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The WTT Contender Lasko, 2021 is all set to get underway on Monday. While there are other countries who will want to leave a mark in this tournament, India too has its representation in the competition and the in-form Sathiyan Gnanasekaran will look to ride his impressive show in the build-up to this event and produce a good show at the Tri Lilije Sports Hall in Lasko, Slovenia.
While Sathiyan did make an early exit from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics earlier this year, post that the 28-year-old clinched the mixed doubles title with Manika Batra at the WTT Contender Budapest. By winning the tournament, the duo also became the first Indian to win a world competition in the sport of table tennis.
That's not it as the Indian paddler Sathiyan then went on to clinch the Czech International title as well as bagging a couple of bronze medals at the Asian Championships. He then forged ahead to take the men's doubles title at the recently concluded WTT Contender Tunis where he partnered Harmeet Desai.
At this event, all the Indian fans will be cheering for Sathiyan as he will be in the race not only for the men's singles competition but also the mixed doubles event with Manika Batra. The two of them are likely to be India's preferred team in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, veteran Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal - who put up a spirited show at the Olympics earlier this year will be in contention for the men's singles as well as the men's doubles where his partner will be Manav Thakkar.
In the women's singles category, India's best bet will be Manika Batra who will have company in Archana Kamath. The two of them will be partners in the women's doubles category.
It should be noted that Anthony Amalraj will be competing in qualifiers and so will Manav Thakkar, Selena Selvakumar and Sreeja Akula. It is the qualifiers that start first followed by the main draw.
Here is all you need to know about the tournament:
Who are the Indians participating in the WTT Contender Lasko?
In the Men’s Singles category in the main draw, Sharath Kamal and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran are participating in WTT Contender Lasko.
In the same category, in the qualifiers, Manav Thakkar, Sushmit Sriram, Anthony Amalraj, Jeet Chandra, Soumyajit Ghosh and Snehit Suravajjula will be competing in the tournament.
As far as the Women’s Singles are concerned, Manika Batra is already in the main draw while Selena Selvakumar, Sreeja Akula and Krittwika Roy will have to come through the qualifiers.
In the Men’s Doubles category, Manav Thakkar-Sharath Kamal and Jeet Chandra-Snehit Suravajjula are in the main draw & are the only Indian representation. Similarly, Manika Batra- Archana Kamath is in the women's doubles main draw.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran-Manika Batra, Manav Thakkar-Archana Kamath will represent India in the mixed doubles category in the main draw.
What is the schedule of WTT Contender Lasko 2021?
Following is the schedule of the event-
Qualifiers Monday, November 1 - Wednesday, November 3
Main Draw: Thursday, November 4 - Sunday, November 7
Where can one watch WTT Contender Lasko in India on TV?
In not the most pleasing news, WTT Contender Lasko will not be shown live on television.
Can one live stream WTT Contender Lasko in India?
The WTT Contender Lasko can be live-streamed through the World Table Tennis’ official website and YouTube channel.