India’s campaign at the World Table Tennis Championships in Doha saw contrasting fortunes on Tuesday, with Manav Thakkar putting up a brave fight against a top-ranked opponent, while Manika Batra suffered a disappointing exit against a lower-ranked player.
Facing world number four Harimoto Tomokazu in the men’s singles round of 64, the 48th-ranked Thakkar showcased both skill and resilience, despite eventually bowing out in six games. The final scoreline—11-13, 3-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 3-11—reflected a closely contested match where Thakkar pushed the Japanese star in several long rallies.
Thakkar particularly impressed in the third and fifth games, using his quick reflexes and tactical variation to outlast Harimoto in extended exchanges. While the 21-year-old Indian ultimately fell short, his performance against one of the sport’s elite will likely be a source of confidence moving forward.
In stark contrast, India’s top women’s singles player, Manika Batra, delivered a lackluster performance against South Korea’s Park Gahyeon, ranked 130 in the world. Manika, currently placed 46th, looked out of rhythm from the start and failed to find any momentum throughout the match.
Park, unfazed by Manika’s long pimpled backhand rubber, controlled the tempo and exploited errors from the Indian’s forehand side. A flurry of unforced mistakes from Manika sealed her fate in straight games—8-11, 7-11, 5-11, 8-11—in what was arguably one of her most underwhelming outings in recent international competition.
Later in the day, young Diya Chitale, ranked 88th, also bowed out of the tournament after falling to Chen I Ching of Chinese Taipei. Despite a spirited effort that saw her take the fourth game, Chitale couldn’t maintain consistency, losing 3-11, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 5-11.
While the day brought disappointment in terms of results, Thakkar’s tenacity against a world-class opponent offered a silver lining for Indian table tennis. As the tournament progresses, India’s focus may now shift toward doubles and mixed events, hoping for a deeper run in those categories.
