compiled by Spectator Sports Desk
At 16 years old, Stuti Kashyap continues to raise the standard of table tennis for Antigua and Barbuda, delivering historic performances across the Caribbean and on the international stage. Competing across multiple age categories, she has shown remarkable consistency, resilience, and maturity well beyond her years.
Her 2025 campaign has been nothing short of outstanding.
At the 2025 OECS Championship in Grenada, Stuti led Team Antigua and Barbuda to historic success. She claimed Gold in Women’s Singles, earning the nation’s first Singles Gold Medal at the championship. She also captured Gold in Mixed Doubles, another first for Antigua and Barbuda, and added a Silver Medal in Women’s Doubles alongside Martinique’s Aneis Miredin. At the 2025 Caribbean Youth Championship in Barbados, competing in the Under 19 division for the first time, she earned Silver after defeating top players from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. These victories marked a defining moment for table tennis in the country.
Her excellence extended internationally. At the 2025 California State Open Championship, she won Gold in Under-19 Girls’ Singles. At the 2025 Pan American Youth Championships in Rosario, Argentina, she secured Bronze in Under-19 Girls’ Singles. On the World Table Tennis circuit, she earned Silver in Under 17 and Bronze in Under 19 at the WTT Youth Contender in Caracas, Venezuela. In Humacao, Puerto Rico, she won Gold in Under 17 and Bronze in Under 19, and in San Francisco, she claimed Silver in Under 17.
The past year also brought significant challenges. Transitioning into higher age categories requires a complete shift in preparation. It demanded higher intensity and a more advanced tactical approach. Moving from five-set to seven-set matches increased the physical workload considerably, placing added strain on the body. At the same time, maintaining mental sharpness was essential, as fatigue can impact reaction speed and decision-making during crucial moments. For Stuti, achieving the same results from 2025 onward requires even greater effort, discipline, and resilience.
If she were to describe the year in one word, it would be Unabating. A year defined by relentless effort, continuous growth, and sustained excellence on every stage she stepped onto.
Being nominated a second time for the National Junior Women’s Sports Award, representing Table Tennis, means far more to Stuti than receiving a trophy. It represents recognition of the early mornings, the long and demanding training sessions, the sacrifices, and the moments when she had to overcome doubt and continue believing in herself. It reflects not only her development as a player but her growth as a person, while reminding her of the responsibility to remain humble and lead by example.
Winning Junior Sports Woman of the Year would carry even deeper meaning. For Stuti, such recognition would not belong to her alone, but to her team, her family, and everyone who has supported her journey from the beginning. It would affirm that the hard work and sacrifices were worthwhile and demonstrate that dedication and belief can transform dreams into reality.
The 2025 National Sports Awards will be held on March 1, 2025, at American University under the theme “Celebrating Excellence in Sports.”