The stage is set at London’s OVO Arena Wembley for the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships, starting Tuesday. India’s 10-player delegation, powered by Manika Batra, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Manav Thakkar, and Harmeet Desai, aims to etch its name in history.
Manav Thakkar, ranked 38th globally, captains the men’s squad in Stage 1B Group 7, facing Slovakia, Tunisia, and Guatemala. Manika Batra, world number 49, leads the women in Group 6 against Ukraine, Uganda, and Rwanda—a mix of established and emerging forces.
Men vie for the Swaythling Cup, women for the Corbillon Cup, with ties decided by the best of five singles. Three wins clinch victory and progression. Elite seeds like the top seven nations and England bypass early hurdles in Stage 1A, straight to Stage 2, jockeying for favorable knockout draws.
For teams like India in Stage 1B, the stakes are higher: 14 group toppers and six top runners-up advance directly. Eight others fight playoffs for survival. Knockouts from Round of 32 lead to a May 10 finale.
China’s unparalleled dominance defines the event’s legacy since 2000, amassing the lion’s share of titles. Only Sweden (men’s 2000) and Singapore (women’s 2010) have pierced the armor.
India fields a balanced men’s lineup: Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Payas Jain. Women: Manika Batra, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee, Sindhuja Das. With tactical prowess and rising talent, India eyes a deep run in this biennial battle royale.
