Day three of the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026 produced some of the most dramatic moments of the tournament so far, as India’s Snehit Suravajjula and qualifier Nithya Mani stunned higher-ranked opponents to storm into the singles pre-quarterfinals at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University.
Co-hosted by Ultimate Table Tennis, Sharath Kamal Academy and Stupa Sports AI with the support of SDAT, the USD 300,000 event has already seen its share of surprises but Friday belonged to Snehit.
Snehit Saves Six Match Points in Epic Comeback
In what was arguably the match of the tournament so far, Snehit staged a stunning comeback to defeat Japan’s 13th seed Mizuki Oikawa 3-2 (9-11, 15-17, 11-4, 11-6, 18-16) in a 52-minute thriller.
The Indian trailed two games to love and looked on the brink of elimination. Oikawa, known for his explosive backhand and quick transitions, controlled the early exchanges and edged two tight games. However, Snehit recalibrated his approach in the third game, attacking earlier in rallies and taking initiative off the receive.
After levelling the match at 2-2, the decider turned into a nerve test of the highest order. Snehit saved six match points before converting his third match point at 17-16 to seal one of the biggest wins of his career.
“I was just telling myself to focus on one point at a time and not think of the score,” Snehit said later. “I made mistakes on the first two match points, so I didn’t want to rush anything.”
The 25-year-old admitted that losing two close games initially actually helped him settle. “I lost the first 9-11 and struggled to believe I could match his level. But the second game gave me confidence. I knew I was in the rallies.” Snehit now faces top seed Oh Junsung in the Round of 16 a test that will demand similar resilience.
Nithya Mani Announces Herself
If Snehit’s win electrified the arena, Nithya Mani’s breakthrough was equally significant. Ranked world No. 481, the Indian qualifier upset 14th seed Minhyung Jee of Australia 3-2 (10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7) to reach the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals.
The match swung repeatedly, with Jee using her experience to dictate tempo in patches. But Nithya showed remarkable composure in the final two games, stepping up her counterattacking game and improving her placement under pressure. Her reward is a Round of 16 clash against fourth seed Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei, who defeated Ayhika Mukherjee in four games.
For Indian women’s table tennis, Nithya’s run signals encouraging depth beyond the established names.
Sathiyan and Manush Maintain Control
While the youngsters grabbed headlines, experience also delivered.
Tenth seed G Sathiyan defeated Korea Republic’s Lim Jonghoon 3-1 (11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 13-11) in a high-quality contest. Lim, a former world top-10 player and current world No. 1 in mixed doubles, tested Sathiyan with aggressive third-ball attacks, but the Indian’s tactical maturity proved decisive in the closing points of the fourth game.
Sathiyan will now face Romania’s eighth seed Eduard Ionescu in the Round of 16.
Manush Shah, seeded 15th, also advanced with a straight-games win over Korea’s Park Gyuhyeon (11-6, 11-7, 11-9). The victory sets up a meeting with Czech Republic’s Lubomir Jancarik.
With four Indians in the men’s Round of 16, the home challenge remains strong heading into the business end.
Mixed Doubles Drama Ensures All-Indian Finalist
The surprises were not limited to singles. In mixed doubles, wild card pair Payas Jain and Syndrella Das upset top seeds Manush Shah and Diya Chitale 3-1 (12-10, 13-11, 10-12, 11-9) to reach the semifinals. The result guarantees India a place in the mixed doubles final, as Payas and Syndrella will now face fourth seeds Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade in an all-Indian semi-final.
The upset also underlines the increasing depth of India’s mixed doubles pool an event that has become strategically crucial on the global circuit.
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As the tournament moves into the knockout stages, the Indian contingent has shown both resilience and maturity. The blend of seasoned campaigners like Sathiyan with fearless challengers like Snehit and Nithya reflects a broader shift in Indian table tennis.
Friday’s results were not just about upsets; they were about belief under pressure. Saving six match points, overturning deficits, and winning fifth-game deciders require more than skill they demand conviction.
And in Chennai, that conviction is beginning to define India’s campaign.
