After months of anticipation, the ITTF World Cup 2026 began on March 30 in Macao, China, and India’s top table tennis stars have embarked on a demanding campaign. Led by Manika Batra and Manav Thakkar, India has three representatives in the singles draws, hoping to make history in one of the sport’s most prestigious individual events.
Star Line-Up: Names to Watch
India’s challenge features two established leaders and one rising talent:
Manika Batra, a multiple Commonwealth medallist and India’s top female paddler.
Sreeja Akula, rising through the international ranks.
Manav Thakkar, India’s leading man in world singles rankings.
“These World Cup draws are tough but exciting,” said a team source before the event, stressing that the Indian players are prepared for high-pressure matches right from the start.
Gruelling Group Stage Draws Test Indian Aspirations
The World Cup begins with a round-robin group stage, where only the group winners advance to the knockout phase. This format makes every match a must-win.
Batra is placed in Group 4 with World No. 5 Miwa Harimoto (Japan) and World No. 42 Lily Zhang (USA) — two formidable opponents who will test her tactical mettle.
Sreeja Akula faces one of the toughest possible challenges in Group 2, including World No. 2 Wang Manyu (China), a seasoned Grand Slam contender.
On the men’s side, Manav Thakkar is grouped with World No. 2 Truls Möregårdh (Sweden) and South Korea’s Park Gang-hyeon, both dangerous rivals on the global stage. Ranked 33rd himself, Thakkar knows he must play at his best to upset higher seeds.
Opening Day Results: Hard Reality Sets In
India’s campaign got off to a challenging start. On Day 1, both Manika Batra and Manav Thakkar lost their opening matches in straight sets:
Batra went down 3-0 to Japan’s Harimoto, unable to find the rhythm against the World No. 5.
Thakkar also suffered a 3-0 loss in his opener, showing grit but unable to force a game off his higher-ranked opponent.
Reflecting on his match, Thakkar said after play, “It’s always tough at this level. Every point counts. We’ll regroup and give it everything in the next match.”
Format & What’s Next
The World Cup structure rewards consistency:
Group Matches: Best of 5 games
Knockouts (Round of 16 onward): Best of 7 games
Only the top finisher from each group advances, so India’s players face an uphill fight to stay alive.
India Still Chasing First World Cup Medal
Despite strong showings in other global events, India has never won a medal at the ITTF World Cup. Last year, both Batra and Akula exited in the group phase, underlining the challenge that lies ahead.
“The goal has always been to break barriers and reach deeper stages,” said the Indian team coach. “We know the competition is fierce; every match is an opportunity to learn and improve.”
Discussion about this post