India’s Akash Pal produced one of the standout performances of his career to qualify for the Round of 16 at the ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup, navigating a challenging group that featured some of Asia’s finest paddlers.
Ranked World No.108 coming into the event, Akash finished the group stage with two wins and one loss to secure a place in the Top 16 knockouts a significant achievement given the depth and quality of the Asian field.
Learning from the Best
Akash’s campaign began against the toughest possible opponent World No.1 Wang Chuqin of China. Facing the top-ranked player in the world is rarely straightforward, and the Indian went down 0–3 (3–11, 9–11, 5–11). However, the scoreline does not fully capture the experience. In the second game, Akash pushed Wang to 9–11, showing glimpses of tactical sharpness and improved rally control. Against an opponent known for explosive forehand dominance and relentless tempo, the Indian had to absorb pressure from the outset.
While the defeat was expected on paper, the match provided valuable exposure against the global benchmark.
Clinical Response Against Abdulwahhab
The real test came in his second group match against Qatar’s M. Abdulwahhab. With qualification scenarios tightening, Akash needed a convincing result and he delivered.
He secured a straight-games victory, winning 11–5, 13–11, 11–8. The first game saw Akash establish early control, varying placement and forcing errors with quick backhand exchanges. The second game proved crucial. Trailing at key moments, he held his nerve to close it out 13–11 a psychological turning point in the match.
From there, he dictated play more confidently, sealing the third game 11–8 to move to 1–1 in the group and keep knockout hopes alive.
Five-Game Thriller Against Feng Yi-Hsin
Qualification ultimately hinged on his final group encounter against World No.55 Feng Yi-Hsin of Chinese Taipei a technically sound and tactically disciplined opponent. The match turned into a dramatic five-game battle.
Akash took the opening game 11–8 with aggressive third-ball attacks. Feng responded strongly to claim the second 11–5, using angles and quick transitions to disrupt rhythm. The third game saw Akash regain composure, winning 11–6 with improved receive quality and better mid-rally positioning. However, Feng again levelled the match, taking the fourth 11–5.
With everything riding on the decider, Akash showed remarkable mental strength. In a tense fifth game filled with long rallies and momentum swings, he edged it 11–9 to clinch a 3–2 victory and seal qualification for the Top 16. The composure displayed in that final game was arguably the highlight of his group campaign. Against a higher-ranked opponent in a must-win situation, he managed the pressure effectively and executed under stress.
Tough Test Awaits in Round of 16
Akash now faces another monumental challenge in the Round of 16 World No.2 Lin Shidong of China. Lin, one of the fastest-rising stars in world table tennis, combines speed, power, and tactical maturity. For Akash, the matchup represents both a stern examination and an opportunity to test himself against another elite Chinese player.
Regardless of the outcome, reaching the knockout stage in an Asian Cup field dominated by Chinese, Japanese, and Korean stars marks a breakthrough moment.
Elsewhere, India’s Ankur Bhattacharjee delivered one of the biggest individual upsets of the group stage, defeating World No.27 Chen Yuanyu of China in a gripping 3–2 contest. However, despite that headline win, Ankur was unable to gather enough victories across his group matches to progress to the knockouts.
The result underlines the unforgiving nature of Asian Cup group formats. In such elite company, one upset alone is rarely enough consistency across all matches is essential.
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Akash Pal’s qualification is a positive indicator for Indian men’s table tennis. Competing in Asia widely considered the strongest continental circuit in the sport demands technical precision, physical resilience, and psychological sharpness. With two quality wins and a hard-fought five-game decider under pressure, Akash demonstrated all three.
The challenge now is sustaining this level against the very top. The Round of 16 clash against Lin Shidong will test his ceiling but qualification itself is already a significant step forward on the continental stage.
