about her experience at IIT Roorkee, the year’s first tournament. “The team really bonds, you feel more connected with your teammates when they are cheering for you.”

Garg didn’t remember his first experience but sought to tell us his favourite game yet in an Ashokan jersey. “At BITS Goa against the home team, every single player pulling up to upset the odds, absolutely beautiful.” Right now, though, his eyes are set on Agneepath. “Despite not seeing Agneepath in its full glory, I can feel the excitement creeping in. It would serve as a great benchmark [for the team].”

And, indeed, it would. With three Delhi University colleges coming in for the tournament, there could be no better time for the team to shine. Garg has deemed them “the absolute best in North India,” alongside our neighbours and eternal rivals OP Jindal, but he believes that his team will not shy away from tough opposition. 

“I think our biggest potential lies in consistency and depth,” Garg continues. “We have strong independent talent, and becoming more consistent across matches would take us to the next level.”

If anything, we hope this dive into Ashoka’s hidden gems urges you to come support them as they seek to win Agneepath for the first time in recent memory.

“We’d love for our classmates to come watch us play as we’ve seen other students support their teams,” Garg implored. “And we promise to put on a good show!”