Hyderabad: India is making waves in table tennis at the WTT Star Contender in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. For the first time in the tournament’s history, two Indian doubles teams have reached the finals: Manush Shah-Diya Chitale in mixed doubles and Manav Thakkar-Manush Shah in men’s doubles.
Mixed Doubles Success
In mixed doubles, Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, ranked 10th in the world, showcased incredible teamwork. They defeated the fourth-seeded Chilean pair, Nicolás Burgos and Paulina Vega, with a clean score of 3-0 (11–7, 11–2, 11–7). Before that, they breezed through the opening round and a challenging Round of 16 against Gustavo Gomez and Daniela Ortega from Chile.
In the finals, they will face Japan’s Satoshi Aida and Honoka Hashimoto, looking to cement their place in table tennis history.
Men’s Doubles Journey
Meanwhile, in men’s doubles, the duo of Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah are on a roll. They began with a strong 3-1 win over Japanese qualifiers Satoshi Aida and Mizuki Oikaw, followed by a victory in the quarterfinals against Florian Bourrassaud and Lilian Bardet. Their semifinals were a tough five-game battle against Huang Yan-Cheng and Kuo Guan-Hong from Chinese Taipei (5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5). Now, they prepare to take on the second-seeded German team of Benedikt Duda and Dang Qiu in the finals.
Notable Reactions and Trends
Excitement around these performances is palpable on social media. One user tweeted, “New milestone unlocked! Manush Shah/Diya Chitale are the first Indian paddlers to reach the finals of a WTT Star Contender event!” This growing enthusiasm reflects the increasing popularity of table tennis in India.
Women’s Doubles Highlights
On the women’s side, Manika Batra and Swastika Ghosh reached the quarterfinals but were eliminated by the South Korean duo Joo Cheonhui and Lee Eunhye. While no pair made it to the semifinals this time, their progress indicates a bright future for Indian women’s table tennis.
The Bigger Picture
As table tennis continues to gain traction in India, these achievements highlight the country’s developing prowess in the sport. With star players like Manika Batra and Manav Thakkar representing the nation, there’s hope that the future will bring even more success on international stages. According to a recent survey by the Sports Authority of India, interest in table tennis has surged, especially among youth, as more schools include it in their physical education programs.
India’s singles campaign is also underway, featuring a mix of experienced and young players eager to make their mark. The future looks promising for Indian table tennis as these young athletes step onto the world stage.
For more updates on Indian sports achievements, you can follow reputable sources like The Times of India or ESPN.
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MANUSH SHAH, DIYA CHITALE, MANAV THAKKAR IN WTT EVENT FINAL, WTT STAR CONTENDER, UNIQUE FIRST FOR INDIA AS MANAV-MANUSH AND MANUSH-DIYA REACH THEIR RESPECTIVE FINALS
