Syndrela Das, Payas Jain enter TOPS Development Scheme for 2026 Asian Games
Synopsis
India's table tennis pipeline just got a serious upgrade. Seventeen-year-old Syndrela Das — a multi-medal winner at the Asian Youth Championships — and Payas Jain have been inducted into the TOPS Development Scheme, while both have also made India's 10-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games. The moves signal a generational bet on Indian paddlers across three mega-events through 2036.
Key Takeaways
Syndrela Das (17, Kolkata) and Payas Jain inducted into the TOPS Development Scheme on 26 August .
Syndrela won silver (Girls' Doubles) and bronze (Girls' Singles) at the Asian Youth Championships in Thailand in 2025.
Both players are part of India's 10-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games .
Payas Jain and Ankur Bhattacharjee are set to partner in the men's doubles event.
Manika Batra received MOC financial assistance to compete in WTT Contender events in Bulgaria and Kazakhstan in September.
Rising Indian table tennis players Syndrela Das and Payas Jain have been inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Scheme, as India sharpens its focus on building a pipeline of young talent ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the 2036 Olympics. The announcement was made on 26 August from New Delhi.
Syndrela Das: A Teenager on the Rise
Syndrela Das, 17, from Kolkata, secured her place in the scheme on the strength of a series of standout international performances. At the Asian Youth Championships in Thailand earlier this year, she claimed a silver medal in the Girls' Doubles event and a bronze in the Girls' Singles competition.
Her rise has been consistent. During a dominant 2023 season, Syndrela swept the National Ranking age-group titles in the Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19 singles categories before stepping up to the senior national circuit in 2025.
Earlier this year, TOPS had created a dedicated group for table tennis players in the 14–17 age bracket to build India's bench strength for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics. Syndrela was part of that cohort and has now graduated to the broader TOPS Development Scheme following her recent results.
India's 2026 Asian Games Squad
Syndrela has also earned a berth in India's 10-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games. The women's team comprises Sreeja Akula, Diya Chitale, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Sutirtha Mukherjee, and Syndrela Das.
The men's squad features Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar, Harmeet Desai, and Payas Jain. Jain and fellow TOPS inductee Ankur Bhattacharjee are also set to form India's men's doubles combination at the Games.
Manika Batra Gets MOC Backing for International Campaign
In a related development, India's top-ranked table tennis player Manika Batra has received financial assistance approval from the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) to compete in WTT Contender tournaments in Bulgaria and Kazakhstan in September. The funding underlines the broader institutional commitment to supporting Indian paddlers across age groups and performance tiers.
Why This Matters for Indian Table Tennis
The TOPS inclusions reflect a deliberate long-cycle approach by Indian sports authorities — identifying medal prospects years before the target event rather than reacting to immediate results. Notably, this is the second structured intervention for junior table tennis players in 2025 alone, following the creation of the dedicated 14–17 age-group cohort earlier this year. With the 2036 Olympics on the horizon, India is building a generational squad rather than relying on a handful of established names.
Point of View
From age-group sweeps in 2023 to Asian Youth medals in 2025, is exactly the kind of signal the scheme is designed to reward. The harder question is whether the support infrastructure — coaching, equipment, competition exposure — will keep pace with the institutional optimism. India has historically been better at identifying talent than converting it into podium finishes at senior level. The 2026 Asian Games will be an early stress-test for this cohort.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Syndrela Das and Payas Jain?
Syndrela Das is a 17-year-old table tennis player from Kolkata who won silver and bronze medals at the 2025 Asian Youth Championships. Payas Jain is an Indian men's table tennis player who, along with Syndrela, has been inducted into the TOPS Development Scheme and selected for the 2026 Asian Games squad.
What is the TOPS Development Scheme?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Scheme is a Government of India programme that identifies and supports promising athletes with financial assistance, coaching, and competition exposure ahead of major international events. It targets athletes with podium potential at the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.
What is India's table tennis squad for the 2026 Asian Games?
India's 10-member squad includes Sreeja Akula, Diya Chitale, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Sutirtha Mukherjee, and Syndrela Das in the women's team, and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar, Harmeet Desai, and Payas Jain in the men's team.
What support has Manika Batra received?
India's top-ranked table tennis player Manika Batra has been approved for financial assistance by the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) to compete in WTT Contender tournaments in Bulgaria and Kazakhstan in September 2025.
Why were junior players given a dedicated TOPS group in 2025?
TOPS created a dedicated cohort for table tennis players aged 14–17 earlier in 2025 to build India's bench strength ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics. Syndrela Das was part of this group before being elevated to the broader TOPS Development Scheme.
