India’s campaign at the Europe Smash Sweden 2025 witnessed contrasting fortunes on Thursday.
While the men’s doubles duo of Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah stormed into the quarterfinals with a confident display, other Indian paddlers bowed out after hard-fought battles. The highlight of the day came in the men’s doubles Round of 16, where Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah showcased their growing maturity on the international stage. Facing Poland’s young pair of Milosz Redzimski and Maciej Kubic, the Indians began on the back foot, losing the opening game 9-11 as the Poles pressed hard with aggressive third-ball attacks.
However, the Indians regrouped impressively. Manav’s quick service variations and Manush’s sharp left-handed angles came into play as they turned the tide. The duo struck a perfect balance between control and aggression, winning the next three games 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 to complete a 3-1 victory.
The win not only secured them a place in the quarterfinals, but also set up a blockbuster clash against Japan’s formidable pairing of Tomokazu Harimoto and Hiroto Shinozuka. The Japanese duo, both highly-ranked and known for their relentless pace, will pose a significant challenge. For Manav and Manush, the quarterfinal will be an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best in the world.
Singles Struggles: Manav Falls to An Jaehyun
In the men’s singles draw, Manav Thakkar faced South Korea’s An Jaehyun in the Round of 32. The contest was closely fought, but the Indian was edged out 1-3 (10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 12-14).
Manav started strong, matching An point for point in the opening game before narrowly going down 10-12. The Korean then raced to a two-game lead with a commanding 11-7 win in the second. To his credit, Manav bounced back in the third, playing with more aggression and variation to take it 11-4. The fourth game was the most intense of the match. Manav held game points at 12-11, threatening to force a decider. But An’s composure under pressure made the difference, as he won three consecutive points to close out the contest.
The narrow defeat ended Manav’s singles run, but his strong showing against a seasoned opponent highlighted his progress on the circuit.
Women’s Doubles Exit: Diya & Yashaswini Fall Short
In the women’s doubles Round of 16, the Indian pairing of Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade came up against Germany’s experienced duo of Wan Yuan and Sabine Winter. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, the Indians fell short, losing 1-3 (5-11, 10-12, 12-10, 9-11). The Germans started dominantly, taking the opening game 11-5 with sharp placements. The second game was a thriller, with Diya and Yashaswini holding two game points but failing to convert as the Germans edged it 12-10.
Refusing to give up, the Indians fought back in the third game. Yashaswini’s counter-attacking from the backhand wing and Diya’s quick flick returns allowed them to snatch it 12-10. But the comeback was short-lived, as Wan and Winter steadied themselves in the fourth, closing the match 11-9 to move into the quarterfinals. It was a spirited effort from the young Indians, but the lack of experience at crunch moments proved decisive. Still, the match provided valuable exposure against European veterans, experience that will serve them well going forward.
Mixed Doubles Quarterfinal: Manush & Diya Knocked Out
India’s mixed doubles hopes ended in the quarterfinals, where Manush Shah and Diya Chitale took on the experienced Romanian pair of Ovidiu Ionescu and Bernadette Szocs. The Indians started well, pushing their opponents in the opening game before going down narrowly 10-12. From there, the Romanians took control, combining Ionescu’s solid serves with Szocs’ sharp attacking instincts. The Indians struggled to impose themselves and eventually fell in straight games 0-3 (10-12, 3-11, 7-11).
Though the result was one-sided on paper, the opening game highlighted that Manush and Diya can compete with higher-ranked pairs. What they lacked was consistency in execution across games, something they will look to improve as the season progresses.
At the end of Day 3, India’s presence in Europe Smash Sweden 2025 has narrowed, with only Manav and Manush remaining in contention in men’s doubles. Their upcoming clash with Harimoto and Shinozuka promises to be a stern test. The day also reflected the growing competitiveness of Indian table tennis. While exits in women’s doubles, singles, and mixed doubles were disappointing, the matches were closely contested. Diya and Yashaswini stretched their German rivals, while Manav came within points of forcing a deciding game against a world-class Korean opponent.
For Indian fans, all eyes will now be on the men’s doubles quarterfinal. Manav and Manush, both left-handed-right-handed pairing specialists, have shown a strong understanding on court, which will be crucial against Japan’s top duo. Harimoto’s raw power and Shinozuka’s finesse are well known, but the Indians have the chance to pull off an upset if they maintain composure and capitalize on their service game.
As Europe Smash progresses, India’s young paddlers are gaining priceless exposure. With Paris 2028 just three years away, these experiences will form the foundation of future breakthroughs.
