It was a day of contrasting emotions at the Kalinga Stadium’s Athletics Centre as the 28th ITTF-ATTU Asian Team Table Tennis Championships entered its final stretch.
Reigning champions China were pushed to the brink by a spirited Japanese side before rallying to win 3–2 and book their place in the men’s team final. In the other semifinal, Hong Kong, China edged past Chinese Taipei 3–2 in a thrilling encounter to secure a well-earned shot at gold. For the hosts, the day brought both relief and reflection. The Indian men’s team signed off in sixth place ensuring their retention in the elite Champions Division while the women’s team finished eighth and now face relegation to Division One for the next cycle.
China’s semifinal clash with Japan was not just a test of skill but of championship temperament. For once, the world’s most dominant table tennis nation found itself two matches down and staring at elimination. Japan, buoyed by the brilliance of Tomokazu Harimoto and teenager Sora Matsushima, had set the tone with relentless aggression. World No. 4 Harimoto opened with a pulsating five-game victory over Lin Shidong (11–9, 9–11, 11–6, 7–11, 11–7), while Matsushima’s fearless counterplay saw him edge past Wang Chuqin, the world No. 1, in another five-game thriller. Suddenly, Japan were 2–0 ahead, and the usually unflappable Chinese camp was under real pressure.
But if there’s one thing that defines China, it’s resilience. Lin Shidong redeemed himself in the third rubber with a confident five-game win over Hiroto Shinozuka, before Liang Jingkun held his nerve in a gripping duel against Matsushima, saving multiple match points to level the tie.
That set up the ultimate showdown Harimoto versus Wang. The two produced a spectacle worthy of a final: long rallies, razor-sharp placements, and searing forehands that had the Bhubaneswar crowd gasping. After trading games evenly, Wang’s composure proved decisive in the decider. The Olympic champion sealed it 11–8, punching the air as China survived a major scare to stay on course for yet another continental crown.
Hong Kong Edge Chinese Taipei in a Five-Rubber Battle
In the other semifinal, Hong Kong (China) and Chinese Taipei produced a classic that swung back and forth until the final game. Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting gave his team the ideal start, outlasting Liao Cheng-Ting 3–2, before Taipei hit back with consecutive wins from Kuo Guan-Hong and Chang Yu-An to lead 2–1.
However, Wong returned to deliver a stunning performance in his second singles, dismantling Kuo 11–1, 11–7, 11–2 to force a decider. The final rubber was a rollercoaster Chan Baldwin dropped the third game 0–11 but regrouped brilliantly to defeat Liao 3–2, sealing Hong Kong’s passage to their first Asian Team Championship final in over a decade.
India’s Men Secure Top-6 Finish, Women Relegated
For India, the 2025 campaign ended with mixed outcomes but clear takeaways. The men’s team, captained by Manav Thakkar, bounced back strongly after a quarterfinal exit to Hong Kong to beat DPR Korea 3–2 in their first classification match a crucial result that ensured their continued presence in the Champions Division for the next edition.
That win was built on grit and balance across the lineup. Thakkar gave India the early lead before Ankur Bhattacharjee and Manush Shah stepped up with key victories to clinch the tie. The final playoff for 5th place saw India rest seniors and give exposure to youngsters Snehit Suravajjula and Payas Jain, who showed fight despite a 0–3 defeat to the Republic of Korea. The sixth-place finish, while below the bronze standard achieved in 2021 and 2023, was enough to preserve India’s top-tier status.
The women’s team, however, endured a difficult close to their campaign. With Manika Batra rested after a taxing schedule and Sreeja Akula unavailable through injury, India fielded a youthful side in the final two classification ties. After a 1–3 loss to DPR Korea a match that featured a crucial walkover conceded by Manika due to fitness issues India fell 2–3 to Hong Kong (China) in the 7th–8th place playoff.
There were bright spots: Swastika Ghosh and Diya Chitale both notched impressive wins, while Yashaswini Ghorpade pushed her opponent to five games twice. But the inability to close out tight rubbers proved costly, confirming India’s relegation to Division One for the next championship cycle. The 28th ATTC marked the first time in 16 years that India hosted Asia’s premier table tennis competition and the event delivered everything from dramatic comebacks to hard lessons in resilience.
For China, the semifinal scare against Japan may serve as timely motivation ahead of the final against Hong Kong, who will look to script the unthinkable. For India, meanwhile, the outcomes underline a widening gap in depth between the men’s and women’s squads. The men’s ability to recover from disappointment and secure the Top 6 retention points to a stable core and emerging bench strength. In contrast, the women’s results compounded by injuries, walkovers, and missed clutch moments highlight the urgent need for systemic support and mental conditioning before the next Asian cycle.
As Bhubaneswar bids farewell to the 2025 edition, the event reaffirmed two truths about Asian table tennis: China’s dominance remains unshaken, and India, while growing in depth, must continue building its competitive edge if it aims to reclaim its place among the continent’s elite.
