India enjoyed a mixed but encouraging day at the WTT Contender Muscat as Manika Batra and Manush Shah booked their places in the pre-quarterfinals, while Manav Thakkar delivered a performance full of promise by taking a game off world number two Lin Shidong.
Although Sathiyan Gnanasekaran bowed out after a close contest, the overall showing underlined the growing depth and competitiveness of Indian table tennis on the global stage.
The standout result of the day came from Manika Batra, India’s leading woman paddler, who once again demonstrated her trademark resilience in a tense five-game battle. Ranked 50 in the world, Manika was pushed to the limit by Russia’s Maria Panfilova, ranked 351, but emerged stronger when it mattered most. The final scoreline of 9–11, 11–8, 11–7, 8–11, 12–10 told the story of a contest that swung back and forth, with neither player willing to concede an inch.
Manika dropped the opening game after struggling to find her rhythm, but she responded with greater aggression and sharper placement in the second and third games to turn the match around. Panfilova refused to go quietly, taking the fourth game to force a decider, but in the crucial fifth game Manika’s experience came to the fore. Saving pressure points and staying calm under fire, she edged through 12–10 to seal her place in the pre-quarterfinals. It was another reminder that Manika’s biggest strength is not just her attacking game, but her ability to absorb pressure and come out on top in tight situations.
Manush Shah continued his impressive run in Muscat with one of the most dominant performances of the day. Having already negotiated the qualifying rounds, the 21-year-old Indian, ranked 58 in the world, looked supremely confident as he dismantled Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Guan-Hong, ranked 66, in straight games. The scoreline of 11–6, 11–6, 11–5 reflected the one-sided nature of the contest, with Manush in complete control from the opening rally.
Manush’s aggressive forehand, quick footwork and ability to dictate play from the middle of the table left Kuo with very little room to breathe. From the first game itself, Manush took early leads and never allowed his opponent to build any momentum. His win not only sends him into the pre-quarterfinals but also reinforces his status as one of India’s most exciting young prospects, capable of matching and overpowering players ranked close to him on the world circuit.
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While Manika and Manush advanced, Manav Thakkar provided perhaps the most encouraging performance of the day, even though he exited the tournament. Drawn against top seed and world number two Lin Shidong of China, Manav was always facing a formidable challenge. Yet the Indian youngster showed remarkable courage and quality, taking the second game off one of the best players in the world before eventually going down 4–11, 11–6, 2–11, 7–11.
After losing the opening game, Manav responded brilliantly in the second, using clever variations and fearless shot-making to disrupt Lin’s rhythm and take the game 11–6. Although Lin regained control in the third, Manav continued to fight in the fourth, pushing the Chinese star with some fine rallies before eventually falling short. Taking a game off the world number two at a WTT Contender event is no small achievement, and it highlighted Manav’s growing confidence and potential to compete at the very highest level.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, however, endured a frustrating day as he bowed out after a tight three-game loss to Wen Ruini of China. The Indian, ranked 54, was edged out 6–10, 10–12, 7–11 in a match that was closer than the straight-games scoreline suggests. Sathiyan had his chances in the second game especially, but a few crucial points slipped away, allowing Wen to close out the contest.
Overall, India’s campaign at the WTT Contender Muscat remains on a positive trajectory. With Manika Batra and Manush Shah moving into the pre-quarterfinals, and Manav Thakkar pushing the world number two in a high-quality contest, the day showcased both the present and the future of Indian table tennis. As the tournament moves into the knockout stages, Indian fans will be hoping that Manika and Manush can carry this momentum forward and continue their strong runs in Muscat.
