The Lenasia Table Tennis Association (LTTA) is celebrating the outstanding achievements of Danisha Patel and Chetan Nathoo after the pair played a key role in South Africa’s success at the 2026 Southern African Table Tennis Championships in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 10 to 12 July.
Representing South Africa under the guidance of coaches Zodwa Maphanga and Omar Zain Eddin, Patel and Nathoo helped the national team secure both the women’s and men’s team titles while also producing impressive performances in the individual events.
Patel was instrumental in South Africa’s victory over Botswana in the women’s team final, sealing the 3-0 triumph with a commanding straight-games win. She carried that momentum into the women’s singles competition, where she successfully defended her Southern African title after defeating teammate Mushfiqah Kalam in the final.
The victory marked another milestone in Patel’s career, making her a three-time consecutive Southern African women’s singles champion from 2024 to 2026, having first won the regional title in 2022.
Reflecting on the tournament, Patel said representing South Africa remained one of the greatest honours of her career.
“I am proud of what we achieved as a team and personally. Every tournament is another step towards my long-term goals, and I know there is still a lot of hard work ahead. I remain committed to improving every day and giving my best whenever I represent South Africa.”
Patel added that qualifying for the 2027 African Cup and the African Championships has strengthened her determination to achieve her long-term goal of competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Nathoo also enjoyed a memorable championship, helping South Africa secure the men’s team title against Angola. With the final tied at 2-2, he delivered a composed straight-games victory to complete a remarkable 3-2 comeback for South Africa.
He continued his excellent form in the men’s singles event, progressing to an all-South African final against Luke Abrahams before finishing as the runner-up.
“It is always a privilege to wear the South African colours. Winning the men’s team title was a special achievement and reaching the singles final against a teammate was another proud moment. Although I finished second in the singles, I am pleased with my performances and I will continue working hard as we prepare for the next international events,” Nathoo said.
LTTA congratulated both players on their achievements, saying their performances once again demonstrate the association’s ability to produce athletes capable of competing successfully on the international stage. The association also commended the entire South African team and coaching staff for helping the country complete a clean sweep of the men’s and women’s team titles, as well as producing all-South African singles finals.
With the African Championships and the 2027 African Cup on the horizon, both Patel and Nathoo will look to build on their impressive performances as they continue their international journey.
