Synopsis
India's journey in the men's singles at the 2025 WTT Singapore Smash faltered early as Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manav Thakkar both faced first-round defeats. Despite their spirited efforts, both players were eliminated in closely contested five-game matches, marking a disappointing start for India's campaign.Key Takeaways
- Achanta Sharath Kamal lost 2-3 to Kao Cheng-Jui.
- Manav Thakkar was defeated 2-3 by Pang Koen.
- Both matches were highly competitive, going to five games.
- Early exits dashed hopes for a deeper run in the tournament.
- Sharath Kamal's experience contrasted with his young opponent.
Singapore, Feb 2 (NationPress) India’s journey in the men’s singles draw at the 2025 WTT Singapore Smash concluded prematurely as Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manav Thakkar faced first-round exits on Sunday. Both Indian players, despite showcasing moments of resilience, were eliminated in tightly contested five-game matches.
The seasoned player and table tennis stalwart Achanta Sharath Kamal, who secured a direct entry into the main draw due to his world ranking, was up against Kao Cheng-Jui from Chinese Taipei in his initial match.
This intense battle spanned just under 37 minutes and was marked by significant shifts in momentum, ultimately leading the 42-year-old Indian to a narrow 2-3 loss (2-11, 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 4-11).
Sharath encountered a challenging start, struggling to establish his game as Kao overwhelmed him in the first game with an 11-2 score. Nevertheless, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardee rebounded impressively, skillfully controlling the next two games, winning them 11-5 and 11-8, to take a 2-1 lead.
Just when it appeared that he was regaining control, Kao countered firmly in the fourth game, winning it 11-7 to push the match to a decisive fifth game.
In the final game, Sharath faced difficulties against Kao’s aggressive tactics, conceding points quickly. The paddler from Chinese Taipei clinched the final game 11-4, eliminating Sharath from the tournament and proceeding to the next stage. This loss was a disappointment for Sharath’s supporters, who had anticipated a deeper run in the tournament.
Later on, India’s promising talent Manav Thakkar also faced a challenging five-game defeat, losing 2-3 (11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11) to Singapore’s Pang Koen in a match lasting 41 minutes. The 24-year-old from Surat, who had advanced through the qualification rounds, exhibited determination but ultimately could not overcome his home-town rival.
Thakkar began with a strong performance, winning the first game 11-9 after a hard-fought contest. However, Pang, supported by raucous home crowd, quickly reversed the momentum, winning the next two games 11-9 and 11-8 to lead 2-1.
Despite the mounting pressure, Thakkar demonstrated remarkable resilience, taking the fourth game 11-7 and pushing the match into a crucial fifth game. With both players exchanging momentum, the final game was intensely competitive. But Pang leveraged his home advantage, maintaining composure to secure the last game 11-8, thus concluding Thakkar’s tournament aspirations.
With the early departures of Sharath Kamal and Manav Thakkar, India’s prospects in the men’s singles event at the 2025 WTT Singapore Smash were extinguished right in the opening round.
