Nurjahan Noorali Shines at ITTF World Para Future, Secures Silver and Bronze
Outstanding Performance in Finland
File image of Nurjahan Noorali (Photo: IANS)
Ahmedabad, Sep 5: Nurjahan Noorali Jamani, India's top para table tennis athlete, achieved remarkable success at the ITTF World Para Future event in Lahti, Finland, securing a silver medal in the Class 7 singles and a bronze in the Class 7 standing doubles. This impressive performance propelled her eight spots up to No. 19 in the global rankings.
Competing at the Pajulahti Olympic Training Centre, Nurjahan faced a challenging start in the singles event. After an initial setback with a 0-3 loss to Germany's Birgit Baumgartner, she rebounded with a decisive 3-0 victory against Iceland's Agnes Lovisa Johannsdottir.
Her most intense match came against Macau's U Choi Hong, where Nurjahan triumphed 3-2, clinching the final two games with narrow margins of 13-11, 13-11 to secure the silver medal.
In the standing doubles, Nurjahan partnered with fellow Indian Shivam Pal. The duo kicked off their campaign with a solid 3-0 win over Finland's Aaro Toivo Samuli Makela and Iceland's Agnes Lovisa Johannsdottir. Despite facing two Polish teams and losing both matches, they still managed to earn a bronze medal.
“Winning silver in Lahti is one of the proudest moments of my career so far. To add a bronze in doubles made the trip even more memorable. This result means a lot to me and I want to thank Adani Sportsline for standing by me through every tournament and every step of my training. Their support has given me the platform to compete against the best in the world,” expressed Nurjahan.
This achievement not only highlights her talent but also marks a significant leap in her world ranking, moving from No. 27 to No. 19, reinforcing her position as India's leading player in her category.
Having been diagnosed with polio at the age of five, Nurjahan began her journey in para table tennis between 2007 and 2010 before taking a break from the sport for over a decade. She made a comeback in 2022 and has quickly risen to prominence in the para table tennis scene.
In addition to her recent successes, she successfully defended her title at the UTT Para Senior National Championship in 2025-26 in Indore, and she also clinched the UTT National Para Table Tennis Championship.
Currently based in Ahmedabad, Nurjahan works as a junior officer with Adani Airport Holdings Limited at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Through the “Garv Hai” initiative by Adani Sportsline, she receives comprehensive support that includes tournament planning, coaching, performance monitoring, and opportunities for international competition.