China Smash 2024: S. Raman optimistic about the Indian women

The third Grand Smash table tennis competition of 2024, and the first-ever WTT China Smash is all set to begin on the 26 of September at the Shougang Park in China.

The event marks the return of international tournament action of the highest caliber to China after a break of 63 year haitus.

The last time China hosted a big international table tennis tournament was the 1961 World Table Tennis Championships.

Strong Indian contingent

Indian table tennis has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and for the China Smash as well, India is sending a strong set of paddlers with all of the top guns set to feature in the tournament.

All eyes will be on Sreeja Akula who will return to competitive table tennis for the first time since the Paris Olympics.

The world no.23 is India's highest-ranked paddler and right behind her is world no.28 Manika Batra, both of whom will feature in the main draw of the tournament.

In the doubles section, Suthirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee are seeded directly into the main draw.

In the men's section, ace paddler Sharath Kamal will be in the main draw along with Manav Thakkar.

Sathiyan G, Harmeet Desai, Manush Shah and Snehit Suravajjula will go through the qualifying rounds of men's singles.

Meanwhile, Diya Chitale, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Ayhika Mukherjee, and Suthirtha Mukherjee will also feature in the qualifying round of women's singles.

Manush Shah and Diya Chitale will partner up for the mixed doubles category in the main draw as well.

Big hopes on women paddlers

Former national team coach S. Raman has more optimism placed on the women paddlers from India and also on his student Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, who was the reserve player for the men's team at the Paris Olympics.

Speaking with The Bridge in a telephonic interview, Raman was optimistic of India's chances at the China Open 2024.

"I would say we have good chances of doing well, especially the women's team. For the men's team, it largely depends on the draw, more so than the women's team based on current form," he said.

Also, Raman was quick to add that the women's team won't be bothered by the draw.

"A tough or a slightly challenging draw would not bother the women's team as much as it might for the men's given their slump in form."

He was confident about Sathiyan's preparation in the lead-up to the China Open.

Sathiyan had a good UTT outing, leading his team Dabang Delhi into the final, where they ended up as runners.

"Sathiyan has done well for himself getting into some kind of rhythm, form, and match practice. That should help him," Raman said.

Having said that, Raman called out several areas of improvement.

"He can improve on small things in a few different areas that could contribute largely in the overall scheme of things. Things like better long serve, short serves, creating more angles to attack, receiving serve well, there can be marginal improvements that can make a difference."

The men's team, with their questionable form and performances could take inspiration from the women's team, reckoned the former India international.

"It is a change of cycle now. I hope the men will draw inspiration and motivation from the women players and work hard, dig deep, and scale themselves up. The talent is indeed there," he said.

The first three days will be the qualifying rounds of various categories before the main draw commences on the 29th of September.