India’s rising table tennis pairing of Manush Shah and Diya Chitale produced one of their most composed and complete performances on the international stage to defeat Koen Pang (Netherlands) and Zeng Jian (China) 3–1 in the mixed doubles quarterfinals at the WTT Contender Muscat 2026, booking their place in the semifinals after a tense, high-quality contest at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
The final scoreline 9–11, 11–8, 13–11, 11–6 only partly captures the drama of a match that swung repeatedly in momentum before the Indian duo asserted control when it mattered most.
A shaky start, but nerves of steel
The match did not begin in India’s favour. Pang and Zeng came out firing in the opening game, taking the initiative with aggressive third-ball attacks and clever placement. Despite Shah and Chitale matching them point for point until the late stages, the European-Asian pair edged the first game 11–9, capitalising on two crucial errors at deuce-range.
But what followed was the hallmark of a pair that is rapidly maturing at this level calm adjustment rather than panic.
From the second game onwards, Shah began dictating play with his backhand receive while Chitale became more assertive in the forecourt, cutting off angles and forcing weaker returns. The tactical shift paid dividends as the Indian pair reeled off points in clusters, opening a 6–3 lead before closing out the game 11–8 to level the match.
If there was a defining moment in the quarterfinal, it came in the third game.
Both pairs traded points in a pulsating rally of service changes, tactical variations and fast-paced exchanges. Shah and Chitale led early, Pang and Zeng fought back, and at 10–10 the game was balanced on a knife edge.
What followed was a showcase of India’s composure. Chitale produced a brave wide serve that forced a weak return, allowing Shah to finish at the net. On the next point, Shah’s deep backhand pinned Pang to the baseline, opening up space for Chitale to close with a forehand punch.
From 10–10, the Indians won three straight points to take the game 13–11, moving to a 2–1 lead in the match and shifting all the pressure onto their opponents.
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Sensing the momentum, Shah and Chitale never allowed Pang and Zeng back into the contest.
The fourth game saw the Indian pair race into an early 5–1 lead, combining sharp serves with relentless first-ball attacks. Pang and Zeng attempted to disrupt the rhythm by calling a timeout at 3–1, but the break only seemed to sharpen India’s focus.
Chitale was especially impressive in the closing phase, serving intelligently and staying aggressive on the return, while Shah controlled the tempo from the middle of the table. The pair strung together six of the last eight points to seal the game 11–6, wrapping up a deserved 3–1 victory.
What made the difference?
While both pairs were evenly matched technically, the Indians were superior in three key areas:
1. Serve and receive discipline: Shah and Chitale consistently neutralised Pang and Zeng’s opening patterns, forcing rallies rather than giving away cheap third-ball attacks.
2. Big-point composure: At 10–10 in Game 3 and 6–6 in Game 4, the Indians raised their level instead of tightening up.
This win is not just another semifinal appearance. It reflects the steady rise of India’s new mixed doubles generation, led by players like Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, who are no longer content with simply competing — they are now beating established international combinations.
The fact that they closed out a tense quarterfinal with such authority speaks volumes about their growing maturity on the WTT circuit. With their place in the semifinals secured, Shah and Chitale now stand just one win away from a podium finish in Muscat a result that would further underline India’s progress in doubles formats at the global level.
The semifinals will bring a sterner test, but based on how they handled pressure against Pang and Zeng, Shah and Chitale have shown they belong at this stage. Their blend of tactical clarity, fearless shot-making and emotional control is exactly what is required to survive and thrive in WTT knockouts.
At a tournament where margins are razor-thin, India’s young mixed doubles pair has just demonstrated that they have the nerve, the skill, and the belief to go all the way.
