New Delhi, Nov. 23 -- A couple of years ago, two juniors were gradually finding their feet among the top paddlers of the country. Diya Chitale and Manush Shah were part of the national camp, though lower down the pecking order in terms of opportunities and experience.

Chitale was just out of her teens, Shah a couple of years older. Both were looking for a partner in the mixed doubles.

"Everybody above us was already paired. I'm a left-handed player and since there aren't too many in India, it's not easy to play alongside one. But Diya was open to the idea, so that's how it all started," Shah, 24, recalls.

They realised something had clicked when they made the quarterfinal at their first tournament in Muscat in October 2023. Six months ...