As anticipation builds for the 2026 Asian Games, India’s 10-member table tennis contingent has officially arrived in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, ready to stake their claim on the international stage. With competition set to commence on September 20, the squad reflects a fascinating blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars. Leading the charge is the formidable men’s doubles duo of Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, currently ranked world No. 3, supported by stalwarts Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Harmeet Desai, alongside a talented group of youngsters including Sreeja Akula, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, and Syndrela Das.
For former Olympian Neha Aggarwal Sharma, the shift in India’s standing within the sport over the past decade is nothing short of transformative. Reflecting on her own experience at the 2014 Asian Games—where a quarterfinal exit against China was considered a respectable outcome—she notes that the current environment is defined by newfound ambition and belief.
A Shift in Mindset and Results
“I remember when I played at the 2014 Asian Games, we weren’t really expected to win medals,” Sharma told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interaction. “And now, cut to 2026, we are going in as the world number three in men’s doubles. The sort of improvement that India has seen is phenomenal. That mindset shift is what we need to see, and it is what we are seeing now for Indian sports overall.”
While the nation has made significant strides, winning at WTT Feeder levels and securing podium finishes at various Contender events, Sharma remains a realist regarding the gap at the very top. “We are winning at the WTT level, but we are not consistently beating China, Japan, and Korea,” she assessed. “You would see one-off wins here and there. But for us to really bridge that gap, I think it is going to take another generation to do that.”
Doubles Carry the Clearest Medal Opportunity
According to Sharma, the path to the podium—and ultimately to success at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics—lies in the doubles categories. With the event now firmly established as an Olympic discipline, she views India’s doubles pairings as the primary engines for medal success.
“We have to start building the narrative for mixed doubles and men’s and women’s doubles,” Sharma emphasized. “These are the events which are our genuine medal chances.” She pointed to the historic bronze medal performance of Sutirtha and Ayhika Mukherjee at the 2022 Hangzhou Games as a blueprint for success. While she is careful not to add undue pressure to athletes like Manav, Manush, Diya, and Yashaswini, she is confident that the squad’s technical proficiency in these pairings is at an all-time high.
Team Event Dynamics and the Manika Batra Absence
The men’s team enters the tournament with a strategic balance of youth and experience. While Manav and Manush provide current high-level form, the inclusion of the veteran Sathiyan Gnanasekaran provides critical stability. “Manush is in fantastic form, Manav has been doing great as well, and it is good to see Sathiyan back,” noted Sharma. “His experience will count quite a lot from the team’s perspective.”
Conversely, the women’s team faces a more uphill battle following the high-profile absence of Manika Batra, who was omitted from the squad due to criteria regarding national rankings and domestic participation. While the controversy has caused a stir, Sharma is keen to keep the focus on those currently representing the country in Japan.
“We will miss Manika,” she admitted, acknowledging the morale-boosting presence of a player capable of beating anyone on her day. “But let’s focus on who we have. Sreeja is fresh off a win at the feeder event in Puerto Princesa, and someone like Syndrela Das just plays her heart out.”
Building for the Future
The long-term vision for Indian table tennis, as Sharma sees it, is heavily reliant on the pipeline of teenage talent currently making waves on the international circuit. She highlighted 15-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick and 17-year-old Syndrela Das as the cornerstones of the next wave of Indian paddlers.
“To build a generation of athletes, the sort of game that they have and the mindset they possess—they are really the ones who can consistently be there at the level where we can beat the top class of China, Japan, and Korea,” she explained.
As the team prepares for the opening serve, the message from the former Olympian is clear: the 2026 Asian Games represent a critical proving ground. Whether it is the established brilliance of the men’s doubles pair or the youthful exuberance of the new generation, the world will be watching to see if this iteration of Indian table tennis can finally bridge the gap against the continental titans.
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