Stuti Kashyap, Antigua and Barbuda’s emerging table tennis prodigy, has marked her presence on the global stage with outstanding performances at the World Table Tennis Youth Contender Tournaments in Tunisia, competing against some of the world’s top-ranked youth players.
The young sensation demonstrated remarkable skill in the U17 Girls category, advancing to the quarterfinals after securing a victory over Malaysia’s Ai Lis Gan, ranked 61st globally. Her impressive run was eventually halted by Taipei’s Peng Yu-Han, the world number 26, in a closely contested match.
Kashyap’s excellence extended to the U19 Girls category, where she reached the Round of 16 in both tournaments. A highlight of her campaign was an upset victory over Germany’s Koharu Itagaki, who holds the 19th position in world rankings.
Her exceptional performances have catalyzed a dramatic surge in her international rankings. In the U17 Girls category, Kashyap has leaped from 92nd to 53rd in the world rankings, while her U19 Girls ranking has improved from 159th to 100th. Perhaps most notably, she has skyrocketed to second place in the ITTF Americas U17 rankings, a remarkable improvement from her 25th position last year.
Looking ahead, Kashyap has set her sights on several prestigious competitions, including the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, 2026 Youth Olympics, and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Her rapid rise in international rankings not only showcases her individual talent but also elevates Antigua and Barbuda’s status in the global table tennis community.