By Anh Thu Truong
Pressure — it’s a feeling that one might be overcome by when in circumstances of dire risk. But for freshman Tashiya Piyadasa, pressure has been a long-known companion that accompanies her when playing at the highest levels of junior table tennis.
There’s not much the freshman hasn’t accomplished when it comes to her sport. The skilled athlete holds the prestigious title of the No. 1 player in the under-15 age group by the United States Table Tennis Association (USATT) ranking, but her influence doesn’t just stay inside the United States. Piyadasa is also the table tennis Pan American Champion of both North and South America.
Table tennis runs in her blood. Both of her parents were competitive national players who, in turn, motivated her to follow suit. Her sister, Tiana, is a fierce competitor as well and is ranked second for her age group in the USATT rankings.
“My dad was an eight-time Sri Lankan national champion, and when he moved to the U.S., he became a top-10 player in men’s singles,” Piyadasa said. “My mom was also on the national team in Sri Lanka. So that inspired me to play too, and I started when I was eight.”
After six years of competing, Tashiya is a decorated athlete with numerous accolades to back up her impressive record. But results don’t come out of nowhere. Piyadasa trains for hours every day after school alongside her local club in Fountain Valley.
“My favorite [tournament] I competed in was when I got second place in the World Hopes,” Piyadasa said. “You have to be No. 1 in both continents, North and South America. After you qualify, you compete against the best in the world, like the best player in Europe or Asia.”
Table tennis requires not only quick feet and sharp reflexes but also the mental fortitude to never back down — to keep fighting despite the struggle. Tashiya certainly displays this mental toughness while competing in matches, but she also carries this mentality to other aspects of her life.
“It taught me how to mentally handle my problems in real life. Like when you’re down [in a game], and how you can overcome that,” Piyadasa said. “Actually, last weekend, I played with the world No. 30, and I was down 0-2 [sets]. But then I came back and won the match 3-2.”
In 2025, Piyadasa welcomes a new year for growth and a fresh start to the competition. Having competed in dozens of national and international tournaments in the past, this year she aims to push her limits even further and seek new challenges.
“I want to make the women’s national team this year… but the week of the trials is finals week, so I’m thinking about it. If I can’t make it, then I really want to play in the Youth World Championships this year,” Piyadasa said.
Alongside her list of impressive accolades, Piyadasa also maintains a heavy academic schedule, holding her grades as a top priority. Though she has her sights set on turning professional one day, she’s also drawn to the idea of exploring other careers and attending Johns Hopkins University in the future.
But for now, the 14-year-old has her ambitions set on reaching the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, which will be hosted in Los Angeles — a goal she has been working toward since the beginning.
Bright, humble, and passionate, Tashiya’s well-roundedness shines through everything she does, whether it’s balancing the weight of academics, hanging out with friends, or being one of the top junior table tennis athletes in the country.
Fueled by immense focus, discipline, and dedication, this is only the beginning of her journey. She’ll only continue to inspire us with her amazing achievements, as she keeps growing as an athlete and student.
While some may fold under this pressure, Tashiya maintains her grace under fire, and she’ll continue to burn with unstoppable momentum.
