The ITTF World Table Tennis Championships 2025 got off to a mixed start for the Indian contingent in Doha, Qatar.
While India’s top-ranked women’s singles player Sreeja Akula suffered an unexpected early exit, the rest of the squad delivered promising performances across singles and doubles events to move into the Round of 64.
Sreeja Akula Falls Short
India’s No. 1 and world No. 34, Sreeja Akula, endured a disappointing start to her campaign, bowing out in the first round with a 1-4 loss to Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut, ranked 84th in the world. Despite taking the opening game 11-9, Sreeja failed to build momentum and lost the next four games (8-11, 6-11, 5-11, 2-11) as the Thai paddler upped her tempo.
The defeat marks a premature end to Sreeja’s world championship hopes in the women’s singles category and is a significant setback for the Indian camp, given the expectations on her shoulders after consistent performances over the past year.
Bright Spots in Singles: Diya and Manush Advance
In stark contrast to Sreeja’s exit, both Diya Chitale and Manush Shah displayed control and maturity in their opening-round matches.
Diya cruised through her contest, securing a straight-games win (4-0) and looking in top rhythm as she booked her place in the Round of 64. The young Mumbai-based paddler showed improved defensive consistency and clever placement throughout her match.
Manush Shah added to the good news, as he registered a confident 4-2 victory over Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia.
The win was particularly encouraging, considering Apolonia’s experience on the international circuit. Manush’s attacking play and quick transitions helped him outplay his higher-ranked opponent.
Men’s Doubles: Manav and Manush Make a Statement
In the men’s doubles, the pairing of Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah looked clinical as they secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Slovenia’s Peter Hribar and Deni Kozul. With scores of 11-7, 11-8, and 11-6, the Indian pair never allowed their opponents to settle into the match.
Their coordination and sharp reflexes at the net kept the pressure on the Slovenian duo throughout, and this dominant win bodes well for their prospects in the tournament.
Women’s Doubles: Indian Pairs Show Grit
India’s women’s doubles combinations also impressed, with both pairs advancing to the Round of 64 after hard-fought wins.
Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee overcame a stiff challenge from the Turkish pair of Ozge Yilmaz and Ece Harac.
The Indians had to come from behind in a see-saw five-game contest, eventually prevailing 3-2 (4-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7). Ayhika and Sutirtha’s ability to hold their nerves in crunch moments proved decisive, especially in the fourth and fifth games.
The second Indian pair of Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade also impressed with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan’s Markhabo Magdieva and Asel Erkebaeva. After dropping the opening game 9-11, the Indians bounced back strongly to take the next three games 11-2, 11-9, and 11-8. The duo’s strong service game and effective third-ball attacks were key to their success.
With several players making it into Round 2 this year and the doubles pairs showing early promise, India has realistic hopes of bettering past results. The challenge will be to maintain consistency, particularly when facing higher-ranked opponents in the deeper stages of the draw.
The opening day of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships 2025 has been a mixed bag for India. Sreeja Akula’s early exit is a major disappointment, but the overall picture remains positive.
Diya, Manush, and the doubles pairs have provided encouraging performances, underlining the growing depth in Indian table tennis.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on whether this group can take the next big leap and script history by pushing into the later stages. With the right mindset and execution, Indian paddlers have shown they are ready to challenge the best on the world stage.
India at the ITTF Worlds: A Glimpse at Historical Highs
While India has made notable progress in table tennis over the last two decades, breaking through to the latter stages of the World Championships has remained a challenge.
Here are India’s best performances at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships across categories:
- Men’s Singles: Round of 32
- Sharath Kamal (2009, 2015, 2017)
- Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (2019, 2021)
- Women’s Singles: Round of 32
- Manika Batra (2023)
- Men’s Doubles: Round of 16
- Sharath Kamal / Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (2023)
- Women’s Doubles: Quarterfinals
- Mouma Das / Manika Batra (2017)
- Manika Batra / Archana Kamath (2021)
- Mixed Doubles: Quarterfinals
- Sathiyan Gnanasekaran / Manika Batra (2021)
Despite these credible results, India has never seen a semifinalist in any category at the World Championships. The 2025 edition provides another chance for the current generation to surpass these barriers and set new milestones.
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