The WTT Star Contender Foz do Iguaçu 2025 in Brazil has opened with a promising run for the Indian table tennis contingent.
Competing from July 30 to August 3 for a prize purse of USD 300,000, Indian paddlers showcased a balanced mix of dominant victories, hard-fought battles, and eye-catching upsets across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles underlining India’s growing depth and ambition on the world stage.
Men’s Singles: Confident Wins and Tough Exits
In the men’s singles draw, India’s campaign began with both bright spots and near misses:
- Harmeet Desai delivered a professional performance in the Round of 64, winning comfortably 3-0 to move forward.
- Manush Shah followed suit with a composed 3-1 victory, reflecting his steady rise in form.
But the draw wasn’t kind to all:
- Snehit Suravajjula came agonisingly close in one of the round’s most dramatic matches, falling 2-3 to Brazil’s Guilherme Teodoro despite pushing the contest to the limit.
- Payas Jain also faced a challenging match, exiting after a 1-3 loss.
As the field narrows, Harmeet and Manush carry India’s hopes in men’s singles and have already shown they belong among the tournament’s serious contenders.
Women’s Singles: A Perfect Opening Round
The Indian women’s singles contingent delivered an almost flawless first round, underlining why they’ve become names to watch internationally:
- Diya Chitale, Swastika Ghosh, Yashaswini Ghorpade, and Ayhika Mukherjee each secured convincing wins, most in straight games, except Swastika who needed four but never looked in trouble.
- A highlight came from Yashaswini, who swept aside Argentina’s Ana Codina 3-0, showcasing sharp placement and quick reflexes.
This clean sweep sets the stage for tougher tests in the coming rounds, where Indian paddlers will challenge higher-ranked opponents from Asia and Europe.
Men’s Doubles: Full House into the Quarterfinals
In men’s doubles, India delivered a rare feat: all three pairs moved into the quarterfinals:
- Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar, the tournament’s top seeds, showed authority in a 3-1 win, mixing controlled aggression with well-timed attacks.
- Payas Jain and Ankur Bhalla advanced smoothly, claiming a dominant 3-0 victory.
- Harmeet Desai and Snehit Suravajjula had to dig deep, clinching a tense 3-2 battle in a match that tested their experience and chemistry.
This collective progress underlines India’s growing reputation as a doubles force — built on improved tactical planning and fearless execution.
Women’s Doubles: An All-Indian Duel
The Round of 16 in women’s doubles featured an all-Indian face-off:
- Manika Batra and Swastika Ghosh defeated compatriots Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade 3-1, advancing to the quarterfinals.
While it meant an early exit for Diya and Yashaswini, the encounter highlighted India’s internal depth and ensured at least one Indian pair in the final stages.
Mixed Doubles: Big Upset Headlines and Top Seeds Progress
Mixed doubles offered some of the tournament’s most gripping moments:
- Swastika Ghosh and Manav Thakkar stunned the crowd by defeating the third seeds and world-ranked No. 12 Brazilian favorites 3-2 in a thrilling Round of 16 contest. Their composure under pressure, especially in the decider, was a standout moment.
- Meanwhile, Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade exited after a 1-3 loss, despite flashes of their potential.
- Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, the top-seeded Indian pair, progressed as well — adding further weight to India’s medal hopes in this category.
These results show how India’s mixed doubles strategy is paying dividends, blending youth, confidence, and smart court positioning.
Where Things Stand: Indian Players Still in Contention
With the tournament moving into its decisive stages, Indian paddlers remain well represented across the board:
- Men’s Singles: Harmeet Desai, Manush Shah & Manav Thakkar
- Women’s Singles: Diya Chitale, Swastika Ghosh, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Ayhika Mukherjee & Manika Batra
- Men’s Doubles: All three Indian pairs in the quarterfinals
- Women’s Doubles: Manika Batra/Swastika Ghosh through
- Mixed Doubles: Swastika/Manav and Manush/Diya eyeing semifinal spots
The blend of experienced campaigners like Harmeet and Manika, alongside emerging names like Swastika, Yashaswini, Manush, and Payas, reflects a healthy balance and growing bench strength.
The early rounds at Foz do Iguaçu have showcased more than just victories; they reflect:
- A shift from isolated successes to collective strength.
- Consistency across formats: singles, doubles, and mixed.
- New faces stepping up alongside established stars.
With several matches still to come, Indian fans can look forward to potentially historic finishes and medals.
As the WTT Star Contender Foz do Iguaçu heads towards its climax, the Indian squad has already made its mark blending upsets, confident wins, and team spirit to keep hopes alive in multiple categories. Whatever the final tally, this campaign reinforces India’s growing status in world table tennis.
