It was a testing evening for Indian paddlers at the China Smash 2025 as both of the country’s mixed doubles pairs bowed out in the round of 16 against world-class Chinese opposition.
The defeats meant an early end to India’s mixed doubles challenge in Beijing, underlining the steep climb still ahead in competing with the very best in global table tennis. India’s fifth seeds Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, one of the most experienced Indian pairs on the international circuit, faced China’s Chen Yi and Huang Youzheng in their R16 clash. Unfortunately for the Indian duo, the Chinese combination was relentless from the very start, handing them a straight-games defeat 5-11, 6-11, 4-11.
The scoreline reflected the control Chen and Huang exerted over the match. Manush and Diya, who had looked sharp in earlier rounds, struggled to adjust to the pace and spin variation of the Chinese pair. The rallies were dominated by Chen Yi’s aggressive forehand strokes, while Huang’s sharp placements kept the Indians constantly on the back foot. For Manush and Diya, this result was a setback, given their seeding and the expectations riding on them. They entered the tournament as one of the top-eight pairs but found themselves undone by the intensity of the Chinese, who never allowed them breathing space.
This loss also highlighted the larger gap that continues to exist between India’s doubles pairings and the Chinese, who have traditionally set the global standard in the sport.
Yashaswini-Aditya Put Up a Fight
If Manush and Diya’s exit was straightforward, the match featuring India’s Yashaswini Ghorpade and Australia’s Aditya Sareen against China’s Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha provided far more intrigue.
The Indo-Australian duo stunned the Chinese by clinching the opening game 13-11, capitalising on Sun’s few early errors and Sareen’s aggressive play on the forehand wing. For a brief period, the upset looked possible as the unseeded pair showed no signs of stage fright against the three-time world champions.
But Wang and Sun, widely regarded as one of the most dominant mixed doubles pairings in table tennis history, regrouped swiftly. With improved coordination and relentless attacking play, they turned the tide, winning the next three games 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 to seal the contest 3-1. For Yashaswini, who is still establishing herself on the senior international circuit, the experience of facing players of Wang and Sun’s calibre will be invaluable. Though the result went against them, taking a game off such a decorated Chinese pair was an achievement in itself.
The Chinese champions will now face Chen Yuanyu and Kuai Man in the quarterfinals, keeping alive the possibility of an all-China final in the mixed doubles draw.
Singles Setback: Sreeja Falls to Wang Yidi
The day also brought disappointment in singles, with India’s Sreeja Akula bowing out in the women’s singles round of 32. Facing world No. 2 Wang Yidi, Sreeja struggled to find her rhythm and went down in straight games, 0-3, unable to counter Wang’s aggressive and precise ball placement. This result was expected given the gulf in rankings and experience, but it reinforced the challenge Indian paddlers face against China’s depth in singles.
India’s mixed doubles campaign in Beijing may have ended earlier than hoped, but the performances reflect both progress and the areas still needing work. The partnership of Manush Shah and Diya Chitale has shown flashes of promise in the past year, but converting seeding advantage into big-stage wins remains an area to improve. Their straight-games defeat will likely be a learning curve in understanding the tactical sharpness required against Chinese pairs.
On the other hand, Yashaswini Ghorpade’s presence in the round of 16 itself is a positive sign. Paired with Aditya Sareen, the 20-year-old from Karnataka held her own against Olympic gold medallists and even managed to put them under pressure. For India, developing and backing such young talents will be key to narrowing the gap with Asia’s giants.
The bigger picture also shows India slowly but surely making inroads in doubles formats. While consistency is still lacking, exposure at events like the China Smash where the world’s best gather offers invaluable lessons.
With the mixed doubles journey ending in Beijing, India’s hopes will now shift to the men’s and women’s doubles events, where pairs like Manav Thakkar/Manush Shah continue to remain in contention. On the singles side, all eyes remain on senior player Manika Batra, who will look to progress further in their respective draws.
The China Smash, staged in Beijing, is part of the elite WTT Smash series and carries one of the most competitive fields in world table tennis. For Indian players, just being part of the main draw against top-seeded opposition is itself a reflection of the sport’s growth in the country.
Day 4 of the China Smash 2025 was a reminder of the gulf that still exists between India’s paddlers and China’s world-leading stars. For Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, it was a missed opportunity to make a deeper run despite their seeding, while for Yashaswini Ghorpade, the experience of taking a game off Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha may well become a building block in her career.
With Sreeja Akula also exiting the singles draw, the focus now shifts to India’s remaining doubles and singles contenders. The journey at the China Smash continues, but Thursday’s results underline both the progress made and the work that lies ahead if India is to consistently challenge the sport’s powerhouses.
