Indian men’s doubles stars Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar produced a commanding performance to defeat Noshad Alamiyaan and Navid Shams in the quarterfinals of the WTT Contender Muscat 2026, sealing a 3–1 victory and booking their place in the semifinals at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
The final scoreline 11–3, 11–3, 9–11, 11–8 underlined India’s dominance, even if the fourth game demanded a strong finish under pressure.
Lightning-fast start sets the tone
From the very first rally, Shah and Thakkar made their intent clear. Their footwork was sharper, their service variation more deceptive, and their third-ball attacks far more decisive than their Iranian opponents.
The opening game was brutally one-sided. Shah’s sharp returns repeatedly neutralised Alamiyaan’s serve, while Thakkar took control of the mid-table exchanges, putting Shams under sustained pressure. Within minutes, the Indian pair had raced away to a commanding 11–3 win, barely allowing their opponents to settle.
The second game followed the same script. Shah and Thakkar continued to target Shams’ backhand wing, forcing weak blocks that allowed Thakkar to finish points at the net. The Iranian duo attempted to slow the pace with longer rallies, but India’s superior placement and anticipation kept them firmly on the back foot. Another emphatic 11–3 put the Indians 2–0 up and on the verge of a rout.
Iranian resistance in Game Three
To their credit, Alamiyaan and Shams refused to fold. They adjusted their tactics in the third game, playing more aggressively on receive and stepping into the table to deny Shah and Thakkar time to build points. The game turned into a tight tactical battle. Both pairs traded early leads before the Iranians edged ahead in the closing stages. At 9–10, Shah and Thakkar fought off one game point, but a clever serve from Alamiyaan followed by a sharp Shams finish handed the game to the Iranians 11–9, giving them a lifeline in the match.
That single game did not just put a score on the board; it also injected belief into Alamiyaan and Shams, who began the fourth game with renewed intensity.
A tense fourth game and a clinical Indian finish
Game four was where the match was truly decided. The Iranians surged into a 6–3 lead, riding on aggressive serving and quick forehand exchanges from Alamiyaan. For the first time in the match, Shah and Thakkar were under genuine pressure.
However, this was where their experience and composure came to the fore.
Thakkar steadied the ship with a sequence of deep, well-placed returns that forced Shams into passive blocks. Shah then capitalised with two sharp backhand winners, swinging the momentum back towards India. From 3–6 down, the Indian pair clawed their way to 8–8, turning the contest into a nervy shootout.
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At this critical juncture, Shah produced two immaculate serves that drew errors from Alamiyaan, bringing up match point at 10–8. With the Iranians serving to stay alive, Thakkar read Shams’ push perfectly and ripped a forehand winner down the line, sealing the game 11–8 and the match 3–1.
What made the difference
While the final score suggests a straightforward victory, Shah and Thakkar had to work hard to close it out. Their success was built on three key strengths:
1. Return dominance: Shah’s ability to neutralise Alamiyaan’s serve gave India constant initiative in rallies.
2. Net control: Thakkar’s quick reflexes and finishing at the table repeatedly cut off Iranian counter-attacks.
3. Mental resilience: When the fourth game threatened to slip away, the Indian duo responded with calm, high-percentage table tennis instead of risky shots.
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This victory sends Shah and Thakkar into the semifinals of a WTT Contender event — a level where ranking points and confidence are both invaluable. More importantly, it reinforces their status as one of India’s most reliable men’s doubles combinations on the international circuit.
After also progressing in mixed doubles earlier in the day, Shah continues to underline his growing stature as a doubles specialist capable of delivering under pressure. With tougher opponents awaiting in the semifinals, this performance against Alamiyaan and Shams has given India’s pair both momentum and belief. If they can replicate the sharpness and composure shown in Muscat so far, Shah and Thakkar will be genuine contenders for a podium finish.
For Indian table tennis, it is another encouraging sign that its doubles players are no longer just competing they are dictating terms on the world stage.
