India’s Top Duo Manav & Manush Storm into Semis at WTT Contender Skopje 2025
Skopje, June 13: Indian table tennis pair Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah continued their impressive run at the WTT Contender Skopje 2025, booking a place in the semi-finals of the men’s doubles with a dominant straight-games win over Romania’s Eduard Ionescu and Darius Movileanu. The top-seeded Indian duo prevailed 3-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-9), showcasing their growing chemistry and big-match temperament on the international stage.
The victory marks their second consecutive win in Skopje and puts them within touching distance of a spot in the finals. Manav and Manush have looked sharp and tactically astute, their left-right combination creating constant problems for opponents throughout the tournament.
Flawless in the Quarter-Final
Against the Romanian pair, the Indians were in control from the very first point. Using aggressive placement and quick transitions, they raced through the first two games, both with identical 11-4 scorelines. The third game proved tighter, with the Romanians finding their rhythm and engaging in longer rallies.
But at 9-9, Manav’s precision return and Manush’s reflex winner closed the door on any comeback. The final two points encapsulated their team synergy—fluid, fast, and fearless.
This semifinal berth is not just another line in their résumé—it’s a statement of India’s rising stature in doubles on the WTT circuit.
The Road to the Semis
The Indian duo had to dig deep in their opening round encounter against Puerto Rico’s Angel Naranjo and Oscar Birriel. After a convincing 11-6 start, they suffered a lapse in Game 2, losing 2-11. However, their experience showed in the pressure moments as they bounced back with a clinical 11-4 and then edged a tense fourth game 13-11 to take the match 3-1.
This gritty performance provided the springboard for the more confident display against Romania in the quarters.
Mixed Fortunes in Singles
While the doubles campaign flourished, Indian paddlers had mixed results in the singles draw at Skopje.
Manav Thakkar, currently India’s top-ranked men’s singles player, carried his form into the Round of 16 with a straight-games win over Slovenia’s Deni Kozul (11-6, 11-5, 11-8). In the earlier round, he had edged Taiwan’s Feng Yi-Hsin in a five-game thriller (8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7), demonstrating resilience and tactical maturity to come through in crunch points.
With two solid wins under his belt, Manav moved into the quarter-finals of men’s singles, where he is expected to face a stern test from Kozul’s doubles partner and tournament top seed, Dargo.
However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Manush Shah in the singles draw. He faced Croatian Olympian Tomislav Pucar in the first round and went down 1-3 despite showing flashes of his potential. After losing the first two games (5-11, 9-11), Manush fought back to win the third 11-7 but couldn’t sustain the momentum, dropping the fourth 5-11. It was a tough outing, but valuable experience for the left-hander as he continues to transition onto the senior tour.
Manika Batra’s Early Exit
India’s top women’s singles player Manika Batra suffered a disappointing first-round exit against China’s Fan Shuhan. The world No. 39 Chinese player proved too strong on the day, brushing aside Manika in straight games (11-6, 11-7, 11-8). Though Manika had patches of brilliance—especially in the opening exchanges—Fan’s aggressive backhand play and consistent counter-punching denied the Indian any real rhythm.
While the early loss was a setback, Manika remains one of India’s best bets on the global stage and will look to bounce back strongly in upcoming WTT events.
A Glimpse of What’s Possible
The standout story from Skopje remains the performance of Manav and Manush in doubles. Their understanding, honed over years of junior and national-level play, is beginning to translate onto the world stage. What’s most impressive is not just the wins—but the manner in which they’ve managed pressure situations, whether recovering from a bad game or finishing strong in a tight decider.
India’s success in singles on the WTT circuit has always faced stiff challenges, but the doubles format is proving fertile ground for breakthroughs. The chemistry, coordination, and adaptability shown by Manav and Manush is reminiscent of the successful Asian pairings from China and Korea—strong complementary styles with a shared understanding of space and spin.
What’s Next?
With a semi-final slot secured, the Indian pair will await their opponents from the other half of the draw. Regardless of the opposition, they’ll head into the next round with confidence and momentum firmly on their side.
Manav will also have his eyes set on continuing his impressive singles run, aiming to reach his first singles semi-final at a WTT Contender this season.
As Indian table tennis continues to search for consistent performances at the top level, results like these offer hope. In the rising arcs of players like Manav and Manush, the future of Indian doubles—and potentially Olympic aspirations—looks promising.
Summary of Indian Results at WTT Contender Skopje 2025:
- Men’s Doubles QF: Manav Thakkar / Manush Shah bt. Eduard Ionescu / Darius Movileanu (11-4, 11-4, 11-9)
- Men’s Doubles R16: Manav / Manush bt. Naranjo / Birriel (11-6, 2-11, 11-4, 13-11)
- Men’s Singles R16: Manav Thakkar bt. Deni Kozul 3-0
- Men’s Singles R32: Manav Thakkar bt. Feng Yi-Hsin 3-2
- Men’s Singles R32: Manush Shah lost to Tomislav Pucar 1-3
- Women’s Singles R32: Manika Batra lost to Fan Shuhan 0-3
Stay tuned as the Indian pair chase a spot in the final at Skopje, keeping the tricolour flying high on the international circuit.