Vivaan Dave wins double gold at Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2026
Synopsis
At just 14, Vivaan Dave swept both the Under-17 and Under-19 titles at the Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2026 in Gandhidham — competing against and beating older opponents in both categories. With international medals already on his shelf and the WTT Youth Contender Chennai next on the calendar, Dave is quietly becoming one of India's most watched junior table tennis prospects.
Key Takeaways
Vivaan Dave , aged 14 , won gold in both the Under-17 and Under-19 categories at the Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2026 in Gandhidham ( 16–20 October 2026 ).
Dave was previously ranked No.
2 in India in the Under-15 category.
Earlier in 2026, he won gold at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championship in Kanpur (Under-17).
International medals include silver at the WTT Youth Contender Ulaanbaatar and bronze at the WTT Youth Contender Tashkent , both in Under-15.
He is supported by Adani Sportsline 's 'Garv Hai' initiative since 1 August 2026 .
Next up: WTT Youth Contender Chennai , 23–26 October 2026 , followed by the National Ranking Championship in Punjab .
Vivaan Dave, a 14-year-old table tennis prodigy from Gujarat, clinched gold in both the Under-17 and Under-19 categories at the Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2026, held in Gandhidham from 16 to 20 October 2026. The feat is particularly striking given that Dave competed against older and more experienced opponents in both age groups to secure the double title.
A performance beyond his years
Dave, who began playing table tennis at the age of five, was previously ranked No. 2 in India in the Under-15 category. Competing up an age bracket — and winning — at a state championship underlines a trajectory that coaches and selectors are increasingly taking note of. 'Every match was a good test and I learned a lot from it,' Dave said, reflecting on the challenge of taking on older players.
A medal-laden domestic and international record
The Gandhidham double adds to an already impressive haul. Earlier in 2026, Dave won gold in the Under-17 category at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championship in Kanpur. On the international circuit, he claimed silver in the Under-15 category at the WTT Youth Contender in Ulaanbaatar and followed it with a bronze at the WTT Youth Contender in Tashkent in the same category.
In 2025, he produced another double-gold performance at the UTT 87th Inter-State Sub-Junior and Cadet National Table Tennis Championships, winning both the Under-15 individual and team titles.
Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' backing
Dave is part of Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' athlete support initiative, which he joined on 1 August 2026. The programme provides table tennis kits, equipment, and travel facilitation for domestic and international competitions. 'Adani Sportsline has helped me with sourcing my kit, equipment and facilitating my travel, this allows me to focus completely on my training and performance,' Dave said.
This is a model of grassroots sports patronage that has drawn attention in Indian sporting circles, where young athletes — particularly outside the top metropolitan academies — often bear the financial burden of competitive travel themselves.
What's next for Vivaan Dave
Dave is scheduled to compete at the WTT Youth Contender Chennai, running from 23 to 26 October 2026, before heading to the National Ranking Table Tennis Championship in Punjab later this year. His stated long-term goal is an Olympic gold medal for India — an ambition that, given his current age and results, does not seem far-fetched.
Point of View
But it also spotlights a structural gap in Indian junior sports development: talented young athletes outside flagship academies routinely depend on corporate patronage just to show up at competitions. Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' model filling that gap raises a legitimate question about whether publicly funded sports bodies are doing enough at the grassroots. Dave's Olympic ambitions are credible on current form, but the real test will come as he moves to the senior tier — where corporate support, national coaching infrastructure, and selection consistency must all align. India has produced junior table tennis talent before; converting it to senior-level global competitiveness is the harder problem.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vivaan Dave and what did he win at the Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2026?
Vivaan Dave is a 14-year-old table tennis player from Gujarat who won gold in both the Under-17 and Under-19 categories at the Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2026, held in Gandhidham from 16 to 20 October. He competed against older opponents in both categories to clinch the double title.
What is Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' initiative?
'Garv Hai' is an athlete support programme run by Adani Sportsline that provides young sportspersons with equipment, kits, and travel support for competitions. Vivaan Dave has been part of the initiative since 1 August 2026.
What international medals has Vivaan Dave won?
Dave has won silver in the Under-15 category at the WTT Youth Contender in Ulaanbaatar and bronze in the same category at the WTT Youth Contender in Tashkent. Domestically, he also took double gold at the UTT 87th Inter-State Sub-Junior and Cadet National Table Tennis Championships in 2025.
What is Vivaan Dave's next competition?
Dave is scheduled to compete at the WTT Youth Contender Chennai from 23 to 26 October 2026, followed by the National Ranking Table Tennis Championship in Punjab later this year.
How young did Vivaan Dave start playing table tennis?
Vivaan Dave began playing table tennis at the age of five. Now 14, he has cited winning a gold medal for India at the Olympics as his long-term goal.
