Picture Credit: X
The Indian contingent reigned supreme in the South Asia Regional Championships, held in Kathmandu. Reflecting technical precision and tactical dominance both men’s and women’s teams outshone their counterparts. They dominated the five-nation round-robin tournament, finishing undefeated with identical 3-0 victories over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Maldives. The Indian men’s team comprised of Akash Pal, Ronit Bhanja, Anirban Ghosh, P.B. Abhinand and Divyansh Srivastava, while the women’s side was led by Krittwika Sinha including the likes of Selenadeepthi Selvakumar, Taneesha Kotecha, Sayali Wani, and Syndrela Das.
With their victory in the regional tournament, Indian players have earned their places at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026, to be held in London. The Indian contingent claimed the South Asia title in a high-stakes tournament, sealing their spot for the landmark centenary edition of the championships. The World Table Tennis Championships is considered as one of the most prestigious events in the international table tennis calendar, bringing together the world’s top 64 men’s and women’s teams to compete for the coveted Swaythling Cup (men’s) and Corbillon Cup (women’s).
Consistent performances by Indian teams boost their global rankings
India’s qualification marks a significant milestone for the country’s table tennis program, building on their historic debut in the team events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At the Olympics, the women’s team made waves by defeating fourth-seeded Romania to reach the quarter-finals, while the men’s team secured a crucial win over Kazakhstan in the pre-quarterfinals at the 2024 World Team Championships in Busan. These achievements, coupled with consistent performances in events like the Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games, have boosted India’s world rankings, with the men’s team currently at number 15 and the women’s at number 13.
In the South Asia Regional Championships, Akash Pal, Ronit Bhanja and Anirban Ghosh set the tone with their smashes and serves. While youngsters P.B. Abhinand and Divyansh Srivastava proved their mettle by stepping up in key matches. The women’s team also gave an equally impactful performance. Players like Krittwika Sinha, Selenadeepthi Selvakumar and Taneesha Kotecha showcased their attacking prowess, while Sayali Wani and Syndrela Das added depth with their consistent performances. India’s participation in the global tournament in 2026, might offer the players a chance to challenge the dominant teams like China, Hungary and Japan.
