Indian table tennis had encouraging moments at the WTT Contender Muscat 2026 as Manush Shah and Ayhika Mukherjee successfully negotiated the qualification rounds to enter the main draw, underlining India’s growing depth in international competition.
While not all qualifiers ended in success for the Indian contingent, the overall showing reflected steady progress and valuable exposure against quality global opposition.
In the men’s singles qualifiers, Manush Shah delivered one of the most assured performances of the Indian campaign so far. Facing France’s Esteban Dorr in the final qualification round, Shah was clinical and composed, registering a straight-games 3–0 victory to secure his place in the main draw. The match highlighted Shah’s ability to control tempo, dominate rallies early, and close out games without allowing momentum to swing.
Shah’s qualification carried added significance given the competitive nature of the men’s field. Earlier in the week, both Manush Shah and Payas Jain topped their respective qualification groups, setting up decisive final-round encounters. While Shah converted his opportunity, Payas Jain fell short in the last hurdle, losing to Singapore’s Pang Koen in the final qualification match. Despite the setback, Payas’ group-stage performance was a positive indicator, suggesting that he remains competitive at this level and capable of breaking through in future events.
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With Shah’s qualification, India will now have a solid presence in the men’s singles main draw. He joins Manav Thakkar and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, both of whom were already assured direct entry into the main draw based on their world rankings. This trio provides India with a balanced mix of youth, experience, and contrasting playing styles heading into the knockout stages.
However, the qualifiers also brought disappointment. Ankur Bhattacharjee and Akash Pal were unable to advance, failing to win their respective qualification groups. While both showed flashes of promise, consistency at crucial moments proved elusive, underlining the fine margins that separate qualification from early exit at the WTT Contender level.
The women’s singles qualifiers offered another bright spot through Ayhika Mukherjee, who produced a commanding performance in her final qualification match. Mukherjee defeated China’s Zhu Ziyu 3–0, a result that stood out not just for the scoreline but for the authority with which it was achieved. Against a Chinese opponent a benchmark nation in table tennis Mukherjee remained tactically sharp, varied her placements effectively, and kept errors to a minimum.
Earlier, Ayhika Mukherjee, Diya Chitale, and Yashaswini Ghorpade had all topped their respective qualification groups, giving India strong representation deep into the qualification phase. However, only Mukherjee was able to convert that momentum into a main-draw berth. Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade both lost their final qualification matches, narrowly missing out after promising starts. Their exits were disappointing but also reflective of the step-up in intensity that comes with one-match shootouts for main-draw places.
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With her qualification, Ayhika Mukherjee will now join Manika Batra, India’s highest-ranked women’s singles player, in the main draw. The pairing of Batra’s experience and Mukherjee’s recent form gives India reason for optimism as the tournament progresses into the knockout rounds.
Elsewhere in the women’s qualifiers, Taneesha Kotecha and Swastika Ghosh were unable to progress, bowing out before the final qualification stage. While the results did not go their way, the experience gained from competing in a strong international field will be valuable as they continue their development.
Overall, India’s qualification campaign at Muscat offered a balanced mix of progress and perspective. Manush Shah and Ayhika Mukherjee stepping into the main draw represents tangible success, while the near-misses underline the competitiveness of the WTT circuit. As the tournament now moves into the main draw and knockout stages, India’s focus will shift from qualification battles to making deeper runs an objective that now looks increasingly realistic given the quality on display.
