The ITTF World Championship Table Tennis Finals 2025 have kicked off in Doha, Qatar, and Indian paddlers are set for a high-stakes day packed with eight key Round of 64 matches.
Representing India across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events, the nation’s top table tennis players will begin their campaign with sights set on deep runs and potential upsets on the world stage.
This year’s championship runs from May 17 to May 25, with the world’s best paddlers descending on the Qatari capital.
For India, today, May 18, marks the first major test.
The Morning Sessions: Mixed Doubles Battles Begin
The day kicks off at 12:30 PM IST with two crucial mixed doubles ties:
- Manush Shah / Diya Chitale will take on Mehdi Bouloussa / Malissa Nasri from Algeria 🇩🇿 .
While Manush and Diya are a relatively young pair, they’ve shown promise on the ITTF circuit. Against the Algerian duo, India will fancy their chances of advancing to the Round of 32. - Harmeet Desai / Yashaswini Ghorpade face Thibault Poret / Leana Hochart of France 🇫🇷 .
This Indo-French contest promises to be intense. Harmeet brings a wealth of experience, and Yashaswini is one of India’s brightest emerging talents in women’s table tennis. The chemistry between the two will be key in navigating this mixed doubles opener.
Afternoon Spotlight: Doubles and Singles Action
At 3:10 PM IST, India’s men’s doubles pair of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Harmeet Desai are scheduled to take on the Austrian-Moldovan team of Maciej Kolodziejczyk and Vladislav Ursu.
This is a strong Indian combination, with Sathiyan and Harmeet having played together multiple times in international events. Their ability to anticipate each other’s moves and complement each other’s playing styles will be vital against a team known for its unpredictability.
Following that, India’s top-ranked female paddler, Manika Batra, will begin her singles campaign at 3:50 PM IST against Fatimo Bello of Nigeria.
Manika enters the Worlds as India’s main hope in the women’s singles draw. A consistent performer over the past few years, her unique long-pimple playing style continues to trouble opponents globally. Fatimo, however, is an experienced African champion and won’t be a pushover.
At 4:30 PM IST, two Indian men’s singles players will be in action:
- Ankur Bhattacharjee takes on Lam Siu Hang from Hong Kong. This will be a testing match for the young Indian, as Lam Siu is a seasoned competitor on the world tour and known for his aggressive forehand game.
- Manav Thakkar, once ranked World No. 1 in U21, plays Timothy Lau of New Zealand. Manav will be keen to assert early dominance and showcase his all-round game against the Kiwi.
Evening Showdowns: Sathiyan & Yashaswini Close Out the Day
The day will end with two late-night matches featuring India’s singles stars:
- At 10:20 PM IST, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran faces Thibault Poret (France).
This clash will be crucial for Sathiyan, who has had an inconsistent season so far. A confident showing here will help set the tone for the rest of the tournament and potentially restore his standing as India’s top male paddler. - The final Indian fixture of the day is at 11:00 PM IST, where Yashaswini Ghorpade takes on Jia Nan Yuan (France).
Jia Nan, a French international originally from China, is ranked inside the world’s top 30. This is arguably the toughest opening-round match for an Indian player today. For Yashaswini, who is still rising through the ranks, this match is a massive learning opportunity and a chance to announce herself on the big stage.
High Hopes and a Packed Schedule
Today’s fixtures mark the beginning of what India hopes will be a fruitful campaign. With representation in every category and a blend of youth and experience, Indian table tennis continues to grow its footprint internationally.
From veterans like Manika and Sathiyan to upcoming stars like Diya, Ankur, and Yashaswini, today’s schedule offers fans a full-day glimpse of India’s present and future in the sport.
All eyes will be on Doha as India begins its quest for breakthrough wins on the global stage.
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