1 hr ago
India Begins Asian Games Table Tennis Campaign With Medal Hopes
India’s table tennis players are starting their Asian Games matches in Nagoya.
They hope to win at least one medal.
Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar are a strong men’s doubles team ranked third in the world.
Manush and Diya Chitale may also perform well in mixed doubles.
The team includes experienced players and young player Syndrela Das.
India’s men will play Indonesia and Iran in Group F. India’s women will play Indonesia and Singapore.
The players arrived early to become familiar with the weather, tables, and balls, while focusing on one match at a time.
India’s 10-member table tennis team begins its Asian Games campaign in Nagoya seeking at least one medal.
Men’s doubles pair Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar, ranked third in the world, are India’s leading medal contenders.
The mixed doubles pairing of Manush Shah and Diya Chitale is also considered capable of advancing deep into the competition.
Both Indian teams are in Group F; the men face Indonesia and Iran, while the women face Indonesia and Singapore.
The squad combines experienced players such as G Sathiyan with 17-year-old debutant Syndrela Das, and has acclimatised to the event conditions.
- Who
- India’s 10-member table tennis team, including Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar, G Sathiyan, Syndrela Das, and other men’s and women’s players.
- What
- India is beginning its Asian Games table tennis campaign with the goal of winning at least one medal.
- Where
- Nagoya.
- When
- The campaign begins on Sunday, with the event scheduled to start on September 20; the team arrived on September 16.
- Why
- India is seeking a medal after its previous women’s doubles bronze, with the world No. 3 Manush-Manav pair and other players in strong form.
Key facts
- Team size
- 10 players: five men and five women
- Men’s doubles ranking
- Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar are ranked third in the world
- Previous Asian Games result
- India won a women’s doubles bronze at the last edition
- Men’s Group F matches
- Indonesia and Iran
- Women’s Group F matches
- Indonesia and Singapore
- Youngest highlighted player
- Syndrela Das, aged 17 and ranked 99th in ITTF women’s singles
- Team arrival
- September 16 in Nagoya
Quotes
Manav Thakkar
Indian table tennis player and member of the men’s doubles pair
“Yeah, I mean expectations are high from me and Manav. We are one of the best in the world right now. We will try to play our best, of course. The main focus will be to take it step by step, match by match. And we do want to have a bigger expectation, at least from ourselves, because of course we want to match the level that we have been playing since the past one year”
rediff.com
theprint.in
“This is my third Asian Games, and the preparations have been really good. The whole team has been playing very well in the past one month. Yes, we are going a little early to get used to the weather over there. Our event starts from 20, so hopefully we try to do our best and try to take the medal home”
rediff.com
theprint.in
Sources
Related news
Manav-Manush Target Asian Games Table Tennis Podium
Bengal Table Tennis Players Set Asian Games 2026 Target
India’s Men’s Squash Team Top Seeded for Asian Games
India Targets Elusive Squash Singles Gold at 2026 Asian Games
India’s Soft Tennis Team Reaches Quarterfinals, Then Exits
Mandaviya Leads India’s Delegation as Asian Games Begin in Japan
India Targets Bigger Asian Games Haul Across Ten Sports
Indonesian Comeback Ends Quimcy Dsouza’s Asian Games Final Hopes
Rishabh Pant Backs Indian Athletes Ahead of Asian Games 2026
Why We Choose to Believe Obviously Fake AI Videos
