My Journey with Ved Sheth and the Road to the World University Games

With over 50 national and international titles to my name, I’ve always been deeply passionate about table tennis. But nothing has given me greater purpose than helping young athletes develop into champions—one of the most fulfilling journeys being that of my student, Ved Sheth.

We had crossed paths even before our formal coaching journey began—at tournaments where I observed Ved’s raw talent firsthand. He was already incredibly fast on his feet, but I recognized that his upper body power and shot variation could be refined to take his game to another level. I focused on helping him develop a more dominant backhand off the bounce and encouraged him to mix up his forehand step-around with controlled backhand variations. By adding speed shifts and wider placements, he began to pressure opponents from both wings, turning rallies in his favor and improving his ability to finish points.

One of the most defining moments of our journey was Ved's selection for the 2025 World University Games. Leading up to the event, our preparation was meticulous and completely focused on opponent-specific strategies. Since Ved already knew his draw, we spent countless hours analyzing each potential opponent—reviewing their previous matches, dissecting their strengths and weaknesses, and building both a starting game plan and an in-match adjustment plan.

What made this process powerful was our mutual trust. We both stayed motivated throughout, even when matches weren’t going well. At critical points, Ved trusted me with tactical decisions that ultimately helped him turn difficult matches around. Our shared understanding on and off the table allowed us to stay mentally strong and adaptable. That chemistry, built over the years, helped convert preparation into performance.

Ved’s transformation from a gifted youth to a top-level collegiate and international competitor is one I’ve had the privilege to witness closely. From the beginning at ICC Table Tennis Center, his discipline, curiosity, and hunger to grow stood out.

• Selected for World University Games 2025
• 2024 Pan American Youth Championships – Team Bronze Medal
• 2022 Pan American Youth Championships – Team Bronze Medal
• World High School Games 2022, Normandy, France – Junior Boys Doubles Bronze Medal

• 2023 U.S. Open (Ontario) – Bronze in U-21 Singles, Silver in Junior Singles, Gold in U-2600
• 2021 U.S. Open (Las Vegas) – Bronze in U-2400 & Junior Mixed Doubles; Silver in Junior Boys Teams

• 2024 Nationals (Huntsville, Alabama) – Silver in Junior Boys Doubles and Junior Mixed Doubles; Bronze in Junior Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
• 2023 Nationals (Fort Worth, Texas) – Bronze in U-19 Mixed Doubles
• 2022 Nationals (Fort Worth, Texas) – Bronze in U-17 Singles, Junior Boys Doubles, Junior Mixed Doubles
• 2021 Nationals (Las Vegas) – Bronze in U-2550

• 2024 Junior Trials Final Ranking – 3rd Place Overall
• 2022 U.S. Junior Trials (Fort Worth, Texas) – 2nd Place

Ved has carried his momentum into the collegiate arena, competing for UC Berkeley where he continues to thrive:

• 2025 West Regionals – Singles Champion, Teams Silver
• 2024 National Collegiate Championships (NCTTA) – Silver in Singles and Teams
• 2024 West Regionals – Singles Champion, Teams Gold

These accolades reflect not just his talent, but his commitment to growth and his belief in the guidance we’ve built together. Working with Ved has reaffirmed why I coach: to help athletes discover their best selves—not just as players, but as thinkers and leaders.

Pictured -

Ved Sheth - 2025 West Regional Singles Champion, 2025 West Regional Teams silver, 2024 West Regional Singles Champion, 2024 NCTTA Nationals Teams and Singles silver medal and 2024 West Regional Teams gold

Handson Li - 2025 West Regional Team silver, 2024 West Regional Team gold, U.S. Nationals Teams silver.

Kai Zarehbin - 2025 West Regional Team gold

Ryan Wu - 2025 West Regional Team gold

Joanna Sung - 2025 West Regional Singles gold and Teams gold, 2024 West Regional Singles silver and Team gold, and 2024 U.S. Nationals Teams silver

Angie Tan - 2025 West Regional Singles silver and Teams gold, 2024 West Regionals Singles and Teams gold, and 2024 Nationals Teams silver

Ved Sheth and Handson Li

Kai Zarehbin, Ryan Wu, Joanna Sung and Angie Tan

Aziz Zarehbin and Trinity Sung

While I continue to compete and contribute as an official in top-tier international events, my deeper mission lies in creating impact through mentorship. Ved is an example of what’s possible when discipline, preparation, and mutual trust align.

I remain committed to my vision: helping American table tennis talent rise to the Olympic stage. When players like Ved tell me they want to follow in my footsteps, I’m reminded that the journey I started in Gandhidham has grown far beyond my own story—it’s become a shared mission.

The journey continues.