Indian duo Manush Shah and Diya Chitale produced one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the tournament at the WTT Contender Muscat on Thursday night, overturning a two-game deficit to defeat Thibault Poret and Charlotte Lutz in a gripping Mixed Doubles semifinal at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
After dropping the opening two games, Shah and Chitale fought back with exceptional composure and tactical clarity to win the final three games 11–8, 11–8, 11–8, completing a dramatic 3–2 victory and securing their place in the championship match.
The result underlined the Indian pair’s growing maturity on the international circuit and showcased their ability to absorb pressure, recalibrate, and dominate when the stakes are highest.
Europeans strike first
The match began with Poret and Lutz playing with aggression and precision. The French-German pairing took the initiative early, targeting Shah’s backhand and pushing Chitale deep into the court to limit her counter-attacking options. Their strategy worked well in the opening exchanges as they built a narrow but consistent lead.
The first game remained close throughout, but at 10-10 it was the Europeans who seized control. A sharp receive from Lutz and a forehand kill by Poret allowed them to close out the game 12–10, drawing first blood in the semifinal.
That momentum carried into the second game. Poret was dictating rallies with his forehand while Lutz controlled the net exchanges, forcing the Indian pair into hurried shots. Shah and Chitale tried to slow the pace, but their opponents remained composed and clinical. Poret and Lutz sealed the second game 11–8, putting themselves firmly in command at two games to love.
At that point, the Europeans appeared in full control, and the Indian duo was staring at elimination.
Shah and Chitale change the match
Facing a steep challenge, Shah and Chitale took a brief pause and emerged for the third game with a noticeably altered approach. Chitale began serving shorter and with more variation, disrupting Lutz’s rhythm, while Shah stepped in aggressively to cut off Poret’s opening attacks.
The tactical shift paid immediate dividends. The Indians built an early lead and, for the first time in the match, began winning the key mid-rally exchanges. Their improved communication and positioning allowed them to control the tempo, and they closed out the third game 11–8, halting the European charge and giving themselves a lifeline.
The fourth game followed a similar pattern. Shah became increasingly confident at the table, using quick counters to pin Poret behind the baseline, while Chitale’s controlled placement repeatedly drew errors from Lutz. With the crowd sensing a shift, the Indian pair continued to apply pressure and once again took the game 11–8, levelling the match at two games apiece.
What had looked like a one-sided semifinal had suddenly become a contest of nerve and momentum.
Ice-cold finish in the decider
With the match on the line, the fifth game produced the most intense table tennis of the night. Poret and Lutz attempted to regain control with early aggression, but Shah and Chitale refused to retreat. Every point was fiercely contested, with long rallies and razor-thin margins separating the two pairs.
Crucially, the Indian duo held their composure in the key moments. Shah was exceptional in transition, turning defence into attack with sharp backhand counters, while Chitale kept her nerve on serve, forcing weak returns that the Indians capitalised on.
From 6–6 onwards, Shah and Chitale raised their level once more. A sequence of disciplined returns and well-timed attacks allowed them to edge ahead, and when the chance came to close out the match, they did not hesitate. The Indians took the fifth game 11–8, completing a remarkable three-game streak and sealing a stunning comeback victory.
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This semifinal win was a powerful statement from Shah and Chitale. To recover from losing the first two games against an experienced European pair and then dominate the final three games in identical 11–8 margins reflected not just technical quality, but also exceptional mental strength.
The ability to reset after early setbacks, adapt tactically, and execute under pressure is what separates good pairs from elite ones, and in Muscat, the Indian duo showed they are rapidly moving into that higher bracket.
With this victory, Shah and Chitale now stand one win away from lifting the Mixed Doubles title, carrying both momentum and belief into the final. More importantly, they have shown that India’s next generation of table tennis players is increasingly capable of competing and winning on the global stage.
