The draw for the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu has been announced, placing India in Group 2, a pool that brings together a mix of Asian, Oceanian and European opposition.
According to the official grouping board displayed at the event venue, India will compete alongside Japan, Australia and Croatia in the first stage of this year’s competition. This edition of the Mixed Team World Cup is particularly significant, coming at a time when the mixed-team format continues to grow globally and will become even more prominent as part of future major international events. For India, the draw offers a balanced but challenging path one that provides realistic opportunities to progress while also demanding tactical sharpness from the very first match.
How the Groups Look
As displayed in the official grouping chart, the 16 participating teams are divided into four groups of four:
- Group 1: China, Egypt, Hong Kong China, Chile
- Group 2: Japan, India, Australia, Croatia
- Group 3: Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei, Sweden, USA
- Group 4: Germany, France, Romania, Brazil
The structure of the tournament is clear: only the top two teams from each group will advance to the Stage 2 round-robin phase. This makes every match in the first phase decisive, with little room for error.
India’s Group: A Closer Look
India’s placement in Group 2 sets up a set of intriguing contests.
Japan: Japan is the top seed in the group and one of the world’s strongest mixed-team systems. Their depth across both men’s and women’s sections makes them the natural favourites to top the group. India will need to produce a near-flawless performance to match Japan’s tempo, especially given Japan’s reputation for precision and reliability in mixed-format team events.
Australia: Australia adds variety to the group as the leading force from Oceania. Their team typically features a mix of experienced senior players and emerging young athletes. While India enters this contest as the stronger side on paper, Australia’s unpredictability and aggressive playing style mean that India cannot afford complacency.
Croatia: Croatia, representing Europe in this group, brings tactical discipline and strong defensive structure typical of European table tennis. While they may not have the same squad depth as Japan, they are capable of stretching ties and forcing longer matches. India will view this as a must-win fixture, but Croatia’s ability to impose pressure cannot be underestimated.
Why This Group Matters for India
The Mixed Team World Cup uses a competition format where adaptability is essential. Matches span multiple categories men’s singles, women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles meaning that nations with balanced squads have an advantage.
India’s placement in Group 2 offers two primary narratives:
- A clear but challenging route to qualification:
Japan are likely front-runners, leaving India, Australia and Croatia to battle for the second qualifying spot. - A realistic chance to progress:
India’s team has improved significantly across both genders in recent years. With the right tactical combinations in doubles and mixed events, India can be competitive against both Australia and Croatia.
Key to Qualification: Winning the Right Matches
Advancing to Stage 2 requires finishing inside the top two. For India, the pathway is straightforward in principle:
The crucial matches: Australia & Croatia: These two fixtures will likely decide India’s fate. Winning both would put India in an excellent position to progress regardless of the result against Japan.
Managing match sequences wisely: The image indicates that the tournament maintains its well-known mixed-team structure, where the order of matches can heavily influence momentum. Crafting the right mixed doubles pairing, choosing the strongest option in women’s singles, and maintaining consistency in men’s singles will be essential.
Game management: In this format, even game scores matter. Narrow losses and dominant wins can influence standings when teams are tied on match points.
The Group Compared to Others
A wider look at the draw shows that:
- Group 1 is headlined by China and looks heavily stacked in favour of the defending powerhouse.
- Group 3 is arguably the toughest overall with Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei, Sweden and USA.
- Group 4 features Europe’s traditional big names Germany, France and Romania making it another tight race.
In comparison, Group 2 is competitive but balanced, and India’s chances of progressing are significantly better here than they would have been in Groups 3 or 4.
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The Mixed Team World Cup is not just another seasonal event it is a major ranking and prestige tournament that sets the tone for future global mixed-team competitions. For India, advancing from the group and performing consistently in Stage 2 would:
- Strengthen their mixed-team credentials
- Provide valuable match experience against world-class systems
- Build confidence ahead of upcoming international cycles
With mixed-team events becoming increasingly prominent worldwide, this tournament is a crucial opportunity for India to test themselves, refine pairings and gain high-pressure exposure.
India’s draw in Group 2 at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup Chengdu 2025 presents both challenges and opportunities. With Japan as the dominant presence and Australia and Croatia offering varied threats, India’s performance will depend heavily on tactical clarity, disciplined roster management and strong starts in each tie.
The roadmap is clear: beat Australia, beat Croatia, challenge Japan and secure a place among the top two.
If India executes well, this could be one of the team’s strongest campaigns yet in a global mixed-team format.
India’s squad includes Manav Thakkar, Akash Pal, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, and Payas Jain on the men’s side, with Commonwealth Games champion Manika Batra leading the women’s team alongside Diya Chitale, Yashaswini Ghorpade, and Swastika Ghosh.
