Manika Batra Reclaims India No.1 Spot, Manav Thakkar Leads Men’s Rankings, a Look at Latest ITTF Rankings
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has released its updated rankings for the 26th week of 2025, revealing key movements in both global and Indian standings. While Chinese stars Sun Yingsha, Lin Shidong, and Wang Chuqin continue to dominate the world rankings, significant shifts have taken place within the Indian contingent, especially in women’s singles.
Manika Batra Returns as India’s No.1
India’s table tennis icon Manika Batra is back at the top among Indian women. Ranked World No. 47, she has reclaimed the No.1 national position after a notable 30-place drop by Sreeja Akula, who slipped to World No. 63. Manika’s consistent international appearances and high-scoring matches have helped her retain her place inside the top 50, with 575 ranking points to her name.
The 29-year-old, who has been India’s face in global TT for the better part of a decade, may have dropped one place in the world standings but has reclaimed her domestic supremacy.
Sreeja Akula Slips, Diya Chitale Rises
It was a difficult week for Sreeja Akula, who fell dramatically from the world’s top 30 to World No. 63 with 375 points. The reasons could be attributed to inactivity, early exits, or dropped points from previous events. Her drop allowed Diya Chitale, one of the brightest young prospects in Indian TT, to climb up to World No. 85 and become the new India No. 3.
Chitale’s rise (+1) is a positive sign for India’s youth development pipeline. With 269 points, she is knocking on the doors of the top 75 and looks poised for a breakout second half in the 2025 season.
Movement in Women’s Top 10 (India):
A notable upward mover is Swastika Ghosh, climbing four spots to World No. 110, and Taneesha Kotecha, who enters the top 10 Indian list with continued promise after her mixed doubles medal at the Asian Youth Championships.
Manav Thakkar Holds Firm at the Top in Men’s Rankings
On the men’s side, Manav Thakkar remains India’s highest-ranked player at World No. 46, despite dropping one spot. With 535 points, Manav continues to be India’s most consistent male paddler in recent months, backed by strong international showings.
Behind him, Manush Shah (WR 67) and Harmeet Desai (WR 75) make up India’s top three. While both have dropped a few places, their points tally (359 and 310 respectively) keeps them comfortably within the top 100.
However, the biggest drop came from Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, who fell 13 places to World No. 122. A former top-30 player, his recent slide suggests either a form dip or limited tournament appearances.
Movement in Men’s Top 10 (India):
While most players have seen minor shifts, young names like Snehit Suravajula (now WR 101) and Divyansh Srivastava are showing signs of long-term promise. The challenge remains to see more players break into the top 50 and top 25 globally—something India has not consistently managed in recent years.
Global Scene: Chinese Domination Continues
Globally, Sun Yingsha continues her reign as World No.1 in women’s singles, showcasing unmatched consistency on the ITTF Tour. On the men’s side, Lin Shidong and Wang Chuqin have taken the top two spots, extending China’s grip over international table tennis.
The gap between the Chinese elite and the rest of the world remains substantial, and for Indian players aiming for medals at major tournaments, closing that gap remains a long-term challenge.
As the 2025 season heads into its second half, Indian players will have several ITTF Contender and WTT Series events to gather momentum and ranking points. With Manav and Manika knocking on the doors of the top 40 and several youngsters breaking through the top 100, the signs are encouraging.
However, the goal remains clear: getting multiple Indian paddlers into the Top 50 and eventually the Top 25, making India a consistent force on the global circuit not just in mixed or team events but in singles categories as well.
With major tournaments like the Asian Championships and World Team Qualification on the horizon, the next few months will be crucial in shaping the road to Los Angeles 2028.
