Indian men finished sixth, while the women’s team ended up a disappointing eighth on the penultimate day of the 28th Asian table tennis team championship at the Kalinga Stadium here on Tuesday.
Having bowed out in the quarterfinals and failing to defend their bronze medals, both teams were left to play for pride — and for a direct berth in the Champions Division (main draw) of the next Asian Championship.
The men’s squad rose to the occasion, defeating DPR Korea 3-2 in a fiercely contested encounter to achieve that primary goal.
Captain Manav Thakkar set the tone by outclassing Ham Yu Song in straight games before Manush Shah sealed the tie with a commanding win in the deciding fifth rubber.
Ankur Bhattacharjee added to India’s tally with a hard-fought triumph over Chon Jong Bom, tilting the contest India’s way.
With the Champions Division slot secured, the Indian think-tank opted to give its reserves some game time.
Both SFR Snehit and Payas Jain showcased glimpses of aggression and flair, but India eventually went down to Hong Kong in the fifth-place playoff.
The women’s team, however, endured a tough outing.
Having already missed a medal opportunity in the quarterfinals, they lost both their classification ties — including a crucial 2–3 defeat to DPR Korea earlier in the day.
After Yashaswini Ghorpade narrowly lost a tense third match to Pak Su Gyong, Manika Batra conceded a walkover to Kim Kum Yong, confirming India’s relegation to the qualifying rounds for the next edition.
Chinese men survived the biggest scare to their domination as they were stretched to the hilt before scraping past Japan 3-2 in the semifinal that lasted four hours and 15 minutes. Leading 2-0, thanks to World No. 4 Tomokazu Harimoto overcoming World No. 7 Liang Jingkun and by Sora Mastushima stunning World No. 1 Wang Chuqin, Japan had a chance to create the biggest upset of the tournament.
However, World No. 2 Lin Shidong started the comeback, with Liam turning the tables on Matsushima in the last two games of the deciding rubber.
The results: Semifinals: Men: Hong Kong (China) bt Taiwan 3-2 (Wong Chun Ting bt Liao Cheng-Ting 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8; Chan Baldwin lost to Kuo Guan-Hong 6-11, 8-11, 12-14; Ho Kwan Kit lost to Chang Yu-An 11-9, 7-11, 3-11, 11-13; Wong bt Kuo 11-1, 11-7, 11-2; Chan bt Liao 11-4, 4-11, 0-11, 11-6, 11-5).
Hong Kong China players celebrate after entering the men’s final after beating Taiwan.
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BISWARANJAN ROUT
China bt Japan 3-2 (Liang Jingkun lost to Tomokazu Harimoto 10-12, 13-11, 11-13, 11-9, 9-11; Wang Chuqin bt Sora Matsushima 11-8, 4-11, 10-12, 11-9, 7-11; Lin Shidong bt Hiroto Shinozuka 12-14, 11-2, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6; Wang bt Harimoto 8-11, 11-1, 11-9, 13-15, 11-8; Liang bt Matsushima 8-11, 13-11, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3).
Women: Japan bt Singapore 3-0 (Miwa Harimoto bt Ser Lin Qian 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 15-13; Honoka Hashimoto bt Zeng Jian 11-7, 11-7, 11-7; Satsuki Odo bt Loy Ming Ying 11-5, 11-3, 11-9); China bt Korea 3-0 (Sun Yingsha bt Shin Yubin 11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4; Wang Manyu bt Kim Nayeong 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6; Wang Yidi bt Lee Eunhye 11-8, 11-4, 12-10).
Fifth to eighth position: Men: India bt DPR Korea 3-2; Republic of Korea bt India 3-0 (Oh Junsung bt Manav Thakkar 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-7; Park Gyuhyeon bt SFR Snehit 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7; An Jaehyun bt Payas Jain 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8); India finishes 6th.
Women: India lost to DPR Korea 1-3; India lost to Hong Kong (China) 2-3 (Yashaswini Ghorpade lost to Su Tsz Tung 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 14-12, 7-11; Swastika Ghosh bt NG Wing Lam 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9; Diya Chitale bt Kong Tsz Lam 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9; Yashaswini lost to Lam 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 6-11; Swastika lost to Su 11-8, 8-11, 13-11, 6-11, 4-11); India finishes 8th.
Published – October 14, 2025 11:20 pm IST
