Ayhika-Sutirtha wins WTT Feeder Istanbul doubles title

Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee continued their impressive rise on the international circuit by clinching the women’s doubles title at the WTT Feeder Istanbul 2026 in Turkey.

The Indian duo defeated top-seeded Chinese Taipei pair Chien Tung-chuan and Li Yu-jhun 3-1 in the final, winning 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 12-10 at the $30,000 tournament.

Seeded fourth in the competition, Ayhika and Sutirtha showed composure in key moments against an experienced opposition featuring Olympic-level pedigree. After dropping the third game, the Indians regrouped quickly and closed out the contest in four games to secure yet another major doubles title together.

India’s most successful women’s doubles pairing

The victory adds to an increasingly significant partnership that has become central to India’s growth in women’s doubles table tennis.

Earlier this year, the pair had also won the WTT Feeder Cappadocia II 2026 title, defeating fellow Indians Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade in the final. They also finished runners-up at another WTT Feeder event in Vadodara during the season.

However, their biggest breakthrough came at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, where they created history by winning India’s first-ever women’s doubles medal in table tennis. The pair stunned Chinese world champions Chen Meng and Wang Yidi in the quarter-finals before eventually settling for bronze.

They followed it up with another historic bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Table Tennis Championships, further cementing their place among India’s finest doubles combinations.

Their success also reflects the broader rise of Indian table tennis on the WTT circuit. While India has traditionally produced stronger singles players, recent years have seen Indian doubles pairs consistently challenge Asian powerhouses in international events.

The WTT Feeder circuit, positioned below the elite Smash and Contender tiers, has become an important platform for emerging and established players to gain ranking points, international exposure and match experience against strong global opposition.

For Ayhika and Sutirtha, the consistent podium finishes across these tournaments are not just titles. They are signs of a partnership that continues to push Indian women’s table tennis into new territory.