India’s Table Tennis Stars Manika Batra, Manav Thakkar Headline World Team Challenge

India enters the centenary edition of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships with a balanced mix of Olympians and emerging talent. The event, one of the sport’s most prestigious team competitions, will test India’s depth and consistency against global heavyweights.

Tournament Format

The championships feature two trophies: the Swaythling Cup (men) and the Corbillon Cup (women). Each tie consists of up to five singles matches, with the first team to secure three wins progressing. India begins in Stage 1b, where only group winners and select second-placed teams advance to the knockout rounds starting from the Round of 32.

India’s Group Draw

Men’s team (Group 7): Manav Thakkar (World No. 38), G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Manush Shah, Payas Jain. Opponents: Slovakia, Tunisia, Guatemala.

Women’s team (Group 6): Manika Batra (World No. 49), Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das. Opponents: Ukraine, Uganda, Rwanda.

Challenges And Opportunities

India’s men are favorites in their group, though the absence of veteran Sharath Kamal could test their composure in tight matches. The women’s team faces a tougher draw, with Ukraine presenting a significant challenge. Both squads aim to surpass their 2024 performance, where they exited in the Round of 32.

Key Highlights

•⁠  ⁠ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026 runs April 28–May 10 in London

•⁠  ⁠India fields 10 players across men’s and women’s teams

•⁠  ⁠Men’s team led by Manav Thakkar; drawn against Slovakia, Tunisia, Guatemala

•⁠  ⁠Women’s team led by Manika Batra; drawn against Ukraine, Uganda, Rwanda

•⁠  ⁠Knockout rounds begin from Round of 32; India aims to improve on 2024 exit

Sources: UNI, The Morung Express, Outlook India, Olympics.com