Indian TT's long pips game needs an attacking evolution

Rubber used by Batra and Akula has made its mark in table tennis but the world is now catching up

- Shahid Judge

Massimo Costantini has received several interview requests by Chinese media over the past few months. The line of questioning, explained the head coach of Indian table tennis, all revolves around the same thing: the constant use of the long pimple rubber by Indian women. "They are very interested in India's development," he said to HT on the sidelines of the recently concluded 86th Senior Nationals in Surat.

Over the past few years, while Chinese paddlers have stomped their way through competitions with little fuss, they have been beaten time and again by Indian women who use the peculiar rubber on the backhand side of their bats.

The World Team Championships last year was particularly alarming for China with Ayhika Mukherjee beating then world No.1 Sun Yingsha and Sreeja Akula getting the better of world No.2 Wang Yidi. "That was a big hit for China. Everyone there keeps talking about that," says Costantini.

The rubber deceives by putting the opposite spinning effect on the ball. For example, if the opponent hits it with top spin, then regardless of the shot the player using the long pimple rubber employs, it is returned with backspin, and vice-versa.

Crucially for the Indians, China has started researching on the pimples. They have started bringing in sparring partners who use the particular rubber in order to work on ways to counter it. The novelty may wear off, but Costantini asserts that there is still scope of using the rubber as a weapon.

"Right now, it is used in a very passive way," he says.