Chennai is buzzing with excitement as it gears up for the WTT Star Contender tournament, kicking off on March 25. This event marks a significant moment for Indian table tennis, with 13 players qualifying directly based on their rankings. It’s the largest presence of Indian players in any of the WTT events hosted in India.
The competition will be fierce, featuring top international talent. Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata, both ranked in the top five globally, will lead the charge. The tournament includes main draws for men’s and women’s singles with 48 players each, alongside doubles events in men’s, women’s, and mixed categories, all vying for a share of the $275,000 prize pool.
India’s representation in the women’s singles this year is notable, with four players: Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Ayhika Mukherjee, and Yashaswini Ghorpade. On the men’s side, legends like Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, and Harmeet Desai have also made the cut, showcasing the depth of talent in Indian table tennis.
Deepak Malik from Stupa Sports Analytics highlighted how this tournament marks a new chapter for Indian table tennis, noting the players’ achievements on the international stage and their journey towards the Olympics.
The men’s draw will have strong contenders like Harimoto and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, who made waves at the Paris Olympics. In the women’s bracket, the competition is equally tough with several of the world’s top players participating.
Vita Dani, a co-promoter of Ultimate Table Tennis, expressed her admiration for the players’ dedication. Competing at this level takes hard work, and she believes the Indian players are ready to showcase their skills on this grand stage.
Indian fans will be eager to watch Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah in doubles, as they are currently the highest-ranked pair in men’s doubles. Ayhika Mukherjee will team up with her sister Sutirtha, while Yashaswini Ghorpade will partner with Diya Chitale. This mix of familiar and new pairings promises to add excitement to the doubles events.
Kamlesh Mehta, Secretary General of the Table Tennis Federation of India, reflected on the growth of the sport in India. He noted that having more players qualify on merit shows the significant progress the country has made in table tennis.
With additional wild cards and qualifiers still to be announced, the competition is set to be intense. The singles main draw will consist of 25 direct entries and other nominations to form a highly competitive field. The doubles events will also feature a blend of top talents, making for an unmissable tournament.
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