Manav Thakkar has broken into the ITTF World Rankings Top 50 for the first time, claiming the No. 47 spot — a significant achievement in his table tennis career.
Meanwhile, Snehit Suravajjula has broken into the Top 100 for the first time, securing No. 89. In a poignant turn, Sharath Kamal, who had announced his retirement from competitive table tennis, concluding his illustrious career at World No. 80. Suravajjula’s victory over Kamal in their final match marked a symbolic end to the veteran’s career.
India’s campaign at the WTT Star Contender in Chennai came to an end on Sunday, with Thakkar’s 3-1 loss to world No. 54 Thibault Poret of France in the men’s singles semifinal. Thakkar, who had made history as the first Indian male to reach a WTT Star Contender semifinal, put up a strong fight in a high-energy match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Despite a spirited effort, Thakkar was ultimately outplayed by the 20-year-old Frenchman, who clinched the win with scores of 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, and 11-7.