The Vidya Mandir (Mylapore) school boy is working hard towards International success and is hoping to make a long term career in Table Tennis
Ananth Devarajan jumps to Number 4 in National TT Rankings in Junior Boys
Vidya Mandir has been known for producing some quality cricketers in the decades gone bye. However, a Mylapore boy chose a completely different sport away from this popular one. And he has made rapid strides in his sporting journey shooting up into the top four in the national Table Tennis rankings in Junior Boys. This season, he has been the top ranked player in Tamil Nadu in the Junior Boys category.
It was an interesting move by his father when the boy was just 7years. Devarajan was a quality Shuttle player, but he initiated his son Ananth into Table Tennis away from a sport played by his father all through his teenage years.
And soon, the father’s move seemed to be vindicated for the young boy lapped on to TT showing great interest in a game that no one in his family had previously played. He practiced three hours every day thrice a week under three different coaches - Ravi Venkatesh, Vasu and Ramachandran focusing on improving his reflexes, consistency and speed as well as on receiving and delivering the service
By the time he was 10, he started winning tournaments and was ranked third in the U12 category. He moved into the top position in U 14 and was the state Number one for two years. To date Ananth has won over 20 tournaments. This season (2015-16) alone he has won 6 out of the 9 state ranking tournaments.
In the inter school CBSE clusters tournament, Ananth won Gold representing his school in TN state clusters. He also won the Silver medal in the individual boys U19 singles in the national CBSE inter -school clusters tournament.
Beats India No. 1
In the Zonals held earlier this season in Thane, Ananth beat India No. 1, his best win to-date. He is currently ranked No. 2 in the state in Youth Boys (U 19) category.
Ananth Devarajan will soon be playing for India in an international ‘Junior Boys’ tournament based on his top four national ranking.
Taking up TT professionally
The good news is that Ananth is confident of taking to TT as a career now that he is confident of beating the big guns in India. His immediate aim is to finish in the Top 8 in the national rankings in U19 and to maintain his No. 1 ranking in the state. If he maintains the top four national ranking over the next couple of years, competing in the Euro League is a real possibility.
With Ananth entering college later this year, it is hoped that his shuttler father will continue to encourage him to pursue his interest in TT in his quest for higher glory.