Assessment of the Asian Table Tennis Championships: many positives and a historic first

In recent years, Indian table tennis players have gained a lot of attention by consistently beating challengers from outside the Commonwealth countries. From age group competitions to senior levels, their impressive performances have boosted India's position in the global table tennis community.

Table tennis is one of the few sports disciplines in which Asian countries dominate the major competitions. China, Japan, the two Koreas and Chinese Taipei have consistently produced talent, helping the continent maintain its lead over Western opposition.

In this context, India's third consecutive bronze medal at the Asian Championships in the men's team event, along with the women's team's second continental bronze and the first medal for the rising pair of Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee, is nothing short of remarkable.

Amid this success, the Indian women's stunning 3-2 win over second seed Korea was somewhat overshadowed. This victory came after world number 90 Ayhika Mukherjee stunned world number 9 Shin Yubin 3-2 in the opening match and later secured the tie with a 3-1 win over Jeon Jihee.

It is worth remembering that Ayhika also stunned world No. 1 Sun Yingsha at the World Championships earlier this year. Together, Ayhika and world number 15 Sutirtha defeated Korea's Kim Nayeong and Lee Eunhye 3-1 in the quarter-finals to secure a historic first bronze in the women's pairs event. However, in the semi-finals, the Japanese duo of Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara, the eventual silver medalists, proved too strong for the Indians.

Ayhika and Sutirtha, who gradually gained rankings and respect, announced their arrival by shocking Chinese world champions and then world runners-up Wang Yidi and Chen Meng in the quarter-finals of last year's Asian Games. This surprised the partisan home crowd in Hangzhou.

After the Indian men's and women's teams qualified for the Olympics for the first time in Paris this year, these dual-team medals reinforce the idea that the current crop of players have the potential to excel, especially in team events.

Until 2018, India's victories came mainly from the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Championship, where the decline of Singapore, England and Hong Kong coincided with the steady rise in India's performance levels.

The bronze in mixed doubles for Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra at the 2018 Asian Games, the bronze in women's doubles at the 2022 Asian Games and the recent Asian bronze of the brave duo Ayhika-Sutirtha have forced the competition to take on the challenge of India to be taken more seriously in pairs. events.

Team gold at Commonwealth level and three men's team bronze medals at the Asian Championships in Doha (Qatar, 2021), Pyeongchang (South Korea, 2023) and Astana (Kazakhstan, 2024) have all contributed to India's renewed identity and respect among the Indian population. the world's best.

Although the domestic structure, consisting of the National Championship, the Interinstitutional Championship and five National Ranking tournaments, is considered adequate by those governing the sport, foreign participation has increased significantly due to individual initiatives.

The introduction of the Ultimate Table Tennis League has also played a key role in helping Indian players test their skills against some of the top 25 players in both categories. By training as teammates with these higher-ranked foreign players for their respective franchises, the Indians have been able to put aside their self-doubts as they prepare for international competitions.

At the 2024 Astana Championship, where withdrawals and upsets in individual events raised several eyebrows, Japan won three gold, two silver and three bronze medals to top the table, ahead of China (two gold, two silver and one bronze) Korea (one gold, one silver and one bronze) and South Korea (one gold and three bronze).

India returned with three bronze medals, matching the previous record (bronze in men's team and two in men's doubles in 2021) since 1972, when the name of the competition was changed. From 1952 to 1970, the continental championship was organized by the Table Tennis Federation of Asia before the Asian Table Tennis Union took over. India's first bronze came in the women's team event in the 1960 edition.

A step further: In recent years, when G. Sathiyan was struggling, Harmeet Desai has won some important matches in the team events. | Photo credit: M VEDHAN

The Continental Team Championship format places the top six teams from the previous edition in the Champions Division. These teams await two teams from the First Division in the knockout phase, from the quarter-finals onwards.

The Indian men's team, thanks to its fifth-place finish in Yogyakarta (Indonesia, 2019), has since remained in the Champion Division by reaching the semi-finals. The losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals.

This time, India faced hosts Kazakhstan for a place in the semi-finals. The presence of world number 40 Kirill Gerassimenko gave Kazakhstan the edge, but India's overall strength proved decisive.

Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai, ranked 59 and 87 respectively, defeated Gerassimenko in the first and fourth singles matches, compensating for Sharath's defeat to Aidos Kenzhigulov. In the second match, Harmeet Alan comfortably defeated Kurmangaliyev 3-0 to give India a commanding 2-0 lead.

In the crucial fourth singles, Harmeet twice came from behind to beat Gerassimenko, ending Kazakhstan's medal hopes. In recent years, when G. Sathiyan was struggling, Harmeet has delivered important matches. Once again he did not let his teammates down.

India's 0-3 defeat to formidable Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals, which mirrored the result of their 2023 encounter at the same stage, saw India celebrate a hat-trick of bronze medals for the men's team at the Asian Championships.

Overall, despite some disappointments in individual events, there were several joyful moments and positive experiences for India.