Record-Breaking Indian Participation Set to Shine at WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025
Prize Pool of USD 275,000 and 600 Ranking Points Up for Grabs
BNH NETWORK
Chennai - Indian table tennis is set to make history with 13 direct entries in the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025 — the highest-ever Indian participation across all three WTT Star Contender events held in the country. The tournament, featuring a USD 275,000 prize pool and 600 ITTF ranking points for champions, will kick off on March 25 at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.
- Indian Table Tennis Ascends with 13 Direct Entries in Main Draw
- Global Stars and Homegrown Talent to Battle for Glory from March 25
The men's singles main draw will see Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, and Harmeet Desai headline India's strongest-ever representation in a WTT Star Contender. Meanwhile, in the women's singles, Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Ayhika Mukherjee, and Yashaswini Ghorpade will form a formidable quartet, reflecting the rising stature of Indian table tennis on the global stage.
Global Stars to Add Flair to Tournament
Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto (WR 4) and Hina Hayata (WR 5) will spearhead the international challenge, alongside Brazil's Hugo Calderano (WR 6) and Japan's Miwa Harimoto (WR 6). The tournament will showcase four top-10 women players, promising world-class action for fans.
Deepak Malik, Co-founder and COO of Stupa Sports Analytics, expressed his excitement, saying, "Indian table tennis is on an upward trajectory, and the record number of direct entries at WTT Star Contender Chennai is a testament to the players' consistent performances on the international circuit."
Doubles Draw to Feature Medal-Winning Pairs
The doubles main draw will witness India's Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah entering as the highest-ranked men's pair. The 2022 Asian Games bronze medalist duo Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee will lead India's women's doubles challenge, while Yashaswini Ghorpade and Diya Chitale will form a promising young pair. Mixed doubles will see combinations like Shah-Chitale and Desai-Ghorpade adding further depth to India's medal hopes.
Kamlesh Mehta, Secretary General of TTFI, highlighted the significance of the event, stating, "This tournament marks a new era for Indian table tennis. The growing number of direct entries reflects the progress our players have made on the global stage."
Tournament Format and Prize Money
The singles main draw will feature 48 players, including 25 direct entries, 4 host wildcards, 2 WTT nominations, 1 youth nomination, 8 top-20 players, and 8 qualifiers. The doubles draw will consist of 16 pairs, with 8 direct entries, 2 wildcards, 2 onsite-formed pairs, and 4 qualifiers.
