India’s table tennis contingent experienced a day of contrasting outcomes at the Singapore Smash 2026, with encouraging progress in the doubles categories tempered by tough exits in singles and mixed doubles competition.
The standout performance of the day came in the mixed doubles event, where sixth-seeded Indian pair Manush Shah and Diya Chitale delivered a commanding performance to secure their place in the quarter-finals. The Indian duo registered a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Singapore’s Koen Pang and Jian Zeng, maintaining control throughout the contest to advance without dropping a single game.
Shah and Chitale looked assured from the outset, displaying cohesion in their shot selection and tactical clarity in their service returns and third-ball attacks. Their ability to dictate the pace of rallies and maintain pressure at crucial junctures ensured that the Singaporean pair were unable to establish any sustained rhythm. The straight-games win marks a significant step forward for the Indian pair in a tournament that features some of the strongest mixed doubles combinations on the international circuit.
There was further positive news for India in the women’s doubles draw, where Diya Chitale teamed up with Yashaswini Ghorpade to move into the Round of 16 with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Australia’s Jee Minhyung and Psihogios Constantine. After dropping one game in the encounter, the Indian pair regrouped effectively to take control of the match, combining defensive solidity with sharp attacking transitions to close out the contest.
Watch Indian Live Scores and Play Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
Chitale’s presence across both mixed and women’s doubles events continues to underline her growing importance within India’s doubles framework. The ability to adapt to different partners and formats on the same day is a testament to her evolving role in the national setup, particularly in multi-event competitions where scheduling demands often test both physical and tactical resilience.
In the singles category, however, India’s campaign faced a setback as Manika Batra bowed out after a competitive performance against fourth seed Zhu Yuling of Macau China. Batra went down 1-3 in a closely contested match, with the game scores reading 10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11.
Despite the defeat, the Indian paddler showed resilience throughout the match, particularly in the third game where she raised her level to reduce the deficit. The opening game proved crucial, with Batra narrowly losing 10-12 after pushing the higher-seeded opponent deep into extended rallies. Zhu maintained consistency across the next two games, managing the tempo effectively to prevent Batra from capitalising on momentum shifts.
Batra’s performance in the fourth game once again demonstrated her fighting spirit as she attempted to force the contest into a decider. However, Zhu’s composure in the closing exchanges ensured that the match was wrapped up in four games, ending the Indian challenge in that segment of the draw.
India also faced disappointment in another mixed doubles encounter, where Akash Pal and Australia’s Minhyung Jee were eliminated in the Round of 16. The Indo-Australian pairing went down 0-3 against China’s Youzheng and Yi, who controlled the match with precise placement and superior rally management. Pal and Jee struggled to find openings against a disciplined Chinese combination that minimised unforced errors and maintained attacking pressure across all three games.
As the tournament progresses, India’s hopes will now rest on its remaining doubles combinations, with Shah and Chitale’s advancement into the mixed doubles quarter-finals offering a strong opportunity to push deeper into the competition. Similarly, the women’s doubles pairing of Chitale and Ghorpade will look to build on their Round of 16 qualification as they prepare for the next phase of matches.
Watch Indian Live Scores and Play Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
With the Singapore Smash continuing to present a high level of international competition, India’s performances in the doubles categories provide a platform for further progress, even as the singles campaign comes to an early close for some of the country’s leading paddlers.
