India’s table tennis campaign at the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025 ended with Manika Batra’s Round of 32 loss, marking a disappointing exit for the entire contingent.
Despite a strong opening win against experienced Portuguese paddler Fu Yu, Manika could not get past World No. 21 He Zhuojia of China in the second round. She lost in straight games (0-3), bringing India’s singles and doubles challenge to a close.
The event, held from June 17 to 22, featured a sizeable Indian presence across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles draws, but only Manika Batra managed to register a main draw singles win.
Manika Batra Beats Fu Yu to Enter R32
In her opening round, World No. 38 Manika Batra put on an assured display to defeat Fu Yu of Portugal, a veteran of the European circuit and a multiple-time European Games medallist. Manika won the match 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-6), using her unique playing style to unsettle the defensive Fu.
It was a controlled and composed performance, one that briefly raised hopes of a deeper run in the tournament for the Indian No. 2. However, the draw got tougher in the second round.
Outclassed by He Zhuojia in R32
Facing China’s He Zhuojia, ranked 21st in the world, Manika found herself on the back foot from the outset. The Chinese player dominated proceedings with superior pace, variation, and tactical execution, wrapping up the contest 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-8).
This was the second time Manika had faced Zhuojia in a WTT event, and once again, the Chinese star proved too strong. Despite trying to disrupt rhythm with her long pips and tactical blocks, Manika couldn’t generate enough momentum to mount a serious comeback.
India’s Singles Challenge Falters Early
Apart from Manika, the men’s singles players failed to make an impact. Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, Harmeet Desai, Ankur Bhattacharjee, and Payas Jain were all in the main or qualifying rounds but none advanced beyond the Round of 64.
- Manav Thakkar lost 0-3 to a Chinese opponent in the R64.
- Harmeet Desai and Manush Shah did not advance beyond the qualifying stage.
- Ankur Bhattacharjee and Payas Jain also failed to progress.
This result reflects a growing gap between India’s second-tier men’s players and the elite field present at Star Contender events.
Mixed Doubles: Batra and Payas Show Promise
In mixed doubles, the pairing of Manika Batra and Payas Jain showed potential. The duo came through a hard-fought qualification match, beating Germany’s Wim Schöfisch and Patrick Franziska in five games (3-2) to enter the main draw.
Their main draw campaign, however, ended in the Round of 16, where they lost to the Hong Kong pair Yiu Kwan To and Ng Wing Lam 1-3 (11-6, 6-11, 9-11, 6-11). Despite taking the first game convincingly, the Indian pair struggled to maintain consistency and faltered under pressure.
Men’s Doubles: Early Exit for Both Indian Pairs
Both Indian men’s doubles pairs were knocked out in the Round of 16.
- Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah lost to South Korea’s Oh Junsung and Lim Jonghoon 1-3.
- Ankur Bhattacharjee and Payas Jain also failed to progress after qualifying rounds.
The inability of the men’s doubles pairs to sustain rallies and adapt to high-intensity matchplay once again exposed a familiar problem: lack of exposure and experience at this level.
While Manika’s early win over Fu Yu was a creditable result, India’s overall showing in Ljubljana highlights some concerning trends. The inability to consistently progress past early rounds in WTT events remains a major hurdle, especially for the men’s team.
India’s current top paddlers are often caught between the gap of solid Asian-level competition and elite European or Chinese dominance. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2027 Asian Games on the horizon, such performances raise key questions on the preparation and match-readiness of India’s paddlers.
For the likes of Payas Jain and Ankur Bhattacharjee, who are still early in their careers, exposure at events like these is crucial. However, bridging the gap will require not just participation, but results.
The Ljubljana campaign may have ended early, but the tour continues and so does the task of closing the gap with the world’s best.
