Indian table tennis enjoyed one of its most significant mixed doubles moments in recent memory as Manush Shah and Diya Chitale lifted the WTT Contender Muscat title, defeating China’s Huang Youzheng and Shi Xunyao in a gripping five-game final.
The third-seeded Indian pair prevailed 3–2 in a match that swung wildly in momentum before being settled by ice-cold nerves in the decider, as they closed out the contest 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 5-11, 13-11 to secure their second WTT Contender crown after their triumph in Tunis last year.
For Indian table tennis, beating a Chinese pair for a title is never routine. Even though Huang and Shi were seeded fourth and ranked outside the top 30 as a pair, the pedigree and technical depth of Chinese players make them formidable in any situation. That is what made Shah and Chitale’s performance in Muscat all the more impressive they did not just survive the pressure, they embraced it.
The final was a mirror of their entire campaign in Oman: bold when in control, resilient when challenged, and unflinching when everything was on the line.
The opening game set the tone. Shah and Chitale came out with aggression, using Diya’s sharp backhand exchanges to create openings for Manush’s forehand attacks. Their service variations unsettled the Chinese duo early, allowing the Indians to pull away quickly and take the first game 11-5. It was a statement start confident, assertive, and fearless.
As expected, Huang and Shi responded in the second game with adjustments. They tightened their returns, attacked the Indian serves more decisively, and began to take control of the mid-table rallies. The momentum flipped, and the Chinese pair claimed the second game 11-5, leveling the match and resetting the battle.
The third game saw Shah and Chitale reassert themselves. Instead of getting drawn into extended exchanges, the Indians chose to strike earlier in the rally, a tactic that paid off handsomely. Shah’s forehand winners and Chitale’s ability to place the ball wide under pressure helped India regain control. They closed out the third game 11-5, moving one game away from the title.
Once again, however, the Chinese duo refused to fade. The fourth game followed a similar pattern to the second, with Huang and Shi finding a higher gear, especially on serve and receive. The Indians were forced onto the back foot, and the Chinese pair took the game 11-5, forcing a deciding fifth.
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The final game was everything a championship decider should be tense, volatile, and filled with momentum swings. Both pairs traded points, neither willing to give an inch. With the score locked at 10-10, every rally felt like it could decide the title. Under that pressure, Shah and Chitale showed remarkable composure. They stayed disciplined, chose their shots carefully, and refused to rush. Two clutch points later, they sealed the game 13-11, collapsing in celebration as Indian tricolours rose around the arena.
This victory was the culmination of a remarkable run that began with an extraordinary semifinal comeback. Earlier in the day, Shah and Chitale had produced one of the matches of the tournament, rallying from two games down to defeat France’s Thibault Poret and Charlotte Lutz in a pulsating five-game thriller.
The French duo had arrived in the semifinal with confidence, having earlier upset the top-seeded Hong Kong pair of Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem. They started strongly against the Indians as well, taking the first two games 12-10 and 11-8, putting Shah and Chitale on the brink of elimination.
What followed was a masterclass in mental resilience. Instead of panicking, the Indian pair slowed the tempo, improved their service accuracy, and began to take control of the short game. They won the third and fourth games 11-8 and 11-8, pushing the match into a decider.
In the fifth game, with momentum finally on their side, Shah and Chitale delivered their best table tennis of the match. They moved sharply, attacked with confidence, and closed out the contest 11-8 to complete an extraordinary comeback and book their place in the final. That semifinal performance proved crucial. It did not just put them in the title match it hardened them for it. Having already stared elimination in the face, the Indians entered the final knowing they could handle pressure when it mattered most.
Their triumph in Muscat adds another important chapter to the rise of Indian mixed doubles on the world stage. Ranked eighth in the world, Shah and Chitale have now won two WTT Contender titles and beaten high-quality international pairs, including Chinese opponents, on their way to silverware.
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For India, this victory is not just about one trophy. It is a sign of growing depth, tactical maturity, and belief in Indian table tennis. On a stage long dominated by China, Manush Shah and Diya Chitale stood tall, stayed brave, and proved that Indian paddles now belong in the biggest conversations in world table tennis.
