India’s young table tennis talent enjoyed a strong start at the inaugural WTT Feeder Vadodara 2026, with Jash Modi, Parth Magar and Sarthak Arya topping their respective groups to progress to the qualifying knockout round at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex on Thursday.
The tournament is presented by the Sports Authority of Gujarat, hosted by the Table Tennis Association of Baroda, and implemented by Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT).
The WTT Feeder Series marks a significant addition to India’s international table tennis calendar, offering domestic players valuable ranking points and exposure against quality opposition. The men’s singles qualifying stage features a group phase followed by a knockout round, from which eight players will earn spots in the main draw.
Among the standout performers on the day was Jash Modi, who delivered a series of commanding performances in Group 3. Having already accounted for third seed Rubin Maharjan earlier in the group stage, Modi completed his campaign with a dominant 11-1, 11-7, 11-1 win over Bhutan’s Dorji Leki. The margin of victory underlined Modi’s sharp control in rallies and his ability to dictate play from the outset, traits that have become increasingly evident in his recent domestic outings.
By finishing top of Group 3, Modi booked a clash with fifth seed Sriram Sivam in the qualifying knockout round. Sivam topped Group 5 with two wins and is expected to provide a stern test, making the encounter one of the more anticipated match-ups in the qualifying phase.
Parth Magar also impressed with his consistency in Group 2, where he sealed top spot by defeating Harsh Merotha 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 in his second match of the day. Magar’s straight-games victory reflected his ability to maintain pressure across games, rarely allowing his opponent to settle into a rhythm. With a compact technique and steady serve-receive game, Magar has quietly built momentum in the early stages of the tournament.
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He will now face ninth seed Mehan Senthil in the knockout round, a contest that promises to be closely fought given Senthil’s experience at the national and international level. For Magar, the match represents an opportunity to test himself against higher-seeded opposition and push closer to a main draw berth.
In Group 11, Sarthak Arya produced one of the most emphatic wins of the day, overpowering Shayan Sarkar 11-2, 11-5, and 11-3 to secure the top position in his group. Arya’s aggressive approach and quick transitions from defense to attack allowed him to dominate points early, leaving Sarkar with little room to mount a comeback. The performance highlighted Arya’s growing confidence on the international circuit, particularly in matches where he can impose his pace on the game.
Arya’s reward is a knockout-round encounter against the experienced Regan Albuquerque. Known for his tactical awareness and match management, Albuquerque will pose a different challenge altogether, forcing Arya to adapt and remain patient in longer exchanges.
While the men’s singles qualifiers drew much of the attention, the mixed doubles qualifying rounds also produced notable results. Top seeds Regan Albuquerque and Suhana Saini were made to work hard before edging past Sriram Sivan and Ananya Muralidharan in a tense five-game encounter. After dropping the opening game 5-11, Albuquerque and Saini regrouped to take the next two games 11-9, 11-9, only to see their opponents level the match by winning the fourth 11-9. The top seeds eventually held their nerve in a closely contested decider, clinching the fifth game 12-10 to advance.
In contrast, the second-seeded pair of Abhinandh Pradhivadhi and Nithya Mani recorded a dominant win, bringing an end to the campaign of Dhairya Parmar and Anusha Kutumbale with a comprehensive 11-0, 11-0, 11-0 victory. The result underlined the gap in experience and execution between the two pairs, with Pradhivadhi and Mani barely allowing their opponents to get into the contest.
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As the WTT Feeder Series Vadodara progresses into the knockout stages, the focus will shift to which of these qualifiers can make the transition into the main draw and sustain their form against tougher opposition. For Indian players, the tournament represents more than just results; it is a platform to measure themselves against international standards on home soil.
With promising performances already on display, the early signs suggest that the event is fulfilling its role as a vital stepping stone in India’s table tennis pathway.
