Mixed Doubles Shine, Singles Stutter : India’s Rollercoaster at WTT Contender Tunis with Diya Chitale defeating Manika Batra
The WTT Contender Tunis turned out to be a bittersweet campaign for the Indian table tennis contingent, with early exits in singles but impressive runs in mixed doubles.
While veterans faltered in the opening rounds, a younger crop rose to the occasion, especially in the doubles disciplines, offering plenty of hope amid the disappointment.
Singles: Rough Day for Indian Stars
The singles campaign was headlined by a commanding win from Harmeet Desai, who stormed past China’s Wu Yifei in straight games (3-0) in the Round of 32.
It was a clinical performance from the Indian ace, showing poise and aggression against a seasoned opponent.
However, the joy was short-lived as the rest of the Indian singles field struggled. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran was edged out 2-3 in a closely contested match against Iran’s Amir Hossein Hodaei.
Manav Thakkar ran into former World Championship silver medallist Mattias Falck and lost 1-3 despite a spirited effort.
On the women’s side, things unraveled quickly. former national champion Sreeja Akula continued her dismal post-Paris form, losing 0-3 to Sweden’s Christina Kallberg.
It was her latest first-round exit, raising serious questions about her form and confidence on the international stage.
The biggest upset, however, came in an all-Indian clash between Manika Batra and Diya Chitale. Diya, just 21, edged out the World No. 30 Manika 3-2 in a gritty contest, adding another high-profile scalp to her resume.
With this win, Diya’s record against Indian compatriots now stands at 10-4 across international events since 2023 — a 71% win rate that reflects her growing maturity and competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Yashaswini Ghorpade bowed out with a 0-3 loss to Japan’s Anne Uesawa, rounding off a forgettable outing for India’s top three women singles players.
Mixed Doubles: Indian Pairs Dominate
Where singles faltered, India’s mixed doubles teams stood tall. Three Indian pairs advanced to the quarterfinals with straight-game wins in their respective Round of 16 ties:
- Harmeet Desai/Yashaswini Ghorpade thrashed a Chinese pair 3-0,
- Sreeja Akula/Sathiyan Gnanasekaran outclassed Serbia 3-0
- Diya Chitale/Manush Shah repeated the feat against another Chinese pair.
Special mention goes to the teenage duo of Taneesha Kotecha and Ankur Bhattacharjee, who came agonizingly close to pulling off a massive upset against second seeds Tomokazu Harimoto and Matsushima of Japan.
The Indian youngsters took the match to a decider before losing 9-11 — a heartbreaker, but a performance that earned respect.
The Indian mixed doubles dominance continued into the later stages. Diya and Manush defeated compatriots Sreeja/Sathiyan in a tight 3-2 quarterfinal to reach the semifinals, underlining their fantastic chemistry.
On the other hand, Harmeet/Yashaswini lost 1-3 to the world No. 17 Brazilian pair, ending their run at the quarterfinal stage.
Men’s & Women’s Doubles: Mixed Fortunes
In men’s doubles, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah were clinical in their 3-0 win over a Japanese duo, progressing to the quarterfinals with ease.
However, Harmeet and Sathiyan couldn’t replicate the success, losing 1-3 to a French pair.
The women’s doubles also saw early exits. The experienced team of Sreeja Akula and Sutirtha Mukherjee was ousted 1-3 by a Chinese duo, while Ankur Bhattacharjee and Snehit Suravajjula also bowed out to China.
But Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade offered some consolation, breezing past Tunisia’s pair 3-0.
Key Takeaways:
- Harmeet Desai remains one of India’s most reliable performers, with impressive wins in both singles and mixed doubles.
- Diya Chitale has made a powerful statement, taking down Manika Batra and advancing to the semifinals in mixed doubles.
- The big three in Indian women’s singles — Manika, Sreeja, and Yashaswini — all suffered R32 exits, indicating a need to reset ahead of upcoming events.
- Youngsters Ankur and Taneesha showed great promise, nearly upsetting one of the world’s top pairs in mixed doubles.
The WTT Contender Tunis was a tournament of contrasts for India — the singles exits stung, but the doubles results, especially in the mixed category, brought joy and optimism.
As the season progresses, players like Diya, Harmeet, and the rising doubles pairs will be crucial in India’s continued ascent in international table tennis.
