Promise Without Power: India Women Falter Against Singapore at Asian TT Championships

Bhubaneswar, October 13: India’s hopes for redemption on the table were dashed yet again at the Athletics Centre of the Kalinga Stadium today.

After the men’s debacle, all eyes turned to the women to restore national pride at the 28th ITTF-ATTU Asian Team Championships. But instead of resurgence, what unfolded was another story of squandered chances and unfulfilled potential. The fourth-seeded Indian women, expected to assert their growing stature, faltered against qualifier Singapore—a team they should have beaten—exposing the same old frailties: inconsistency, nerves, and an inability to close out crucial moments.

Manika Batra, still India’s brightest name, looked out of rhythm and short of answers against a defensive opponent ranked over a hundred places below her. Diya Chitale let a winning position slip away, her 2-1 lead dissolving under pressure. Even Yashaswini Ghorpade’s spirited win couldn’t shift the momentum. In the end, Singapore held their nerve where India couldn’t—sealing a 3-2 victory that spoke louder than rankings ever could.

For India, it wasn’t just a defeat. It was another reminder that talent without composure continues to cost them—and that the promise of Indian women’s table tennis remains just that: promise, not performance.

Meanwhile, the top-seeded Chinese women made short work of Thailand, winning 3-0 in less than an hour. Wang Manyu, Sun Yingsha, and Kuai Man did not allow any liberty and needed just nine games to round it off against Orawan Paranang, Sawettabut sisters, Suthasini, and Jinnipa.

Men’s Quarterfinal Highlights

The men’s quarterfinals opened with an unexpected twist as 15-year-old Benyamin Faraji of Iran stunned world No. 2 Lin Shidong of China, edging him out 3–2 in the first rubber. The teenager, who had earlier shocked world No. 1 Wang Chuqin at the Asian Championships in Astana, was in sublime form. Lin fought back to level the score, but Faraji held his nerve to close it out 11–9.

Noshad Alamiyan pushed world No. 7 Liang Jingkun to the edge but lost focus at crucial moments. Hossein Hodaei posed little challenge to Wang Chuqin, who dispatched him 3–0. Lin then returned to complete China’s win over Iran.

Chinese Taipei’s men emerged victorious over DPR Korea 3–2 after a hard-fought series of 23 games. Liao Cheng-Ting clinched the decisive match, overcoming Ham Yu Song in a thrilling five-game duel.