The Indian men’s table tennis team continued their impressive run at the Asian Championships, securing a bronze medal for the third consecutive time. In a thrilling quarterfinal clash against Kazakhstan, India overcame a gritty performance to emerge victorious with a 3-1 scoreline.
The tone was set by World No. 60 Manav Thakkar, who stunned Kazakhstan’s top-ranked player, World No. 41 Kirill Gerassimenko, in a dominant 3-0 sweep. Thakkar’s aggressive style proved too much for Gerassimenko, giving India an early lead.
Kazakhstan’s Alan Kurmangaliyev responded swiftly, defeating Harmeet Desai 3-0 with a relentless attacking display. Desai struggled to find his rhythm, allowing Kurmangaliyev to level the tie at 1-1.
Veteran Sharath Kamal stepped up for India in the third match, easing past Aidos Kenzhigulov 3-0 with his characteristic poise and precision. Despite Kenzhigulov’s efforts, Kamal’s experience proved too much, restoring India’s lead at 2-1.
The decisive moment came in the fourth rubber, where Harmeet Desai faced a fired-up Gerassimenko. After a shaky start, Desai found his footing and launched a fierce counterattack, turning the tide with explosive backhands and blistering forehands. In the fifth game, Desai raced to a 6-1 lead and held off a late comeback from Gerassimenko to win 3-2, sealing India’s place in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team secured their first-ever bronze medal at the Asian Championships, despite a 1-3 loss to Japan in the semifinals. Ayhika Mukherjee started well against Miwa Harimoto but let key opportunities slip, losing 2-3. Manika Batra leveled the score with a commanding win over Satsuki Odo, but Mima Ito dominated Sutirtha Mukherjee to put Japan ahead. In the decisive fourth match, Batra couldn’t maintain her earlier form, falling to Miwa and sealing India’s exit.
India’s success at the Asian Championships marks their seventh overall medal in the tournament. The men’s team will face either Chinese Taipei or Japan in the semifinals on Thursday, while the women’s team will return home with a historic bronze.
