The WTT Contender Buenos Aires 2025 turned into an exciting battleground for Indian table tennis, filled with determined performances, breakthrough runs, and a silver medal that slipped just out of reach.
Here’s how India’s top paddlers fared:
Mixed Doubles: Harmeet & Yashaswini finish as Runners-up
The mixed doubles pair of Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade put on a brave show throughout the tournament and reached the final, only to fall just short against the second-seeded Brazilian pair Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi.
In what proved to be a closely fought contest, the Indian duo lost 0-3 (15-17, 7-11, 11-13). The match was tighter than the scoreline suggested the opening game saw Harmeet and Yashaswini battling fiercely, even saving multiple game points before narrowly missing out at 15-17. The second game slipped away as the Brazilian pair found their rhythm, but the Indians bounced back in the third, pushing until the very end before falling 11-13.
Despite finishing as runners-up, this silver medal marked an impressive run for the fifth-seeded Indian pair, showing they can stand toe-to-toe with higher-ranked international opponents on the big stage.
Men’s Doubles: Payas Jain & Ankur Bhattacharjee storm into Final
Indian hopes remain alive for a gold medal, thanks to the sensational performance of Payas Jain and Ankur Bhattacharjee in the men’s doubles. Facing the home favorites and third-seeded pair of Lorenzo/Cifuentes from Argentina, the young Indian duo delivered an electric performance to secure a straight-games win: 12-10, 11-3, 11-6.
The opening game was a tense battle, with Payas and Ankur saving game points before closing it out 12-10. From there, the Indians took complete control — their fast-paced rallies, confident service returns, and quick net play dismantled the Argentine pair. The second game was especially one-sided at 11-3, and they wrapped up the match in style to march into the final.
Next, they will face Japan’s Hamada/Kobayashi 🇯🇵 as they aim to bring home India’s second men’s doubles title on the WTT stage this season.
Manav Thakkar’s solid run ends in Semifinals
In the men’s singles, Manav Thakkar had impressed with his run to the semifinals, which included a hard-fought five-game win over Germany’s Kay Stumper in the quarterfinals. However, his campaign ended against Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa, who proved too strong on the day. Manav went down in straight games 0-3.
While he couldn’t make it to the final, Manav’s journey to the semis adds another strong international result to his resume and keeps him in contention for future events on the tour.
A Week of Mixed Fortunes and a Glimpse into the Future
Though the mixed doubles final defeat was heartbreaking, the Indian contingent leaves Buenos Aires with plenty of positives:
✅ Harmeet & Yashaswini: Silver medal and a big confidence boost ahead of bigger WTT events.
✅ Payas & Ankur: Into the final with a dominant performance, proving that India’s new generation of doubles players is ready to challenge the best.
✅ Manav Thakkar: Another semifinal finish, showing consistency on the Challenger and Contender circuit.
India now awaits the men’s doubles final, where Payas Jain and Ankur Bhattacharjee have the chance to convert their dream run into a gold medal.
The WTT Contender Buenos Aires was proof of Indian table tennis’ rising depth and fearless new generation. From Manav Thakkar’s calm presence to Payas and Ankur’s fearless aggression, and Harmeet & Yashaswini’s composed silver run, Indian paddlers are showing they belong on the global stage.
All eyes now turn to the final clash against Japan, where Payas and Ankur will look to add another chapter to Indian table tennis history.
🇮🇳💪 Best wishes to Team India!
