Indian paddlers Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar etched their names into the record books on Wednesday, becoming the first Indian pair to reach the semifinals of a WTT Grand Smash event in Singapore.
The sixth-seeded duo delivered a commanding performance in the quarterfinals, defeating Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Adrien Rassenfosse in straight games. The 3-0 victory (11-8, 11-9, 11-9) was wrapped up in just 27 minutes, underlining the Indians’ control and composure in crucial moments.
It was not just a win but a statement. Allegro and Rassenfosse had entered the contest high on confidence after eliminating the top-seeded pair in the previous round. However, Manush and Manav kept rallies tight, executed their serves sharply, and maintained pressure throughout to stretch their head-to-head record against the Belgian pair to 2-0.
The breakthrough marks a significant milestone for Indian table tennis on the global stage, as no Indian doubles team had previously progressed this far in a Grand Smash tournament — one of the most prestigious events on the World Table Tennis calendar.
The challenge now intensifies in the semifinals, where the Indian pair will face the formidable French brothers, Felix and Alexis Lebrun, who are seeded fourth. The clash, scheduled for Friday, promises to test the Indians against one of the most dynamic and fast-rising combinations in world table tennis.
Earlier in the day, however, Manush’s campaign in the mixed doubles draw came to an end. Partnering with Diya Chitale, the sixth-seeded Indian pair suffered a 0-3 (6-11, 9-11, 5-11) defeat in the quarterfinals against Brazil’s third-seeded duo, Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi. Despite flashes of resistance, the Indians were unable to counter the Brazilians’ attacking precision.
With the mixed doubles journey over, all eyes are now on Manush and Manav’s historic run in men’s doubles. A victory in the semifinals would push them into uncharted territory once again, as they continue to redefine Indian presence at the elite level of world table tennis.
