With London set to host the centenary celebrations of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF),India’s men’s and women’s teams head into the 2026 World Team Championships carrying a familiar mix of promise and pressure—along with the unmistakable void left by Achanta Sharath Kamal, who called time on a decorated career last year.
Placed in Group seven, the Indian men’s team—featuring Manav Thakkar (WR No.38), G. Sathiyan (42), Manush Shah (51), Harmeet Desai (80) and Payas Jain (127)—will start as clear favourites against Slovakia, Tunisia and Guatemala.
On paper, the rankings tilt heavily in India’s favour, particularly against a Slovak line-up led by Lubomir Pistej (149) and Yang Wang (184). Yet, the absence of Sharath Kamal’s experience in crunch ties could test India’s composure, especially in tight five-match encounters.
The women’s team finds itself in Group-six alongside Ukraine, Uganda, and Rwanda. Led by Manika Batra(WR No. 49), India also fields Yashaswini Ghorpade (88), Diya Chitale (92), Sutirtha Mukherjee (120)—she replaced Sreeja Akula—and Syndrela Das (175), the youngest Indian to play at the worlds. Ukraine, spearheaded by Margaryta Pesotska (51), presents a more tangible threat here, making the group a closer contest than the men’s draw.
India’s recent history at this event offers both encouragement and caution. At the 2024 edition in Busan, both teams advanced to the knockout stage but exited in the Round of 32. The women’s team impressed with a second-place group finish that included narrow wins over Hungary and Spain, while pushing China in a close 2-3 loss. The men, meanwhile, showed resilience with wins over Chile and Kazakhstan but faltered against stronger opposition, going down 0-3 to South Korea in the knockouts.
The format in London raises the stakes further. Only group winners are guaranteed direct entry into the main draw, while second-placed teams face a complicated qualification route based on match ratios—or even a preliminary knockout. This makes topping the group not just desirable, but almost essential.
For the men, depth remains a strong suit. Sathiyan and Thakkar bring consistency, while Manush Shah’s upward trajectory adds firepower. However, the lack of a seasoned anchor like Sharath Kamal could be felt in high-pressure deciders. The women’s side, on the other hand, appears more balanced than before, with Manika’s big-match temperament complemented by a young core gaining international exposure.
The key question for India is not just qualification, but authority. In both groups, India has the edge in rankings—but recent history shows that margins at this level are thin. A single upset can complicate the path dramatically under the current format.
If India can convert its numerical advantage into clinical performances and avoid slipping into the uncertainties of second place, a deeper run than 2024 is well within reach. But in London’s centenary spotlight, the real test will be whether this transition phase—post-Sharath Kamal—can mark the beginning of a new era rather than a temporary dip.
======