India, Oct. 14 -- Three years after she first picked up a table tennis bat, ten-year-old Phalgun Gupta from Gurugram has emerged a national champion, winning gold in the Under-11 category at the Second National Table Tennis Ranking Tournament in Panchkula on October 9.

The young player, who took up the sport after watching her older brother practise, said table tennis has become a source of calm, confidence and ambition for her.

Gupta emerged victorious in a field of nearly 140 participants at the tournament held from October 6 to 13, securing the top spot in the national Under-11 category. She had won silver in the same competition last year.

This year, she won the gold by in an all-Haryana girls' final, defeating state mate Mahi Kuma...