Historic Moment for Indian Table Tennis 🇮🇳🏓For the first time ever, two Indian doubles pairs have stormed into the final of a WTT Star Contender event in Brazil! 🌟
🎯 Mixed Doubles: Manush Shah & Diya Chitale
Entered as top seeds, currently World No. 10 together.
In the semifinals, they delivered a clinical 3–0 (11–7, 11–2, 11–7) victory over Chile’s fourth-seeded Nicolás Burgos and Paulina Vega .
They face Japanese qualifiers Satoshi Aida & Honoka Hashimoto in the final, aiming for India’s first Star Contender mixed doubles crown .
🔥 Men’s Doubles: Manav Thakkar & Manush Shah
The duo, also seeded World No. 10, put together an inspired run.
They overcame Aida/Oikawa (Japan) with a 3–1 win, squeaked past France’s Bourrassaud/Bardet in a tight 3–2 quarterfinal, and survived a back-and-forth 3–2 semifinal battle against Taiwan’s Huang Yan‑Cheng & Kuo Guan‑Hong (5–11, 11–9, 11–6, 8–11, 11–5) .
The final pits them against Germany’s second seeds, Benedikt Duda & Dang Qiu — a stern test, but one that promises a spectacular showdown.
📌 Why This Moment Matters
For the first time ever, two Indian doubles teams have reached the finals of a WTT Star Contender event in the same edition — a powerful statement of India’s rising depth in doubles play .
Mixed doubles: Manush Shah & Diya Chitale become the first Indian pair ever to reach a Star Contender final in any discipline .
Men’s doubles: Manav & Manush deliver strategic composure and grit across successive rounds to book a historic final spot .
✅ What’s Next
Two medals are guaranteed, with gold on the table in both events.
On paper:
Mixed doubles final: Shah/Chitale vs Aida & Hashimoto (Japan)
Men’s doubles final: Thakkar/Shah vs Duda & Qiu (Germany)
Fans across India will be hoping for not just one, but two championship celebrations
