LONDON
India’s men’s and women’s table tennis teams have stormed into the second stage of the World Team Championships after a flawless performance in London. Both squads finished at the top of their groups, securing dominant victories in their final opening-round matches at the OVO Arena, Wembley.
The Indian women’s team was in peak form, crushing Rwanda with a 3-0 scoreline. Star Olympian Manika Batra set a fierce pace, losing only nine points in a total demolition of her opponent. Teammate Diya Chitale followed with another swift victory before young talent Syndrela Das sealed the win. This follows earlier successes against Ukraine and a walkover against Uganda, leaving the women’s side undefeated as they head into the next round.
The men’s team mirrored this success with a clinical 3-0 sweep over Guatemala. Veteran Sathiyan Gnanasekaran led from the front with a straight-sets win, followed by a composed performance from Manav Thakkar. Payas Jain delivered the final blow to ensure the men also finished atop their group. Earlier wins against Tunisia and Slovakia proved that the Indian men are serious contenders in this year’s tournament.
The championships feature 64 nations battling for the global crown, with the finals set for May 10. By topping their respective tables, India has avoided tougher early draws in the knockout phase. With the top players finding their rhythm early, the nation’s hopes for a podium finish have never looked stronger as the competition moves to the high-stakes second stage.