It has been a week of high drama, big scalps, and historic runs as Indian paddlers left their imprint on the WTT Contender Lagos 2025 in Nigeria.
From powerful performances in mixed doubles to standout singles victories, the tournament showcased the depth and rising consistency of India’s table tennis talent on the international stage.
The biggest highlight came from the mixed doubles pair Akash Pal and Poymantee Baisya, who fought their way to the final, while the women’s singles campaign was lit up by Sreeja Akula’s inspired run to the semifinals, including a stunning win over an established Olympic medallist.
Mixed Doubles Glory and Near Miss in the Final
Akash Pal and Poymantee Baisya’s journey in Lagos will be remembered as one of grit and confidence. The pair had already won two WTT Feeder titles earlier in their career, but Lagos presented a bigger stage against tougher competition.
They began strongly, defeating Altinkaya/Chambet-Weil 🇹🇷/🇳🇱 3-0 in the quarterfinals, followed by a composed 3-1 victory over Italy’s John Oyebode and Gaia Monfardini (11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10) in the semifinals. Their dynamic play with Akash’s controlled aggression and Poymantee’s sharp net interceptions proved too much for their opponents.
In the final, however, the Indian pair fell short against the French duo Jules Rolland and Prithika Pavade, who produced a clinical performance to claim the title with a 3-1 win. Despite the heartbreak, the silver medal remains a historic feat and the best-ever result for Akash and Poymantee at this level.
Notably, this run to the final was not about defending a title as sometimes suggested since the pair had previously won only at the WTT Feeder level. Lagos was their first WTT Contender final, marking a significant step up in their international journey.
Men’s and Women’s Doubles: Into the Semifinals
In men’s doubles, India fielded two strong pairs who advanced to the semifinals.
- Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Akash Pal overcame Essid (🇹🇳) / Weil (🇳🇱) 3-1 in the quarterfinals and then crushed the Ghanaian pair 3-0 in the semifinals (11-3, 11-3, 11-4), securing a spot in the final.
- Mudit Dani and Anirban Ghosh also impressed, beating a Nigerian pair 3-0 in the quarters before losing 1-3 in the semis.
The final will see Sathiyan and Akash take on the French pair Leo De Nodrest and Jules Rolland.
In women’s doubles, the combination of Krittwika Sinha Roy and Poymantee Baisya beat Nigeria’s Bello/Fashola 3-1 in the quarterfinals before going down 1-3 in the semifinals. Despite the exit, reaching the last four reinforced India’s improving depth in women’s doubles.
Sreeja Akula’s Semifinal Run and Big Upset
Sreeja Akula produced arguably the standout singles performance by an Indian paddler in Lagos. She began with a sensational win over Japan’s Hina Hayata a multiple Olympic and World Championship medallist sweeping her aside 3-0 in the Round of 32.
This shock victory not only boosted Sreeja’s confidence but sent a message that Indian women’s singles is ready to challenge established names on the world stage.
In the Round of 16, Sreeja defeated Italy’s Vivarelli 3-1 to advance to the quarterfinals. There, she delivered another commanding display, beating the 7th seed Jieni Shao 3-0, booking her place in the semifinals.
She is set to play semis against France’s rising star Prithika Pavade, Sreeja’s fearless brand of play highlighted by her aggressive counter-attacks and tactical serves makes her one of the stories of the tournament.
Men’s Singles: Steady Progress for Akash Pal
In men’s singles, Akash Pal carried India’s challenge into the quarterfinals. After beating Nigeria’s O. Omatoyo 3-0 in the Round of 32 and Cameroon’s Batix 3-0 in the Round of 16, he faced a tougher test in the last eight.
Despite his spirited performance, Akash went down 1-3 in the quarterfinals. Still, his run showed maturity and underlined his potential to become one of India’s top singles players in the coming years.
Earlier, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran beat compatriot Arnav Karnavar 3-1 in the Round of 32 before exiting in the next round.
India’s Growing Presence on the World Stage
The WTT Contender Lagos 2025 was special for Indian table tennis for several reasons:
A first-ever WTT Contender mixed doubles final for Akash Pal and Poymantee Baisya.
A semifinal appearance for Sreeja Akula, highlighted by her stunning win over Hina Hayata.
Both men’s doubles pairs Sathiyan/Akash and Mudit/Anirban reaching the semifinals.
A women’s doubles semifinal for Krittwika and Poymantee.
It shows how India is no longer just fielding isolated stars but building depth across singles and doubles. Performances like these strengthen India’s claim to be a rising force beyond Asia on truly global stages.
As the tour continues, Indian paddlers will look to build on this momentum. For Akash and Poymantee, converting finals into titles at the higher WTT Contender level remains the next goal. For Sreeja Akula, her fearless run is proof she can now target higher world rankings and deeper runs at Super 500 and Super 750 events.
Sathiyan’s leadership and steady play also remain crucial, especially as young names like Anirban Ghosh, Mudit Dani, and Krittwika Sinha Roy gain experience at this level.
In Summary
The WTT Contender Lagos 2025 was a statement: Indian table tennis is growing, maturing, and ready to challenge the world’s best not just occasionally, but consistently. And the best part? This feels like only the beginning. 🇮🇳🏓🔥
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