India’s table tennis campaign at the WTT Contender Muscat came to a bittersweet close in the semifinals, with both Indian doubles pairs producing brave, high-quality performances before bowing out against formidable Chinese opposition.
While neither Manav Thakkar–Manush Shah nor Ayhika Mukherjee–Yashaswini Ghorpade could cross the semi-final hurdle, their runs underlined how close Indian doubles is getting to the very top tier of world table tennis.
Manav–Manush push Chinese prodigies all the way
In the men’s doubles semifinals, third seeds Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, ranked world No. 7, delivered one of their finest performances on the international stage. Up against second seeds Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng of China (WR 9), the Indian pair went toe-to-toe in a five-game thriller before narrowly losing 11–8, 9–11, 11–6, 8–11, 7–11.
From the opening rally, it was clear that the Indian duo were not overawed by their opponents’ pedigree. Manav and Manush brought their trademark speed and sharp angles into play, mixing aggressive third-ball attacks with compact defensive blocks. The first game belonged to India, as they took advantage of a slightly tentative Chinese start to close it out 11–8, with Manush especially impressive in controlling the forecourt.
The second game saw Lin and Huang settle into their rhythm, using their explosive backhands and relentless pressure to pull the match level at 1–1. But Manav and Manush responded superbly in the third, playing perhaps their best game of the contest. Their service variations caused repeated problems for the Chinese pair, and the Indians raced to an 11–6 win that put them one game away from a famous upset.
At that stage, the momentum seemed firmly in India’s favour. However, Lin and Huang, both part of China’s next generation of elite players, showed why they are so highly rated. They tightened their receive game, cut down on unforced errors, and began dictating rallies with more authority. The fourth game slipped away 8–11, taking the match into a decider.
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The fifth game was tense and fiercely contested. Manav and Manush stayed with the Chinese pair for much of it, trading blows and refusing to give ground. But in the closing stages, a couple of fine winners from Huang and a service ace from Lin gave the Chinese duo just enough of a cushion to see it through 11–7.
Despite the heartbreak of falling just short, the Indian pair left the court with their heads held high. Taking one of the world’s strongest young Chinese pairs to five games in a semifinal at a WTT Contender is no small achievement. It reinforces Manav and Manush’s status as one of India’s most reliable doubles combinations and shows that they can compete with the best when it matters.
Ayhika–Yashaswini show grit in women’s doubles
Earlier in the day, Ayhika Mukherjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade also produced a spirited display in the women’s doubles semifinals. The fourth-seeded Indian pair faced second seeds Qin Yuxuan and Zong Geman of China (WR 17) and went down 11–8, 6–11, 4–11, 9–11 in a match that was closer than the scoreline might suggest.
Ayhika and Yashaswini began with great energy and confidence, taking the first game 11–8. Their quick exchanges at the net and clever placement unsettled the Chinese duo, who struggled initially to find their rhythm. For a moment, it looked like another potential upset was brewing.
However, Qin and Zong gradually asserted control as the match progressed. They raised the tempo, hit flatter and faster through the middle, and forced the Indian pair into more defensive positions. The second and third games swung in China’s favour as Ayhika and Yashaswini found it harder to impose their attacking patterns.
To their credit, the Indian pair did not fold. In the fourth game, they fought back strongly, staying close on the scoreboard and pushing their opponents all the way to 9–11. There were moments when a comeback seemed possible, but the Chinese pair held their nerve in the crucial rallies to close out the match.
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Even in defeat, Ayhika and Yashaswini can take plenty of positives from their Muscat campaign. Reaching the semifinals at a WTT Contender event, especially in a draw featuring multiple higher-ranked pairs, is a strong statement about their progress and consistency.
While India will leave Muscat with a mixed doubles title, the performances of both pairs highlighted a growing competitiveness against the world’s best, particularly against China, traditionally the gold standard in table tennis. For Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, pushing Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng to a fifth game in a high-pressure semifinal was further proof that they belong among the global elite. For Ayhika Mukherjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade, a strong run to the last four reinforced their potential to challenge top-ranked pairs on the tour.
At the WTT Contender Muscat, Indian doubles did not just participate they competed, they challenged, and they came agonisingly close to breaking through. That, in itself, is a powerful sign of how far Indian table tennis has come on the world stage.
