Manush-Manav pair loses to Lebrun brothers in Singapore Smash semifinals
India’s wait for a first-ever title at a WTT Grand Smash event continues after Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar’s defeat in a five-game thriller in the men’s doubles semifinals in Singapore on Friday.
The sixth-seeded Indian duo went down 2-3 (6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 8-11) to French brothers and fourth seeds, Alexis and Felix Lebrun, in 36 minutes.
The match could have gone the other way as Manush and Manav, who train with the Lebruns at the Montpellier Club, failed to convert a game point in the third game.
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Nevertheless, it was a much better performance from the Indians against the French duo compared to their previous and only other meeting. In 2023, the Lebruns had won 3-1 in the round of 16 of a WTT Star Contender event in Lanzhou.
Overall, it was an impressive run from Manush and Manav as they won their round of 16 and quarterfinal matches in straight games to become the first-ever Indian pair to reach the semifinals of a WTT Grand Smash tournament.
Published on Feb 27, 2026