By: Sean O’Neill, U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Famer
June 12, 2025
The collegiate table tennis world just saw a sweep that might very well echo into the MLTT season.
Portland Paddlers standout Nikhil Kumar dominated the 2025 NCTTA National Championships in Rockford, Ill., claiming victories in singles, doubles (with his new Paddlers teammate Sid Naresh), and the team title for UC Berkeley.
That’s not just a triple crown – it’s a loud reminder that college stars are reshaping the MLTT landscape and growing their respective games.
“I feel MLTT has helped prepare for when I play in crucial moments, given the Golden Point system we have in the league,” Kumar told MLTT.com. “I haven’t played in (many) competitions since MLTT Season 2 ended, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the results in the U.S. Nationals could benefit from playing in MLTT.”This summer will be crucial for MLTTers like Kumar. US Nationals (June 28–July 4) featuring a who’s who of MLTT stars, including Kumar, Amy Wang (Texas Smash), Jishan Liang (New York Slice), Sean Zhang (Chicago Wind), Daniel Tran (Chicago Wind), and Sid Naresh (Portland Paddlers).
Don’t be surprised if national performances foreshadow the MVP race in MLTT’s third season. Here are two more collegiate MLTTers who could benefit from this summer’s national circuit.
Sid Naresh, Portland Paddlers
Naresh, MLTT’s 17th-best player in Season 2, is set to compete in the 2025 FISU World University Games this July in Germany. He qualified as the No. 1 position on Team USA in the U.S. College Trials, adding another major milestone to his already impressive resume.
Amy Wang, Texas Smash
Wang exits MLTT Season 2 as a Women’s MVP nominee and enters the offseason as the top seed at Nationals in Women’s Singles. The Smash’s star has a packed trophy room already; Wang is a two-time Women’s National Champion and U.S. Open Champion who won Women’s Singles at the 2023 Pan American Championships and earned gold in Doubles and Teams at the 2023 Pan American Games.