Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Sayali Wani Power into Semifinals at WTT Feeder Doha

Indian table tennis enjoyed a breakthrough day at the WTT Feeder Doha as Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Sayali Wani both booked their places in the semifinals after a series of gritty, high-quality performances against strong international fields.

Across the men’s and women’s draws, the two Indians showcased composure under pressure, tactical sharpness and the growing depth of Indian table tennis on the global circuit.

Sathiyan survives a thriller to reach the last four

Sathiyan Gnanasekaran’s quarterfinal against Balázs Lei of Hungary turned into a five-game epic that tested both players’ nerve and endurance. The Indian, who has been one of India’s most reliable performers on the WTT circuit over the past decade, eventually edged the contest 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 12-10, sealing victory in a dramatic decider.

The match was tight from the first rally. Lei took the opening game 12–10, capitalising on a few early unforced errors from Sathiyan. The Indian responded with greater aggression in the second, pushing the Hungarian deep and forcing mistakes to level the contest. Game three saw Sathiyan at his best, mixing heavy topspin with well-timed changes of pace to race through 11–5.

Just when it looked as though Sathiyan had seized control, Lei struck back in the fourth, keeping rallies long and forcing the Indian into risky shots to claim it 11–9. The deciding game was played on a knife-edge. With both players trading points, Sathiyan showed his experience at the crucial moments, saving pressure situations and closing out the match 12–10 to punch his ticket to the semifinals.

Earlier in the tournament, Sathiyan had already shown strong form by defeating Kazuki Yoshiyama of Japan 3–1 and overcoming former Under-15 world champion Li Hechen of China in the Round of 32, signalling that he was building momentum as the event progressed.

Now, Sathiyan will face the winner of the clash between Oh Junsung of China and Kazuki Yoshiyama of Japan in the semifinals, with a place in the final and valuable ranking points on the line.

Sayali Wani’s fairytale run continues

If Sathiyan’s progress was built on experience, Sayali Wani’s run in Doha has been nothing short of sensational. The young Indian has been the story of the tournament, pulling off a string of stunning upsets against far higher-ranked opponents to reach her first WTT Feeder semifinal.

Her latest triumph came in the quarterfinals, where she defeated Tin-Tin Ho of England 3–1 (11–13, 11–9, 11–9, 14–12) in another closely fought contest. After dropping the opening game, Sayali found her rhythm, tightening up her returns and using sharp angles to break Ho’s defence. The fourth game was particularly tense, but Sayali held her nerve to close it out 14–12 and continue her dream run.

This victory followed two extraordinary wins earlier in the tournament. In the Round of 32, the world No. 243 stunned Zong Geman of China the Under-19 Youth World Championship silver medallist and world No. 44 — in a five-game thriller. That was followed by another major upset in the next round, where Sayali knocked out Yao Ruixuan, the 2024 Under-15 world champion, 3–1.

To defeat two highly rated Chinese paddlers back-to-back at a WTT event is a rare feat for any player, and it underlined Sayali’s fearless approach and rapidly improving game.

Now, the Indian will face seventh seed Park Gahyeon of South Korea in the semifinals another tough test, but one she will approach with growing belief after her remarkable week in Doha.

A big statement for Indian table tennis

The twin semifinal runs of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Sayali Wani represent an important moment for Indian table tennis on the international stage. Sathiyan’s consistency shows that India still has seasoned players capable of competing deep into WTT events, while Sayali’s surge highlights the emergence of a new generation ready to challenge the sport’s traditional powerhouses.

For Sathiyan, the Doha run is another reminder of his enduring quality and competitive spirit. For Sayali, it is a career-defining breakthrough that could significantly boost her confidence and ranking.

With both Indians now just one match away from a WTT Feeder final, Doha has already turned into a memorable chapter for Indian table tennis one that signals both stability at the top and exciting promise for the future.