India’s campaign at the 28th ITTF-ATTU Asian Team Table Tennis Championships came to an abrupt end on home soil, as both the men’s and women’s teams bowed out in the quarterfinals at the Kalinga Stadium Indoor Hall.
The results marked a disappointing outcome for the double bronze medalists from the 2024 edition, who entered the 2025 tournament with high expectations and a favorable draw. India’s men’s team, chasing a fourth consecutive Asian Team Championships medal, fell 0–3 to Hong Kong, China, in what turned out to be a one-sided quarterfinal encounter. Despite flashes of fight from the young squad, India couldn’t convert tight situations into wins.
Opening the tie, Manush Shah faced the experienced Wong Chun Ting, currently among Asia’s most consistent performers. The left-hander from India showed glimpses of his attacking flair but was unable to break Wong’s rhythm, losing 5–11, 9–11, 11–13 in straight games. The early deficit set the tone for what became a difficult evening for the hosts.
Next up, Manav Thakkar took on Chan Baldwin in a tense five-game thriller that reflected India’s fighting spirit but also their lack of composure in key moments. After dropping the first two games 8–11, 8–11, Manav bounced back strongly to take the next two 12–10 and 11–9, showing improved placement and counter-attacking. However, Chan held firm in the decider, prevailing 11–8 to seal the match and give Hong Kong a 2–0 lead.
With India’s hopes hanging by a thread, debutant Ankur Bhattacharjee walked into his first senior team appearance under immense pressure. Facing Lam Siu Hang, Ankur started well, taking the opening game 11–7 and pushing the next two into extended points. Yet, experience made the difference Lam clawed back to win 7–11, 11–9, 14–12, 6–11, 7–11. The narrow loss summed up India’s evening: close, competitive, but ultimately unsuccessful.
The result means India’s men’s team will now fight for classification spots (5th–8th), bringing an end to their medal hopes this year. It was a particularly deflating result for a squad that had entered Bhubaneswar with belief after securing bronze medals in the past three editions and had the backing of a strong home crowd.
Women’s Team: Comeback Falls Just Short
If the men’s exit was disappointing, the women’s team’s loss was downright heartbreaking. The Manika Batra-led squad went down 2–3 to Singapore, despite a spirited fightback that saw them rally from 0–2 down to level the tie before faltering in the final match.
India started poorly, with Manika Batra falling 1–3 to Tan Zhao Yun (8–11, 7–11, 11–6, 8–11). Manika, who has often been India’s backbone in team events, struggled to handle Tan’s quick exchanges and precision placement early on. The Indian ace pulled one game back but couldn’t sustain her rhythm long enough to force a decider.
The pressure then shifted to Diya Chitale, who came agonizingly close to levelling the tie but fell 2–3 to Zeng Jian (11–3, 10–12, 9–11, 11–5, 9–11). Diya, making her mark as India’s emerging singles player, had several game points in the second and fifth games but couldn’t close them out against Zeng’s sharp counter-attacks.
With the team trailing 0–2, Yashaswini Ghorpade delivered India’s first win, defeating Ser Lin Qian 3–0 (11–7, 11–8, 11–8). Playing with aggressive intent and tactical clarity, the 20-year-old produced one of her best performances in Indian colours, keeping India’s hopes alive and energizing the home crowd.
That momentum carried into the next match, where Manika Batra redeemed herself by defeating Zeng Jian 3–1 (11–9, 8–11, 11–8, 12–10). It was a crucial victory that tied the tie at 2–2 and highlighted India’s resilience under pressure. Manika’s ability to mix spin and sudden changes of pace troubled Zeng, and her calm finish in the fourth game gave India a lifeline.
Everything came down to the final rubber between Diya Chitale and Tan Zhao Yun a rematch that mirrored the tie’s opening match but ended with the same result. Tan dominated from start to finish, winning 3–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–4) to clinch the tie for Singapore 3–2. Diya appeared mentally drained after her earlier five-game battle, and Tan’s relentless consistency sealed Singapore’s place in the semifinals.
Both Indian teams entered the quarterfinals with encouraging draws and realistic medal ambitions. However, the absence of Sreeja Akula, who was ruled out with an injury, left a visible void in the women’s lineup. Her steady presence in singles could have made a decisive difference against Singapore.
In contrast, the men’s team suffered from inconsistency at key junctures every match featured close games but lacked finishing strength. Despite the tactical preparation, the execution fell short when it mattered most.
India will now turn to the 5th–8th classification rounds, where both squads will look to regain confidence and finish their home campaign on a positive note. The focus will also shift to building experience for younger players like Yashaswini and Ankur, who showed promise despite the results. The 2025 Asian Team Championships were meant to showcase India’s growing stature in continental table tennis. Instead, they served as a reminder of how narrow the margins remain at the elite level.
As head coach and his staff regroup, the emphasis will be on consistency, mental toughness, and closing out tight matches the difference between heartbreak and history.
