India’s top table tennis players Sreeja Akula and Manav Thakkar will face challenging opening-round encounters after the draw ceremony for the WTT Champions Chongqing 2026 was announced.
The prestigious tournament in China, featuring the world’s top 32 players in both men’s and women’s singles, will see the Indian duo begin their campaigns against strong European opposition.
Akula will open India’s challenge in the women’s singles Round of 32, where she is scheduled to take on Wales’ Anna Hursey on March 10 at 12:00 PM IST. Two days later, Manav Thakkar will begin his men’s singles campaign against Germany’s Dang Qiu on March 12 at 9:40 AM IST, in what promises to be one of the most intriguing matchups of the opening round.
The Chongqing event marks the second Champions-tier tournament of the 2026 season, bringing together elite competitors competing for 1,000 ranking points and a prize purse of USD 800,000, making it one of the most significant stops on the global table tennis calendar.
High Stakes at the Champions Level
Unlike larger open-draw tournaments, the WTT Champions series features only the world’s top 32 players, ensuring high-quality matchups from the very first round. The format eliminates qualification rounds and focuses entirely on elite-level competition.
For players such as Akula and Thakkar, even a single victory in Chongqing carries enormous significance. A Round of 32 exit yields only 15 ranking points, while progressing to the Round of 16 offers 90 points, highlighting the importance of early-round success in maintaining or improving world rankings.
With the Asian swing of tournaments continuing through March, performances in Chongqing could shape seedings and opportunities in upcoming international events.
Akula Faces European Prospect Hursey
Sreeja Akula enters the tournament as India’s lone women’s singles player and one of the country’s most consistent performers on the WTT circuit in recent seasons.
Her Round of 32 clash against Anna Hursey represents an interesting stylistic contest between contrasting playing philosophies. Akula’s game is built around a disruptive tactical approach that relies heavily on variation and control, while Hursey’s style reflects the traditional European attacking system centred on aggressive topspin rallies.
Akula’s ability to absorb pressure and extend rallies has become one of her key strengths on the tour. She has frequently demonstrated patience in longer exchanges, forcing opponents into errors while carefully manipulating spin and placement. Her rise over the past two years has been marked by a series of notable victories against higher-ranked opponents. Those performances have helped establish her as a regular presence in elite tournaments such as the WTT Champions series.
Hursey, however, will present a difficult challenge. The Welsh player has emerged as one of Europe’s promising young talents and has gained valuable experience against top-tier competition. Her powerful forehand and stable backhand make her particularly dangerous in fast-paced exchanges.
The match could ultimately hinge on whether Akula can successfully disrupt Hursey’s rhythm and extend rallies into tactical battles rather than outright power exchanges.
Manav Thakkar’s Tough Test Against Dang Qiu
In the men’s singles draw, Manav Thakkar faces one of the most technically accomplished players on the European circuit in Germany’s Dang Qiu.
Qiu, a leading figure in German table tennis, is widely known for his mastery of the penhold grip, a traditional style that offers exceptional wrist flexibility and close-to-table control. His game combines precise placement with quick attacking transitions, making him particularly dangerous in the opening phases of rallies.
Thakkar, meanwhile, represents the modern Indian shakehand attacking style built on speed, reflexes, and aggressive play close to the table. Over the past year, he has produced several impressive performances against top players, showcasing his ability to challenge established names on the global stage.
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One of Thakkar’s biggest strengths lies in his early timing and quick ball contact, which allows him to neutralize powerful opponents by reducing their reaction time. Maintaining this tempo will be crucial against Qiu, whose tactical intelligence and service variations are among the best in Europe.
The match is expected to be decided largely by the battle for initiative in the early stages of rallies, particularly through aggressive service returns and quick counter-attacks.
Growing Indian Presence in Global Table Tennis
The presence of both Akula and Thakkar in the main draw highlights India’s growing influence in international table tennis. Over the past decade, the country has steadily improved its competitive depth through increased exposure to international events, enhanced coaching infrastructure, and the emergence of several young players capable of competing with the world’s best.
Domestic leagues and the hosting of international tournaments in India have also played a role in accelerating development. Regular exposure to elite competition has helped Indian players adapt to the tactical and physical demands of top-level table tennis.
Akula’s rise in the women’s game and Thakkar’s progress in the men’s circuit reflect this broader shift within Indian table tennis. While both players face difficult opening matches, their participation in the Champions-tier event itself underscores the progress India has made on the global stage.
Akula’s composure in long rallies and Thakkar’s explosive close-to-table game give them the tools to challenge their higher-ranked opponents. However, success will depend on executing their strategies under the intense pressure of the single-table format used in the Champions series.
The Chongqing event, played under the distinctive “purple light” arena environment designed for global broadcast audiences, often amplifies the psychological demands of competition. For Indian fans, the upcoming matches provide an opportunity to witness two of the country’s most promising players compete against elite international opposition.
As the tournament begins in Chongqing, both Akula and Thakkar will aim to produce strong performances and push deeper into the draw, continuing India’s steady climb in world table tennis.
