Table Tennis
ITTF World Team Table Tennis C'ships: Manika Batra, Manav lead India’s charge - Preview
The men’s team is placed in Group 7 alongside Slovakia, Tunisia and Guatemala. Meanwhile, the women’s team will face Ukraine, Uganda and Rwanda in Group 6.
Manika Batra advances to the second round of the ITTF World Championships 2025. (Photo credit: Jio Cinema)
India’s top table tennis stars, led by Olympians Manika Batra, G Sathiyan, Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai, will take centre stage at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026, beginning April 28 in London.
Set to be held at the iconic OVO Arena Wembley, the tournament brings together 64 teams each in the men’s and women’s competitions, making it one of the most competitive global team events in the sport.
The championships feature two prestigious trophies, the Swaythling Cup (men) and the Corbillon Cup (women). Each tie consists of up to five singles matches, with the first team to win three matches progressing, placing equal importance on squad depth and consistency.
India’s challenge
India enters the tournament through Stage 1b, a tougher route compared to the top-seeded teams placed directly in Stage 1a.
The men’s team, led by world No. 38 Manav Thakkar, have been drawn in Group 7 alongside Slovakia, Tunisia and Guatemala. On paper, it’s a manageable group, but the margin for error remains minimal given the qualification rules.
The women’s team, spearheaded by world No. 49 Manika Batra, will face Ukraine, Uganda and Rwanda in Group 6. India will look to assert early dominance and secure a top-two finish to stay in contention.
The format adds another layer of complexity. From Stage 1b:
- 14 group winners and 6 best second-placed teams qualify directly
- The remaining second-placed teams enter a playoff round for the final four spots
Only then do teams progress to the knockout rounds, starting from the Round of 32.
Beyond format, history presents an even bigger challenge. The People's Republic of China have dominated the World Team Championships for over two decades, winning every edition since 2000 except rare interruptions.
Breaking into the latter stages requires not just skill, but sustained high-level performance across multiple ties.
India squad for ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026
India have named a balanced 10-member contingent combining experience and emerging talent.
Men’s team: Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Payas Jain
Women’s team: Manika Batra, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das
With a mix of Olympians and rising players, India will aim to build momentum early in the group stages.
ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026: Full schedule
The tournament runs from April 28 to May 10, with a multi-stage format:
- April 28–30: Group stage matches (Stage 1a & 1b)
- May 1: Final group matches & preliminary qualification rounds
- May 2–3: Seeding stage matches (Stage 2)
- May 4–5: Round of 32
- May 6: Round of 16
- May 7–8: Quarter-finals
- May 9: Semi-finals
- May 10: Finals (Women’s and Men’s team events)
Where to watch ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026 live in India
Fans in India can watch the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026 through:
Live streaming: Official World Table Tennis (WTT) platforms
TV broadcast: Eurosport channels